Georgi Karakhanyan on Training with Nate Diaz, Fighting Out His Contract At Bellator 192

Bellator MMA's Georgi Karakhanyan
Georgi Karakhanyan Credit: Mike McClory/Cageside Press

Where ever Georgi Karakhanyan fights next, he promises his hands are getting raised on Saturday at Bellator 192.

Bellator 192 featherweight Georgi Karakhanyan has everything you want in a top flight featherweight. And while he’s had his ups and downs recently, the former World Series of Fighting champion has the potential to put on a show whenever he steps in the cage. Karakhanyan will face Henry Corrales Saturday night as part of the event’s main card, airing on the newly re-branded Paramount Network (formerly Spike TV).

He took some time out to speak to Cageside’s Gabriel Gonzalez about fighting out his deal, the state of Bellator’s featherweight division, and more.

First up, on training with the Diaz brothers of late, Karakhanyan confirmed that he’s been working mostly with Nate Diaz. He explained that “I just went out there and trained with new training partners. I’m always trying to evolve as a fighter, a person.” And he saw reason for a change. “There’s some things in my past year, I wasn’t satisfied [with]. So I just went and corrected them. January 20, we’ll see when I go out there and fight.”

Opposite him in the cage will be Henry Corrales, another athlete who likes to bring it once the bell rings. “The kid comes forward” Georgi said of his opponent at Bellator 192. “This is MMA, we wear four ounce gloves, anything could happen. We’re just gonna clash heads, it’s gonna be fireworks.”

The landscape of the featherweight division in Bellator is another matter, however. “The featherweight division in Bellator is pretty boring right now. This is my last fight on my contract. I’m just [going] to treat this fight as my last fight” he unveiled. “I’m looking forward to Janaury 20. As far as what happens after that, it’s up to my management and the organization. We’ll go from there.”

Does that mean he’ll be looking at some free agent opportunities? “Of course, you know, whoever brings the money to the table, we’ll go with them.”

Georgi Karakhanyan faces Henry Corrales as part of the main card of Bellator 192 on Saturday, January 20 at The Forum in Los Angeles, CA. Check out our interview with Karakhanyan below!