Karen Darabedyan

Karen Darabedyan (Կարեն Դարաբեդյան, born December 18, 1986) is an Armenian-American professional mixed martial artist and the founder of KD MMA Training Center in Glendale, CA. He is best known for fighting in WEC's lightweight division. Darabedyan is a training partner of Karo Parisyan and Manvel Gamburyan. He had a 12-0 amateur boxing record before he began MMA.

Biography
Darabedyan is an Armenian mixed martial arts fighter who has positioned himself as a well-rounded athlete through diverse and extensive training. He began studying karate at the age of 5 and taekwondo at the age of 9, earning his black belt in both by age 18.

He began expanding his martial arts training in junior high by taking up boxing, kick boxing, judo and wrestling, earning a black belt in judo by age 16 and achieving a 12-0 amateur boxing record by 18. During high school, he claimed two judo state championship titles and placed third in the nation. At age 16, Darabedyan entered the world of grappling, placing 1st in the Intermediate Men's No-Gi Lightweight division at the 2004 Grapplers Quest West 5 and winning 1st place at under 189.9 pounds in the 2007 World Grappling Games Best of West.

Drawing on his diverse training, Darabedyan competed in his first mixed martial arts fight at age 18, claiming a win in the first round by KO. Since then, he has compiled a 9–4 record. Despite Darabedyan's strong judo and grappling background, he tends to favor keeping the fight on his feet and striking.

He trained with Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell as well as Roma Kalantaryan at Main Event Gym in Glendale.

WEC career
He made his WEC debut by defeating former WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough on November 18, 2009, at WEC 44.

Darabedyan lost via armbar to Bart Palaszewski on March 6, 2010, at WEC 47.

He then faced Will Kerr on June 20, 2010, at WEC 49. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Darabedyan was expected to face fellow WEC veteran Marcus Hicks on September 11, 2010, at Shark Fights 13 but Hicks was forced off the card with an injury. Instead, he faced Daniel Mason-Straus and lost the fight via unanimous decision.