Karo says he was eye-poked

Bomber · 08-29-2006, 10:45 AM

Mods, I couldn't find the original interview to link. I copied this from another MMA forum. If it's copyrighted or shouldn't be here, sorry and please remove it.

BLOODYKNUX.COM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
KARO "THE HEAT" PARYSIAN

Karo talks about the Sanchez fight, UFC future and more

In what was considered by many to be one of the most exciting fights of the year, Karo "The Heat" Parysian came out on the wrong end of a close decision loss to Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez in the Ultimate Fight Night 6 main event. Our very own Lance Freimuth was able to catch up with Karo recently after the fight and get his thoughts on the Sanchez bout, future UFC plans and more. Here now is that interview for your enjoyment.

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Lance Freimuth:It's now almost a week after your fight with Diego Sanchez, some people are calling it the fight of the year. How are you feeling physically after the fight?

Karo Parysian:I feel great, I honestly feel good, just a little heart broken. I thought I got robbed and a lot of people thought I got robbed too.

LF:There was speculation that you got thumbed in the eye during the first exchange, is that true? If so, what was the damage?

KP:Yes he threw an uppercut and his thumb went right into my eye. I thought honestly thought I had lost my eye that's how bad it hurt. There's still a huge scratch on my eye. The pain was so bad I wanted to stop the fight, because I thought my eye was out of my head. However I decided that since I was already in there, I might as well go ahead and try to win this fight.

LF:Let's break down the fight round by round. Diego had your back early in the first, did you feel you were in any danger?

KP:No right off the bat when I got thumbed, I fell down. The whole left side of my head was burning, it felt like it was on fire. When he got my back, I obviously knew I had to get out of there. I mean I knew he couldn't submit me from there, even though that's his forté. So he was landing some shots, but eventually I escaped, shook him off my back and ended up on top doing some ground and pound.

So we stood back up and exchanged a little, then I nailed the best throw of my life, a throw called hari goshi. The throw was so fast literally my head was spinning. But to me it felt effortless when I launched him. So he stood back up then we exchanged a little bit more. I was landing pretty good myself, I thought I landed pretty good all through the first round. Then I took him down again, this time I dumped him on top of his head. Again I began landing some shots from his guard, punches and elbows. We stood up, and started to exchange. I caught him a few good times then the round came to an end. I clearly thought I won the first round, the first minute and half was when I got thumbed, but after that it was all me.

LF:OK the 2nd round was really close. Did you feel you still had the edge in the fight until the 2nd?

KP: Definitely, I felt I had the advantage. Starting the round I threw the 1,2, left high kick combo which caught him clean. When I watched the fight again in slow motion, I saw his head going straight back. So anyways I threw him again, he stood up, and as we were exchanging I threw a 1,2,3 combo that backed him up across the octagon and against the cage. Then I shot in, picked him up Matt Hughes style and slammed him to the ground hard. I threw punches from top, we scrambled a lot, but I was on top most of the round. But clearly I thought I won the 2nd round again.

LF:In the third you started strong with a takedown but seemed to fatigue later in the round. How did you feel during the 3rd?

KP:First two minutes, I did good. I shot in and took him down again, first 2 ½ minutes again, I won. I was dominating. After that, a minute left, he reversed me, he was in my guard throwing some shots but nothing ever really hit me. For a second he had my back going for choke but I turned out of it. The he had mount but I pretty easily rolled out of that. Of course I got a little tired at the end, I had lost some energy, but it's because I was throwing him around the whole fight, I threw him 5-6 times throughout the whole fight. It takes a lot of energy to do that. They were power slams and it definitely fatigues you. Also i was pressing the whole fight while he was backpedaling. I was taking him down. In the last round, he didn't even dominate, I just lost the last half. I think in the judges eyes they just saw the last part of the round. I think some people don't understand one punch is nothing compared to big slam.

LF:Who are you training with now, and what are your future training plans?

KP:My school's opened now, Legends MMA. Randy, Bas, Jason (Miller), Jay Hieron, Mike Pyle.... there is a really good cast of guys to train with. I finally have somewhere to train now, somewhere I can take my game to another level. It's my home now. I don't have to drive 70 miles 3 times a week to train, to get decent training. It's right down the street from my house. I have a home now and I can go and can train whenever I want. The next guy I fight should be very scared.

LF:When do you start teaching and what is your schedule?

KP:It opened Monday, it was the grand opening. I'm going to be teaching MMA everyday in the morning, not sure on the time, we're still talking about the schedule.

LF: What's next for Karo Parisyan in the UFC?

KP:They have basically told me to call them whenever I'm ready to fight. They basically said gimme a call, and we'll put somebody in front of you. A rematch with Diego might be in the place in the future.

LF:Anything else you'd like to add?

KP: I'd like thank my sponsors; FCF, sinister, Budo video, and punishment online.

KP: Also I'd like to say that the tooth that supposedly fell out was a veneer. It was loose from a previous training incident. Basically you could flick it and it would have fallen out. My dentist even said that it was loose and was probably going to fall out in a months time anyways, but I wasn't too worried about it. So During the final round, my mouthpiece had fallen out. It was a clear mouthpiece though so McCarthy never saw it come out of place. He knocked off a loose veneer that would have fallen out anyways. That's all, no big deal.

LF:Thanks for your time Karo.

KP: No problem

-Lance Freimuth

Jras0001 · 08-29-2006, 10:51 AM

Thats interesting. Watching the match, you could clearly see that he was in pain after that first shot and it really affected how he performed during that first round if not the rest of the fight.

Ryduce · 08-29-2006, 11:07 AM

Everyone hates on Diego for being cocky,but he did nothing but say good things about Karo.

On the other hand Karo makes excuses,dosen't give credit,and he also accused GSP of steroid use at one point.And yet everyone worships him.

This interview has really altered my perception of Karo.He has no class,and definitely isn't gracious in defeat.

MadOne · 08-29-2006, 11:18 AM

I had Karo winning round 1 and 2 of their fight and I knew something had happend to Karo when he went down - I thought something might have broken in the way he was acting in that first round. If the interview holds true the thumb in the eye would explain it.
A rematch would be nice.. I honestly don't see Diego standing up against the skill of Karo. I didn't see it in the first fight and if they do fight again I would hope Karo can put forth a finish early.

Seeing Diego dropped on his head was nice..

Bomber · 08-29-2006, 11:31 AM

I started asking about an eye poke the very night of the fight. I don't know if it was a poke or just a punch in the eye, but it was clear to me that Karo thought he'd been poked. He stopped fighting in the clinch to tell the ref and got thrown to the ground. Then on the ground, with Diego on his back, Karo tried to tell the ref again. Then he decided he wasn't going to get any help, so he started fighting again, but by then round 1 was in serious trouble.

I'd love to see this rematch eventually. But right now I'm more interested in Diego vs one of the top three guys and the top three against each other.

Ryduce · 08-29-2006, 11:33 AM

Karo on his loss:I was robbed,I got thumbed,I won rounds one and two,my tooth was loose before,I dominated until the last 2 min,I won,I threw him,blah blah blah.

How can you guys still stick up for him and hate Diego???

GSPALLTHEWAY · 08-29-2006, 11:39 AM

first off, he clearly gets poked badly at the start of the fight... while this must have worn off later, it was definently a factor early on.... its always great for a fighter to be gracious in defeat, i dont think he said anything too bad, it was a very close fight, i think he lost just by a bit... absolutely worth a rematch

Snow Patrol · 08-29-2006, 11:43 AM

I think a rematch would be great. When I saw him on the ground after the eye poke, his expression seemed to say: Is my eye still intact?

Ryduce · 08-29-2006, 11:47 AM

I have watched this fight about 12 times,about 5 times in slow mo on a 36 inch screen,and I can tell you from an unbiased standpoint(I like both fighters alot)that he was not eye poked.That uppercut caught him good,and that will impair your vision worse than an eye poke.I can clearly see his thumb all the way to the point of impact.Not even close.

I just think it's messed up that Karo didn't give Diego any credit.And there is a huge double standard on peoples opinions of Diego and Karo.It's ok for Karo to not have any humility,but it's not ok for Diego(who sports an undefeated record)to talk some smack every now and then.

lwbfl · 08-29-2006, 11:49 AM

I believe he is being honest about how he feels. I'm sure that uppercut hurt, and I thought maybe the glove got his eye or something when I first saw him go down. I still think Diego gave him a beating overall, and I'm a huge Parysian fan.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 08-29-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryduce

I have watched this fight about 12 times,about 5 times in slow mo on a 36 inch screen,and I can tell you from an unbiased standpoint(I like both fighters alot)that he was not eye poked.That uppercut caught him good,and that will impair your vision worse than an eye poke.I can clearly see his thumb all the way to the point of impact.Not even close.

I just think it's messed up that Karo didn't give Diego any credit.And there is a huge double standard on peoples opinions of Diego and Karo.It's ok for Karo to not have any humility,but it's not ok for Diego(who sports an undefeated record)to talk some smack every now and then.

oh ok, well im watching this fight right now on a 61 inch tv in high def which is all not needed because its easy to see its a poke... not only that, but he looks to big john for help so much to the point that the ref actually comments if he wanted the fight to stop... if you dont like karos comments thats fine, but you cant deny what happend during that first round

Ryduce · 08-29-2006, 11:54 AM

But you can't deny the fact that there is a huge double standard,and regardless of the supposed "eyepoke " Karo comes across in that particular interview as a jerk.Diego gave him a beatdown,and he didn't say a good thing about him.All he did was make excuses.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 08-29-2006, 12:01 PM

i said karo lost... i think he did, however it was a very close fight... it wasnt a "beatdown" by any means.. but great win for diego, i like both... im just saying it was an eye poke and it did effect the fight... now i also agree karo isnt the one that needs to say it... people like me are lol

Bomber · 08-29-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryduce

How can you guys still stick up for him and hate Diego???

I don't hate Diego. During the first TUF series I said "That guy's going to be champ one day". He did talk a lot of trash during the series though, about how it's belt and he's the best in the world. A lot of people won't forget that easily.

I do want to see his record blemished, so I'm looking forward to cheering against him vs. the top guys. I don't think it's fair that he's undefeated when the greats aren't. At the same time as I'm hoping for him to get a beating, I will admire the hell out of his skill on the ground and enjoy the fight immensely. I'm no longer sure that he'll win the belt, but I wouldn't be surprised if he does eventually.

MadOne · 08-29-2006, 12:33 PM

He gave the answers to the questions being asked.

That had to be one hell of a eye poke..I thought he was ever close to being knocked out or had got injured - if he had to have the fight called I wouldn't have held it against him. I'm glad he decided to keep fighting..

I would very much like to see a rematch.. possibly on PPV which I think both Karo and Diego deserve to be on though I like watching them fight for free.

Edit: I don't hate Diego.. I dislike people who just automaticly think they are better then everyone else. I understand thats a big part of his character and it adds to his ability of being able to win his fights.
I have a urge to see him get beaten.. and honestly I think it's best for his career in MMA. As Matt Hughes said "if you’re undefeated, then you’re not fighting the right people" - of the sort.

Gooner · 08-29-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryduce

But you can't deny the fact that there is a huge double standard,and regardless of the supposed "eyepoke " Karo comes across in that particular interview as a jerk.Diego gave him a beatdown,and he didn't say a good thing about him.All he did was make excuses.

Why do you have to support all the sucky fighters? Join the good guys already.

There's no "double standard" when people say "I hope Diego gets smashed", it's just simply the fact, that he's dorky.
He didn't give Karo a "beatdown",it was 29-28 at best (I gave 1st and 2nd to Karo). And you could clearly see Karo had a problem with his eye. Karo mentioning it, doesn't make it an excuse. Randy said Chuck's poke affected his fighting in their second fight, was that an excuse as well?

Karo comes across as a jerk to you, only because you like Diego.

Ryduce · 08-29-2006, 01:18 PM

The fact is that I've heard shady things about Karo for a long time,and I have been very quick to dismiss them because I really don't know the guy,and he seems nice on TV.I heard some terrible things after his departure with Gokor,and I was quick to dismiss them too because I don't know all the details.But the more I read interviews like this,the easier it comes for me to find some of these claims credible.

Yes I am a Diego fan,but I am a Karo fan as well.And him being a jerk has nothing to do with my Diego support.All you have to do is read that article without a blind Diego hatred,and you will see nothing but excuses.Had Diego given that same interview people would be doing backflips saying that he needs to learn some respect.

After GSP defeated him,instead of giving credit all he could do was accuse GSP of using steroids. After that, I lost all respect for Karo's personality, he is a sore loser.So yes I do think he is a jerk.

This is a discussion forum where people can formulate thier own opinions and present them with valid info and make a constructive argument.And after the aforementioned evidence I have concluded that there is a double standard,and that Karo is indeed a sore loser.I know that's hard for some of you to accept.Sorry if I have offended anyone.

This argument has nothing to do with Karo as a fighter because he is one of my favs.The throws he had in the Diego fight were some of the best ever.

sitnspin · 08-29-2006, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSPalltheway

oh ok, well im watching this fight right now on a 61 inch tv in high def

I hate you.

PghPens71 · 08-29-2006, 01:31 PM

Ah it figures... good job Thumb-Thumbs. GSP better wear safety goggles. I guess Diegos been training with Chuck.

sitnspin · 08-29-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PghPens71

Ah it figures... good job Thumb-Thumbs. GSP better wear safety goggles. I guess Diegos been training with Chuck.

I was waiting for some joker to bring Chuck into it. There's too much eye-poke talk on these MMA boards. It happens -- it's the nature of the sport and the style of gloves they wear, and guys are just lucky that it doesn't happen more often. Sometimes you're going to get kneed in the groin, and sometimes you're going to catch a thumb in the eye, or a headbutt. If it hasn't happened to everyone in a match, it's happened to them in training.

At least Karo wasn't implying that Diego did it on purpose, which is what Chuck has had to put up with a lot.

To some extent, though, I agree with what Ryduce is saying -- Karo's confidence has turned into sour grapes more than once when he loses. He really didn't give Diego ANY respect in this interview the way a lot of guys would, and his insinuation that GSP was juiced for their fight also wasn't very classy, especially since GSP made it clear that he'd subject himself to any form of testing to prove he was clean, and instead of apologizing, Karo just kind of shrugged the matter off. That's a serious accusation, and if you're going to have the stones to make it, you should have the stones to apologize.