Former UFC fighter Karo Parisyan had been in negotiations for a possible move to join Strikeforce, and fight on their card June 16 in Los Angeles. However, Parisyan and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker were unable to come to a contractual agreement.
“We had a cup of coffee,” Coker said. “It didn’t work out. He’s a great kid. We wish him luck.”
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com after a source close to the event said a proposed deal had recently been shelved.
Parisyan (18-5) was released from the UFC by Dana White after he withdrew from a scheduled fight with Dustin Hazelett at UFC 106. White gave Parisyan the same fate he gave recently released fighter Paul Daley, promising he would never fight for the organization again.
“Karo Parisyan has [expletive] over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!!!” White wrote on his official Twitter account after the withdrawal, which came a day before the event’s weigh-ins.
A dejected Parisyan then said he was unsure whether he’d fight again when he received word of White’s declaration. It was the second time he withdrew from a competition on short notice after he claimed to have injured his back one day before an expected meeting with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 88.
Parisyan’s last fight took place at UFC 94 against Dong Hyun Kim. Parisyan originally won the fight via split decision but the decision was later changed to a no contest after he tested positive for banned painkillers in the post-fight drug test.
