Training Camp Quotes From Georgi Karakhanyan, Dave Huckaba and Derrick Mehmen

Fight week is here, and featherweight champion Georgi Karakhanyan (23-3-1) defends his title for the first time agains Rick Glenn (14-2) in the co-main event of “World Series of Fighting 10: Branch vs. Taylor.”  The event takes place at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, June 21 and will be televised live on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET(7 p.m. PT local time).

The championship tripleheader topped by a main event of David Branch (13-3) vs. Jesse Taylor (27-9) for World Series of Fighting’s inaugural middleweight title, as well as the world’s no. 1 ranked women’s strawweight and current World Series of Fighting champion Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (17-4), who will defend her belt against Japanese contender Emi “The Kamikaze Angel” Fujino (13-7).

Additionally, the main card will include intense matchups of lightweights  Tyson Griffin(16-7) vs. Luiz “Buscape” Firmino (17-6) and featherweights Nick Lobosco (7-0) vs.Lance Palmer (7-1).

In the headlining bout of the WSOF.com-streamed preliminary fights, heavyweight sluggers Dave Huckaba and Derrick Mehmen will go toe-to-toe in an fight that is sure to produce fireworks.

Georgi Karakhanyan

What are your thoughts and impressions of your next opponent, Rick Glenn?

“He deserves the title shot. He’s 2-0 in the World Series of Fighting. He’s long and lanky with a style like Erik Koch and Anthony Pettis. He has a great coach – Duke Roufus, whom I respect. My last two World Series of Fighting opponents, Waylon Lowe and Lance Palmer, were very tough and so is Rick Glenn. I don’t underestimate him but I’m coming into this fight with lots of confidence.”

Are you making any special preparations for Rick Glenn?

”I’m just sparring with a lot of tall southpaws. This will be my fourth southpaw opponent and I think I’m a very bad match-up for southpaws because of my roundhouse kicks. I’m unbeaten versus southpaws (3-0).

“I’m going to stay on my game and come up with new things. You know, I don’t want to be a boring fighter; I want to put on an exciting show for the fans. I’ve put an extreme amount of time in this sport and I haven’t fought the way that I expect myself to fight. I keep going to the gym every day to become the fighter I’ve always visualized. I haven’t fought the way I want to fight.”

Where would you rank yourself among the world’s best featherweights?

“For sure Top 10, even Top 5. I’ve faced tougher opponents during my first two fights in World Series of Fighting than some guys in other organizations. I’m willing to take chances and I’m willing to fight all of the top guys to climb up the ladder.”

Derrick Mehmen quotes & tweets: 

“I’ve said it before, you can’t fix stupid,” Mehmen said in one of his tweets. “@Badmanhuckaba the 21st the world will see (how) delusional your really are.”

“After I whoop @BadmanHuckaba a**, who’s next? Might as well set that s*** up @MMAWorldSeries”

“He’s got some power in his hands and he’s a brawler,” said Mehmen, who has never been knocked out. “He doesn’t have a whole lot of technique or anything … but I’m impressed that he’s a tough guy. … He’s got a punchers chance. I’ve got the power, technique and I’m more well-rounded. I can take it to the ground if I want, but I don’t have to take it to the ground. He’s not taking me down. If I do take him down I’m going to dominate him. He’s got nothing for me on the ground, for sure. The only chance he has to win this fight is one lucky punch.”

Dave Huckaba quotes:

“He’s got a big mouth really,” Huckaba said. “He’s badmouthed my family and me. He’s disrespectful to the sport. MMA is a sport of respect, man. It’s a sport of two men doing battle, it’s not about trash talking. He’s just a young kid that doesn’t know any better.

“He’s not even that good of a fighter, man. He’s got an overhand right and grappling and that’s about it.… I’m going to knock him out.”

Huckaba started training at 31 (no BJJ, wrestling, martial arts training prior)

“I mostly train in my garage and I still beat up top-level fighters. I still beat up people from the world’s biggest MMA gyms. There’s no other way to explain my success other than ‘heart’ and putting in the work. I’m just a gifted athlete.”