From 2004 through 2005, Karo Parisyan ripped through the UFC welterweight division, defeating Shonie Carter, Matt Sera, Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle and David Strasser.
His only loss during that two-year stretch was to future (and now former) UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
And when "Rush" couldn't get the job done against then-champion Matt Hughes at UFC 50, "The Heat" was next in line to challenge for the title.
However, during training for the scheduled bout at UFC 56 in November 2005, Parisyan injured his knee and tore his hamstring.
His shot at the title was lost ... and he hasn't been given another one since.
It's an issue that still bothers him, or so it appears, to this day, according to a recent interview with Nokaut.com.
Here's a snip:
"... if I beat [Josh] Burkman I should get my title shot because I had my title shot once and I never got it back, I have to work my way up. St. Pierre got hurt, lost his title shot, but he came back and they gave him a shot; I don't think that's fair. But as far as everything they are just trying to feed Matt Hughes, they are giving him Matt Serra so he can take his title back and be champion of the world, it's fucking stupid bro. I can't believe that bullshit.... He lost, he fought once and he won, and he gets his title shot again? Come on, bro. I couldn't even fight, came back and fought Nick Thompson -- I mauled him in the first round, they didn't give me a title shot. They gave me Diego, and I wasn't even coming off a loss, I was just coming off a big injury. You see, how does that work, because he's friends with people? Yeah, you were the champion, but still Matt... you gotta give equal to everybody ... I just think it is pretty fucked up how the system works."
Without a doubt, Parisyan earned a title shot. And even though this smacks a little of self-entitlement, he does bring up a good point.
The current "system" of determining number one contenders — or some sort of hierarchy — doesn't work.
That's because one doesn't exist.
And even if Parisyan can get past Josh Burkman at UFC 71 on May 26, there's a good chance he's still going to be, once again, waiting in line behind St. Pierre for his opportunity to challenge for the 170-pound strap.
Or, the UFC can do the right thing and put the winners of Parisyan-Burkman and St. Pierre-Koscheck in a cage for the right to face the winner of Serra-Hughes.
That'd be a good start ... and we certainly have the time thanks to The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6.
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