Karo Parisyan

“The Heat”

MMA · Retired

24-12 (1 NC)RECORD

3KO / TKO WINS

11SUBMISSION WINS

10DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Karo Parisyan
Nickname	The Heat
Date of birth	28 Aug 1982
Nationality	Armenian American
Birthplace	Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Lives in	North Hollywood, California, United States
Division	Welterweight
Team	Team Hayastan
Height	178 cm (5′10″)
Reach	192 cm (76″)
Stance	Not added yet
Years active	1999–2017
Status	Retired
Pro debut	1 Feb 1999
Last fight	Loss vs Jose Diaz, 7 Oct 2017

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

WEC Welterweight Champion (one time)
UFC Fight of the Night (two times)
2006 Fight of the Year (vs. Diego Sanchez)

Background

Armenian-born judoka raised in Los Angeles who won the WEC welterweight title and became a UFC welterweight contender in the mid-2000s, beating Nick Diaz, Matt Serra and Chris Lytle. He later fought in Bellator and regional shows before retiring in 2017.

Fight history

37 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Jose Diaz	TKO (retirement)	1	5:00	Extreme Fighters MMA: Ready for War	7 Oct 2017	Long Beach, California, United States
Loss	Fernando Gonzalez	TKO (punches)	1	1:43	Bellator 127	3 Oct 2014	Temecula, California, United States
Win	Phil Baroni	TKO (punches)	1	2:06	Bellator 122	25 Jul 2014	Temecula, California, United States
Win	Ron Keslar	TKO (punches)	2	4:05	Bellator 116	11 Apr 2014	Temecula, California, United States
Loss	Rick Hawn	KO (punches)	2	1:55	Bellator 95	4 Apr 2013	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	Edward Darby	Submission (armbar)	1	2:10	Gladiator Challenge: Heat Returns	28 Oct 2012	San Jacinto, California, United States
Win	Tiger Bonds	Submission (armbar)	1	1:03	Gladiator Challenge: King of the Mountain	29 Sep 2012	San Diego, California, United States
Loss	John Gunderson	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	2:47	ShoFight 20	16 Jun 2012	Springfield, Missouri, United States	For vacant ShoFIGHT Welterweight title
Win	Thomas Denny	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	WMMA 1	31 Mar 2012	El Paso, Texas, United States
Loss	Jordan Smith	Decision (split)	3	5:00	Amazon Forest Combat 1	14 Sep 2011	Manaus, Brazil
Loss	Ryan Ford	TKO (doctor stoppage)	3	1:26	JEG: MMA Live 1	19 May 2011	London, Ontario, Canada
Loss	Dennis Hallman	TKO (punches)	1	1:47	UFC 123	20 Nov 2010	Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Win	Ben Mortimer	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	4:18	Impact FC 1	10 Jul 2010	Brisbane, Australia
No contest	Dong Hyun Kim	NC (overturned)	3	5:00	UFC 94	31 Jan 2009	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Split decision win overturned after failed drug test
Loss	Thiago Alves	TKO (knee and punches)	2	0:34	UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon	2 Apr 2008	Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win	Ryo Chonan	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 78	17 Nov 2007	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win	Josh Burkman	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 71	26 May 2007	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	Drew Fickett	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs	13 Dec 2006	San Diego, California, United States	Fight of the Night
Loss	Diego Sanchez	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Parisyan	17 Aug 2006	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Fight of the Night
Win	Nick Thompson	TKO (submission to punches)	1	4:44	UFC 59	15 Apr 2006	Anaheim, California, United States
Win	Matt Serra	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 53	4 Jun 2005	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	Chris Lytle	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 51	5 Feb 2005	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	Nick Diaz	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 49	21 Aug 2004	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	Shonie Carter	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	WEC 10	21 May 2004	Lemoore, California, United States	Won WEC Welterweight Championship
Loss	Georges St-Pierre	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 46	31 Jan 2004	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	Dave Strasser	Submission (kimura)	1	3:52	UFC 44	26 Sep 2003	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	UFC debut
Win	Fernando Vasconcelos	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	King of the Cage 22	23 Mar 2003	San Jacinto, California, United States
Win	Antonio McKee	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Ultimate Cage Fighting 3	15 Feb 2003	Hollywood, California, United States
Win	Darrell Smith	Submission (armbar)	1	0:59	Reality Submission Fighting 3	30 Mar 2001	Belleville, Illinois, United States
Loss	Sean Sherk	TKO (corner stoppage)	1	16:20	Reality Submission Fighting 2	5 Jan 2001	Belleville, Illinois, United States
Loss	Sean Sherk	Decision (unanimous)	1	18:00	Reality Submission Fighting 1	10 Oct 2000	Belleville, Illinois, United States
Win	Guido Jennings	Submission (choke)	1	6:33	Kage Kombat 16	7 Jun 1999	California, United States
Win	Justin Bumphus	Submission (choke)	1		ESF: Empire One	15 May 1999	Corona, California, United States
Win	Scott Davis	Submission (armbar)	1	2:16	Kage Kombat 14	5 Apr 1999	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	Jason Rittgers	Submission (armbar)	1	1:58	Kage Kombat 14	5 Apr 1999	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	Zach McKinney	Submission (armbar)	1	0:23	Kage Kombat 12	1 Feb 1999	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	Brian Warren	Submission (ankle lock)	1	0:44	Kage Kombat 12	1 Feb 1999	Los Angeles, California, United States	Pro debut