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WSOF featherweight champion Georgi Karakhanyan has two fights left on his current contract. Once those are complete, he wants to go where the money is, be it in WSOF, UFC, Bellator MMA or elsewhere.
Karakhanyan (23-3-1) is scheduled to defend his belt for the first time against Rick Glenn (14-2-1) at WSOF 10 on June 21. After that, he’ll only have one fight remaining with the organization and is hoping for a raise. If WSOF won’t give it to him, he’s willing to work with whoever is.
“I have one more fight left after this fight with WSOF, then my manager, Mike Kogan, will sit down and see what’s best for me,” Karakhanyan told MMAjunkie. “A lot of fighters say they don’t do this for the money and all that, but that’s your only job. This is how I make a living. I’m going to be honest: This is the only way I make a living. Money matters to me. It matters to me how much I get paid. I’m not going to sit here and bulls–t you and say I don’t care. I’ve got to support myself and my daughter, so money matters.”
Karakhanyan wants to be clear that he’s not unhappy with the terms of his current WSOF deal. But since signing his previous contract, the 28-year-old has elevated his game to become champion. Moreover, he’s on a nine-fight winning streak and has finished both of his WSOF opponents, including a submission of previously undefeated Lance Palmer to win the belt this past December.
“I’m very happy with what I’m getting paid in WSOF,” Karakhanyan said. “I just want it to go up more and more. I’m happy with the pay, I’m happy with WSOF and how they’re taking care of me.”
While an increase in pay is a strong desire for any fighter, Karakhanyan knows he won’t get there without facing a higher quality of opposition. By no means is he underestimating his upcoming foe in Glenn, but as champion of one of North America’s top MMA promotions, he believes he’s prepared to face the top 145-pound fighters on the planet.
“I want to fight the top 10 guys after this fight,” Karakhanyan said. “It takes a lot of balls to be fighting all those guys in the top 10, but I think I match up really good with all those guys. I can’t sit here and convince you and other people; I just need to fight them and see how I do. I think I match up great with all of them.”
The unfortunate reality of Karakhanyan’s situation is that most of the world’s top featherweights reside under the UFC banner. That means unless he signs with the UFC following the conclusion of his WSOF contract, his dream of fighting the likes of Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes and others shrinks significantly.
Karakhanyan admits he’s thought about what it would be like to fight under the UFC banner, but he also wonders whether the organization would be interested in his services since he’s not the type to make bold statements or talk trash.
“I don’t know what UFC is looking for,” Karakhanyan said. “I know this sport’s about entertainment. There are guys like Conor McGregor – that guy f—ing sucks. He fought a bunch of random fighters in Ireland then came here and fought. Max Holloway is a decent fighter, but he hasn’t fought any top 10 guys. So I don’t know what UFC is looking for. I just know I’m looking to get paid. It doesn’t matter where I’m fighting as long as I’m getting it.”
It may be fun to daydream about fighting in the UFC and the paydays that come along with it, but Karakhanyan knows none of his aspirations will come to fruition unless he completes his contract with his winning streak in tact.
To make that happen, he needs to successfully defend his belt against Glenn inside The Joint at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. WSOF 10 airs live on NBC Sports Network following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Despite the fact he already holds the gold, Karakhanyan is of the belief that he won’t be validated as WSOF’s most deserving titleholder unless he defends his belt against Glenn.
“You’re not a true champion until you defend it,” Karakhanyan said. “I’m not in this sport to get respect; I just want to get paid. I want to make a lot of money.
“If I see the opportunity or get an opportunity, I’m going to go for the finish. If the finish isn’t there, I’m ready to go 10 rounds right now. Wherever the fight is, I’m going to be ready.”
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Statistics: Posted by MMACANADA — May 28. 2014, 07:31 — Replies 1 — Views 16
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