Georgi Karakhanyan kicking Waylon Lowe (photo via WSOF)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Heading into World Series of Fighting’s latest event Saturday, there’s been no shortage of coverage tied to Lance Palmer, thanks to the head turning start the accomplished wrestler has had in MMA. While the undefeated fighter has captured a lot of attention, and for good reason, the man he’s about to fight for the featherweight championship, Georgi Karakhanyan, has also been on quite a run.

In fact, since Palmer (7-0) turned professional in 2011, and proceeded to win seven straight bouts, Karakhanyan (22-3-1) has gone 8-1 in that timeframe. Not only that, but Karakhanyan has somewhat quietly gone about defeating established vets like Micah Miller, Hiroyuki Takaya and Din Thomas.

“You know, I don’t think like that at all,” Karakhanyan said recently on Full Contact Fighter Radio, when asked if he was concerned whether his recent run would produce a high profile fight soon. “I try to focus on one fight at a time and get better at what I do, get good at all of the aspects of martial arts.”

“As far as getting some respect, I don’t think I still get enough respect from fans and media, you know?” Added Karakhanyan, in response to whether he believes his recent accomplishments have been somewhat overlooked. “Even though I beat a lot of tough veterans, I don’t think I get that respect, but hopefully after this fight, when I beat up Lance Palmer, I gain some more respect.”

Karakhanyan (photo WSOF)

The 28 year-old Karakhanyan made his WSOF debut in September, and after tapping out Waylon Lowe with a first round, guillotine choke, he was booked to fight for the promotion’s inaugural featherweight title. Initially, however, Karakhanyan was scheduled to fight Rick Glenn December 7th, before the latter had to withdraw.

While Glenn is also a highly touted prospect, the talented striker does not come from a decorated, collegiate wrestling career like the Team Alpha Male member.

“It is a different change because Rick Glenn is more of a stand-up fighter, and Lance Palmer is more of a wrestler, so you know, he comes from a great wrestling background. But as a fighter, I can adapt to any opponent that they give me,” noted Karakhanyan, while discussing the change in opponent. “Even if it’s two weeks notice, or one week’s notice, or even one day notice, so to me it doesn’t matter.”

It will be interesting to see what kind of strategy Palmer employs versus Karakhanyan. Although one would think the four time All-American wrestler will be able to put the Karakhanyan on his back, the latter’s record is not short on submission wins.

“Going into this fight I don’t want to guess he’s going to do this, or he’s going to do that, I’m just going to fight where the fight goes,” the Millennia MMA fighter noted. “I know he’s a great wrestler but when that door locks it’s not a wrestling match, it’s not a jiu-jitsu match or a boxing match, it’s MMA. Once I punch him in the face he will try to take me down but it will be really hard.”

WSOF 7 will be hosted by Vancouver’s PNE Agrodome and the the main card will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network.