Karen Darabedyan | |
---|---|
Born |
Armenian SSR, Soviet Union |
December 18, 1986
Nationality | Armenian |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
Division | Lightweight |
Reach | 68 in (170 cm) |
Style | Boxing, Judo, TKD, Karate, BJJ |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Glendale, California, United States |
Team | Hayastan MMA academy Main Event Gym Glendale Fight Club |
Rank |
Black belt in Judo Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt in Karate Black belt in Taekwondo |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 15 |
Wins | 10 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 5 |
Losses | 5 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 2 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Karen Darabedyan (born December 18, 1986) is an Armenian professional mixed martial artist. He is best known for fighting in WEC's lightweight division. He is a training partner of Karo Parisyan and Manvel Gamburyan. He had a 12-0 amateur boxing record before he began MMA.
Karen is an Armenian mixed martial arts fighter who has positioned himself as a well-rounded athlete through diverse and extensive training. Darabedyan began studying karate at the age of 5 and taekwondo at the age of 9, earning his black belt in both by age 18. He began expanding his martial arts training in junior high by taking up boxing, kick boxing, judo and wrestling; earning a black belt in judo by age 16 and achieving a 12-0 amateur boxing record by 18. During high school, he claimed two judo state championship titles and placed third in the nation. At age 16, Darabedyan entered the world of grappling, placing 1st in the Intermediate Men's No-Gi Lightweight division at the 2004 Grapplers Quest West 5 and winning 1st place at under 189.9 pounds in the 2007 World Grappling Games Best of West. Drawing on his diverse training, Karen Darabedyan competed in his first mixed martial arts fight at age 18, claiming a win in the first round by KO. Since then, he has compiled a 9-4 record. Despite Karen’s strong judo and grappling background, he tends to favor keeping the fight on his feet and striking. Karen currently trains with Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell as well as Roma Kalantaryan at Main Event Gym in Glendale.
He made his WEC debut by defeating former WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough on November 18, 2009 at WEC 44
Darabedyan lost via armbar to Bart Palaszewski on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47.
Darabedyan then faced Will Kerr on June 20, 2010 at WEC 49. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.
Darabedyan was expected to face fellow WEC veteran Marcus Hicks on September 11, 2010 at Shark Fights 13 but Hicks was forced off the card with an injury. Instead, he faced Daniel Mason-Straus and lost the fight via unanimous decision.