Karen Darabedyan is an Armenian professional mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights in WEC's lightweight division. He is a training partner of Karo Parisyan and Manvel Gamburyan. He had a 12-0 amatuer boxing record before he began MMA.Template:Citation needed
Biography[]
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.Template:Citation needed During high school, he claimed two judo state championship titles and placed third in the nation.Template:Citation needed 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.Template:Citation needed 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 knock-out. Since then, he holds an 9-1 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.Template:Citation needed
WEC Career[]
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.
Mixed Martial Arts Record[]
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 13 | 9 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 1 |
| Draws | 0 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 9-2 |  Bart Palaszewski
|
Submission (Armbar) | WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz | March 6, 2010 | 1 | 4:40 |  Columbus, Ohio, USA
| |
| Win | 9-1 | Rob McCullough
|
Decision (Split) | WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo | November 18, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| |
| Win | 8-1 | Estevan Payan
|
KO (Left Hook) | Shark Fights 6: Stars and Stripes | September 12, 2009 | 1 | 1:20 | Amarillo, Texas, USA
| |
| Win | 7-1 | Joe Camacho
|
TKO | Call to Arms I | May 16, 2009 | 1 | 5:00 | Ontario, California, USA
| |
| Win | 6-1 | Tony Ferguson
|
Decision (Unanimous) | All Star 2/06/09 | February 6, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Montebello, California, USA
| |
| Win | 5-1 | Saad Awad
|
Decision (Split) | Gladiator Challenge | January 25, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
| Win | 4-1 | Jared Papazian
|
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Total Fighting Alliance 12 | September 13, 2008 | 1 | 1:36 | Long Beach, California, USA
| |
| Win | 3-1 | Anthony McDavitt
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Long Beach Fight Night | August 17, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Long Beach, California, USA
| |
| Loss | 2-1 |  Koji Oishi
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Plainum Fighting Productions - Ring of Fire | December 9, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | File:Philippines flag.svg Manila, Philippines | |
| Win | 2-0 | Luke Adams
|
Decision (Unanimous) | EFWC - The Untamed | October 6, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, USA
| |
| Win | 1-0 |  Joe Alvarado
|
TKO | California Xtreme Fighting 2 | July 15, 2006 | 1 | 2:06 | Upland, California, USA
|
