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Bellator signs ex-soccer pro Georgi Karakhanyan for season-two

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  • Bellator signs ex-soccer pro Georgi Karakhanyan for season-two

    MMAjunkie.com
    Jan 5 2010


    Bellator signs ex-soccer pro Georgi Karakhanyan for season-two
    featherweight tourney
    by Dann Stupp on Jan 05, 2010 at 10:30 am ET
    With its welterweight tournament already attracting top prospects,
    Bellator Fighting Championships today announced a notable addition to
    its upcoming featherweight tournament.

    Former soccer pro Georgi Karakhanyan, one of the world's top 145-pound
    prospects, signed an exclusive deal with the promotion, which airs its
    events live on FOX Sports Net affiliates beginning in April.

    Karakhanyan owns a 12-1-1 career record, and his lone loss came via
    split decision.

    An Armenian who was born in Russia, Karakhanyan was introduced to
    martial arts at a young age by his father, a Karate black belt.
    However, he didn't begin serious Brazilian jiu-jitsu training until he
    hooked up with Millenia MMA in Riverside, Calif. Karakhanyan used the
    martial art for his conditioning while competing for the San Diego
    Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

    When MISL folded, Karakhanyan soon begin has pro MMA career.

    He now owns 10 stoppages in his 12 career wins, though he fought just
    once (a unanimous-decision win over Albert Rios) in 2009. The King of
    the Cage and Gladiator Challenge vet's lone loss came to EliteXC vet
    Chris David during Karakhanyan's sixth pro fight.

    "Maybe it's because I played soccer all those year, but I like to kick
    when I'm in the cage, and I'm a strong kicker," Karakhanyan stated. "I
    like to keep the fight standing up, but I'll find a way to beat my
    opponent if he takes it to the ground."

    The California-based Called Out MMA promotion recently announced that
    Karakhanyan will fight Vince Ortiz at its Jan. 24 show in Ontario.

    Bellator's lucrative tournaments can earn each division's winner
    nearly $200,000 over three fights and three months. If he wins the
    tourney, Karakhanyan earns the right to fight season-one winner and
    current Bellator featherweight champion Joe Soto.

    In addition to live shows on FSN, Bellator season-two and season-three
    programming also airs via highlights packages on NBC and Telemundo.

    http://mmajunkie.com/news/17431/bellat or-signs-ex-soccer-pro-georgi-karakhanyan-for-seas on-two-featherweight-tourney.mma

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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