Karo Parisyan to remain suspended from competition until March hearing

by Jesse Holland on Feb 18, 2009 11:31 AM EST

Former UFC number one welterweight contender, Karo Parisyan, will remain suspended from competition after testing positive for several painkillers, including Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone and Oxymorphone, following his controversial split decision win over Dong Hyun "Stun Gun" Kim at UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2" according to Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Keith Kizer.

"The Heat" met with the commission yesterday afternoon in an effort to tell his side of the story. Unfortunately no progress was made on either side and the NSAC rescheduled a formal hearing for sometime in March to allow both parties ample time to put their cases together.

The finding was a serious one. Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (which is about six to eight times stronger than morphine) all come with relatively high levels of dependency for regular users. They are all prescription-strength painkillers.

While there will no doubt be speculation about this recent turn of events, remember that Parisyan is innocent until proven guilty. He could face a fine and significant suspension by the NSAC, which he would be allowed to appeal.

Parisyan has recently battled a nervous disorder, as well as injuries, which forced him out of a match against Yoshiyuki Yoshida less than 24 hours before showtime back in September 2008.

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Comments

Good…. Don’t like him or his beady eyed cousin.

by wand1 on Feb 18, 2009 1:21 PM EST reply actions

I was/am one of the biggest supporter of Karo here but now I am a little pissed at his last performance. He had all that time off between this and Thiago fight and came in looking like out of shape baseball player (you know the sport where you don’t need to be an athlete to play) his legs looked not right he didn’t have that fire or aggression he used to have. He looked 10 years older than Kim even thought he is younger. I hope he gets suspended and takes the time to train do the surgery required on his leg and get his body healthy again. His mind needs to relax and get away from the fighting game and take a vacation. I know you need money to do these things and by the sounds of it he doesn’t have alot of money so I hope the UFC gives him an advance and put a condition on him to accomplish certain things. I just don’t want this guy turn into Evan Tanner. Please UFC invest in your athletes

by TKO on Feb 18, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

I personally can’t stand Karo but I respect that your a fan of his…this is starting to sound like Karo’s life will get much worse before it gets better

by McArthur on Feb 18, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

The only reason that I am mad is because had Karo not gotten suspended, we would have gotten to see the “BATTLE of the Douche BAGZ”…Karo vs. Koschek at UFC 98…..I hate Kos, but he is the lessor of 2 evils and I was looking forward to seeing him KO Karo back to the shrinks office!

by john on Feb 18, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

No one commenting. No one really gives a sh*t, at least I don’t. Can’t stand Karo.

by Rubberman on Feb 18, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions

Yea he’s guilty; It makes sense with the panic attacks; I’m no doctor but I’m guessing pain killers would probably calm you down pretty good.

by O damn he got caught on Feb 18, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Dude, I’m freakin’ flying bro!

by PW on Feb 18, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

lmao PW….funniest thing I heard all day!

by john on Feb 18, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

These are not the typical medications I have seen for panic attacks. Usually anti-depressants like zoloft, prozac, paxil, etc. are used to treat it. They may add a pain killer like klonopon or valium at a low dose to ease the anxiety, but these seem like a bit much.

by naturalshadow on Feb 18, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Zoloft, prozac, and paxil are anti-depressants. Klonopon and valium are benzo’s that are used to treat anxiety, and occasionally to relax muscles. They aren’t painkillers though. The painkillers he was taking would definitely help with anxiety as they have anxiolytic and euphoric effects, but he’s already stated he’s prescribed xanax so I don’t know why the heck he wouldn’t just take that since that’s exactly what he got it for.

by Diceman on Feb 18, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t understand why he’s been so vocal about not taking the meds for the panic attacks, yet he’s taking a sh-tload of painkillers. There’s nothing heroic about not taking meds if you need them. I have also never heard of taking a medication ONLY when you feel anxiety. I don’t think he even knows what he’s talking about.

by justagirl on Feb 18, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

He’ll understand when they No-Contest his last fight. I wonder if he’ll go the way of the smashing machine. He might even be an addict and we just don’t it.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 18, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

he said something else like “if I’m guilty I won’t make it till the end of the year”?? WTF does that mean?? I assume he meant $$$$ problems but I think the dude is fu*ked up!! BTW, I don’t think he won his last fight.

by McArthur on Feb 18, 2009 1:26 PM EST reply actions

Your a hundred percent right no way did Karo win that last fight he was out classed all the way around I for one will be happy to see him gone all his fights suck he needs to go to king of the cage and learn to finish other than this fight not to lose shit. Honestly its like watching Tim Sylvia without talent. If they do keep him put him on an undercard are we honestly to believe people would rather watch him over John Fitch on a main card. There you go let Fitch have him KO him and send his boring non exciting self out of the UFC one and for all!!!!

by tapsnapornapbjj on Feb 18, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

But won’t you miss all those exciting Judo throws?

by DrPepper on Feb 18, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

Karo is such a douche. For him to make statement like “They better not…” just goes to show how out of it he is. Now in addition to him making excuses for his loses, he’s making excuses for cheating. GTFO!

by GoKillaB on Feb 18, 2009 1:32 PM EST reply actions

Jeez that is some hardcore stuff he allegedly consumed. I suspect we will be hearing about a very sad ending to the Karo story.

by dana blanco on Feb 18, 2009 1:40 PM EST reply actions

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least

by McArthur on Feb 18, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

I really started to dislike Karo when his cousin Manny was on TUF. The episode where he was giving to Nate Diaz and finally Nate said “get off me man” and there was a big scufuffle. Karo had his chest all puffed up freaking out saying that he would school anyone of these guys and bascically just acted like a Bouncer at a bar wanting to beat someone up!!! What a clown

by the spyder on Feb 18, 2009 1:46 PM EST reply actions

haha…made me dislike both of them too!!! “don’t you know who the fuck I am bro?”

by McArthur on Feb 18, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

Well at least he has an excuse for ducking Jon Fitch now. lol
God, I have no respect for Karo, and Im glad to see he has to take time to think about why he doesnt train.

by Josh on Feb 18, 2009 2:22 PM EST reply actions

LOOK AT HIS RECORD HE’S ONLY FINISHED 1 FIGHT SINCE 2004 FOR CRYING OUT LOUD HE SUCKS!

by tapsnapornapbjj on Feb 18, 2009 2:37 PM EST reply actions

that pudgy bastard should drop to LW

by McArthur on Feb 18, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

None of the mentioned drugs are for anxiety. Usually Vicodin is given to patients after surgery for a few weeks. Vicodin is hydrocodone/acetomenophan(tylenol). Patients can become rapidly tolerant to these if they dont stop when they are suppose to. The next echelon is dilaudid (more potent than morphine)..You begin to see people on oral dilaudid who are drug seekers (people faking pain in the ER asking for specific IV doses of dilaudid. These are usually drug users (heroin addicts) seen in the ER. Finally Oxycontin and other drugs like Roxenol are more potent than dilaudid. These are given to patients with chronic pain (pain from cancers invading nerves, chronic back pain with severe osteoarthritis)…Once on these drugs, there is serious tolerance to narcotics (like heroin addicts who have to take methadone to wean off).

by An apple a Day on Feb 18, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions

If he gets caught – Will Kim get the win? He should do… it was a close fight, but the first round had to be a 10-8 to kim!

I want Karo to stay in the UFC though, he’s such an arrogant bastard – I’d like to see him get a beating off Kos, Fitch, Shields, maybe even a rematch with Alves so he can get knocked the fuck out again… and then have a panic attack!

He must realise the chances of him wearing a belt in the UFC are nil… Especially with GSP around!

by DanP on Feb 18, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions