Just days after announcing a Mike Easton vs. Ken Stone bantamweight scrap for UFC on FX 1, UFC match-makers had to scramble to find Easton a new opponent with Stone suffering an injury in training. Now they have one, and it's a fighter who's been campaigning very vocally on Twitter for a UFC spot: Team Hayastan member, Jared Papazian. MMA Weekly reports the booking:
King of the Cage bantamweight champion Jared Papazian has stepped in to face Mike Easton at UFC on FX 1 on Jan. 20, MMAWeekly.com has learned from sources.
Papazian had originally hoped to compete in the UFC's newly formed flyweight division, but was eager for any chance he could get to compete, and first petitioned UFC matchmaker, Sean Shelby, via Twitter to fill in for the injured Eddie Wineland in Chicago, but when Mitch Gagnon got that spot, Papazian continued his Twitter campaign and was again asking Shelby for a shot when the news broke that Stone was injured. The squeaky wheel got the grease apparently, and now Papazian, the reigning King of the Cage bantamweight champion, who trains under Gokor Chivichyan in California alongside Ronda Rousey and Manny Gamburyan, will make his UFC debut on just two weeks' notice against the very tough Easton.
Jared "The Jackhammer" Papazian (13-6)
W Marvin Garcia (unam. decision) - KOTC First Defense
W Abel Cullum (unam. decision) - KOTC Epic Force
W Kana Hyatt (unam. decision) - KOTC Turning Point
0 recs | 14 comments
UFC's been on quite the shopping spree lately
AwkwardBoner - January 6, 2012
I am fairly certain Jared drops to 125 after this fight, he’s been talking about it
Robert V-U - January 6, 2012
same with Joseph Sandoval after his fight
pridedaze09 - January 6, 2012
Hadn't heard, but thats awesome
I wonder why Sandoval took a second BW fight, I think it sucks when guys get losses at higher weights than they should be fighting
Robert V-U - January 6, 2012
Sean Shelby is the UFC matchmaker? I thought he was just the Strikeforce matchmaker and Joe Silva just did UFC matchmaking?
Tim Bernier - January 6, 2012
Sean Shelby makes the fights at FW BW and FLW while Joe Silva makes the fights at LW WW MW LHW HW
chavez_26 - January 6, 2012
That makes a ton of sense. Shelby is used to matchmaking for those lighter weights.
Tim Bernier - January 6, 2012
Shelby is
the midgetmatchmaker
taptomyarmbar - January 6, 2012
I'd watch that show
crazedfan - January 6, 2012
Ultimate Midgets
Book it!
taptomyarmbar - January 6, 2012
this fighter is
entertaining and aggressive
spidathon - January 6, 2012
Beating Abel Cullum, a good Lightweight, when he’s gonna fight at BW and wants to fight at FLW is pretty damned impressive.
BVandDietPepsi - January 6, 2012
Abel’s a FW, but he’s competed at BW too. Check out Abel’s fight with Hideo Tokoro, you will thank me later, graciously
Robert V-U - January 6, 2012
easton
is a beast. not the easiest debut for old pap
bawssauce - January 6, 2012
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