FOX Sports
May 27 2007

Welterweights: Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman

May 26, 2007 | 8:53PM | report this I’m going into play-by-play mode
for the two main billed fights. Next up is the best pure judoka in
the UFC, Karo "The Heat" Parisyan, going up against Josh Burkman.

Parisyan, an Armenian from North Hollywood who teaches judo at Randy
Couture’s Legends Gym, is long established as one of the most
exciting fighters in the UFC, already a veteran in his mid-20s with a
24-4 record. He’s beaten Nick Diaz, Matt Serra, and Chris Lytle, and
has lost to Georges St. Pierre and Diego Sanchez. Burkman, a solid
wrestler from Salt Lake City, is 10-3 and looking to rebound to a
loss to tough Jon Fitch.

Burkman gets a healthy round of applause from the crowd, as does
Parisyan. Herb Dean is your referee. The combatants have an intense
eye-to-eye staredown during Dean’s instructions.

Round 1: They both come out trading haymakers. Parisyan goes for a
takedown, doesn’t get it, gets up and hits a right. Burkman goes
down, with Parisyan clutching at Burkman’s left foot, but he gets
right back up. Burkman just misses a big high kick and Parisyan pops
him with a sharp counterpunch. Burkman with a low kick. Burkman
walked into a big punch. Lots of darting and weaving. Parisyan mixing
up low leg kicks with combos. Parisyan goes for a kick, but Burkman
grabs a leg and scores a takedown. Parisyan gets back up, hits him
with a couple of punches, and scores one of his sensational judo
throws, which gets a rise out of the crowd. They get back up, 1:20
left. Burkman goes for a takedown, Parisyan sprawls backwards, but
Burkman won’t let go of Karo’s left leg as they work along the fence.
Parisyan avoids a slam in the final seconds. Big round of applause
for five minutes of solid action, round one to Parisyan.

Some in the crowd tried to start a "USA" chant. Burkman is from Salt
Lake City, Karo lives in N. Hollywood, Herbie lives in SoCal. OK
then.

Round 2: Parisyan with a quick jab, then a right to the stomach.
Burkman tried to get in close, but Karo pushes him off. Burkman
misses a wild uppercut. Burkman with some real haymakers, but then he
has to block a high kick from Parisyan. Burkman connects with a right
that registers, but Karo flashes "bring it" with his hands. Both
fighters trading big shots. Just over two minutes left, Karo hits a
knee to the head, but they continue to circle around the octagon.
Anyone’s round at this point. Karo pops Burkman with a low kick and a
high kick, but Burkman is able to defend with Karo tries to shoot in.
Some Greco grappling, with neither getting an advantage. Karo has
really popped Burkman several times but Burkman is real tough and
keeps on motoring. Round 2 also goes to Parisyan, as he was more
aggressive and controlled the tempo. Burkman is hanging with him, but
needs to take more chances.

Round 3: They stand and trade in the first minute, then Burkman
shoots in on Karo and pushes him back into the fence. Karo goes for a
throw, Burkman switches position, Karo tries to sink in a guillotine,
and Burkman picks him up for a slam. Karo gets up and scores a trip
on Burkman. They get up and clinch along the fence. Karo gets in
underhooks, but lets go and they come back out to the middle with two
minutes left. 1:30 left, both fighters looking to pick their spots.
Burkman’s either tired or thinks he has the match won, because he
isn’t really taking it to Karo. Burkman chases Karo backwards to
finish and the two fighters embrace at the end of the match. Close
third round, but I again have it going to Parisyan.

Parisyan wins on a unanimous decision, taking scores of 30-27, 30-27,
and 29-28. He says he wants a title shot in his post-fight interview.
It’s hard to argue with him. Parisyan was supposed to fight Matt
Hughes for the belt at UFC 56, but suffered a quad injury and had to
pull out. There’s a logjam ahead of him in the deep welterweight
division, with Serra holding the belt, Hughes looking for his
rematch, and St. Pierre in the picture, but Parisyan deserves his
shot.

This is the final fight before the main event. They will air one of
the preliminary matches, then the main event will hit the ring at
midnight Eastern/9 Pacific.