Karen Darabedyan (born December 18, 1986) is an Armenian professional mixed martial artist. He is more notable for fighting in WEC's lightweight division. He is a training partner of Karo Parisyan and Manvel Gamburyan. He had a 12-0 amateur boxing record before he began MMA.^{[citation needed]}

Karen is an Armenian mixed martial arts fighter who has positioned himself as a well-rounded athlete through diverse and extensive training. Darabedyan 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.^{[citation needed]} During high school, he claimed two judo state championship titles and placed third in the nation.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} Drawing on his diverse training, Karen 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 Karen’s strong judo and grappling background, he tends to favor keeping the fight on his feet and striking. Karen currently trains with Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell as well as Roma Kalantaryan at Main Event Gym in Glendale.^{[citation needed]}

Will Kerr (born October 21, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist who formerly fought in WEC's lightweight division. He made his WEC debut against Kamal Shalorus on November 2009 at WEC 44, replacing an injured Alex Karalexis, where he lost via TKO in the first round.

Kerr then faced Karen Darabedyan on June 20, 2010 at WEC 49. He won the fight via submission (Armbar) in the first round.

Kerr faced Danny Castillo on December 16, 2010 at WEC 53. He lost the fight via KO in the first round.

Gokor Chivichyan (Armenian: Գոքոր Չիվիչյան; born 1963) is an Armenian Judo, submission grappling, and mixed martial arts instructor. Gokor currently trains professional and amateur fighters at the Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood. Chivichyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia.

Gokor began his training as a young child in Soviet Armenia, winning many national and international junior titles in Judo, Sambo, and wrestling. At the age of 17, Gokor relocated to Los Angeles, where he continued his training in no-gi submission grappling under Gene LeBell, a famous catch wrestler and America' first Judo champion.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Gokor traveled and competed in the Soviet Union and throughout Europe, Japan, Thailand, and Mexico. He amassed a record of over 400 wins and no losses over a career of competing in Sambo, Judo, Submission Grappling, and Mixed-Martial-Arts^{[citation needed]}. With the opening of the Hayastan Academy in 1991, Gokor retired from professional fighting, undefeated, and focused his time on teaching.

Robert Alexander McCullough IV (born May 26, 1977) is an American Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a five-time World Muay Thai Champion^{[citation needed]}, and is a former WEC Lightweight Champion. He currently trains in Huntington Beach, California at HB Ultimate Training Center. His training partners include Jean Carrillo, Muay Thai boxing coach; and Rob Natzel, strength and conditioning coach.

McCullough began his MMA career with a first-round technical knockout victory at the Palace Casino in Lemoore, California, in 2001. Between 2003 and 2007, "Razor Rob" went 10-1 with nine stoppage victories and only a split-decision loss to Harris Sarmiento, which he later avenged.

McCullough defeated Muay Thai fighter Kit Cope at WEC 25 to win the vacant WEC lightweight title. He defended the title once by defeating Richard Crunkilton by first-round TKO. On February 13, 2008, he lost his title to Jamie Varner when Varner defeated him by TKO due to strikes in the third round.

After losing his title, McCullough struggled over his next four fights in the now-defunct WEC. He defeated Kenneth Alexander by split decision but then lost to Donald Cerrone. He defeated Marcus Hicks by majority decision, but he fractured his right hand and received minor damage to his ankle and subsequently underwent surgery to repair his hand. McCullough was expected to return to the cage against Anthony Pettis on November 18, 2009, at WEC 44; but Pettis had to pull out of the bout with an undisclosed injury. McCullough instead faced WEC newcomer Karen Darabedyan. McCullough lost to Darabedyan via split decision.

Manvel "Manny" Gamburyan (Armenian: Մանվել Գամբուրյան; born May 8, 1981) is an Armenian American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter 5. Gamburyan is currently fighting in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is currently ranked as the #10 featherweight in the world by Sherdog.com, and #9 by MMAFighting.com.

In May 1991, Gamburyan's family relocated from Armenia to the United States. Shortly after his arrival, he began training in judo at Gokor Chivichyan's and Gene LeBell's Hayastan MMA Academy and quickly became one of the top judokan in the country, winning junior nationals less than two years later. He went on to win junior nationals eight times, the junior Olympics once, and was a member of the 2000 judo junior world team.

Gamburyan began his career in 1999 at the age of 17. He won his first four fights, then lost a decision to future UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk in 2001. His cousin Karo Parisyan nicknamed him "Pitbull" for the tenacity he displayed in the fight.