Video: Georgi Karakhanyan embraces wrestling ahead of WSOF 7 title fight

Georgi Karakhanyan was once the guy who would skip out on a wrestling practice if he could. Now he’s the first guy on the mats in the morning.

For the majority of his career, Karakhanyan has avoided working on what many believe to be the most difficult aspect of MMA: wrestling.

Ahead of his World Series of Fighting 7 championship fight with ex-Ohio State All-American wrestler Lance Palmer (7-0), Karakhanyan (22-3-1) has embraced the grind and is now in a place where he not only relishes wrestling, but will also actively seek to implement it in his fights.

“I’m enjoying every wrestling practice,” Karakhanyan on Monday told MMAjunkie Radio. “I think wrestling is the hardest sport, but I’m enjoying every practice.”

With Palmer being the most decorated wrestler Karakhanyan has faced thus far in his nearly eight-year career, the Russian-born fighter pulled out all the stops to prepare.

Specifically, Karakhanyan added former NCAA Division-I champion wrestler-turned-MMA fighter Bubba Jenkins to his camp.

“Once I found out [my opponent] was Lance Palmer, that’s when I started looking for way higher-level quality wrestlers,” Karakhanyan said. “I found Bubba Jenkins, who lives literally 10 minutes away from my house, so I wrestled with him quite a bit for this camp.”

Jerkins (5-1) has an extensive history with Palmer, as the two talented grapplers crossed paths multiple times during their respective collegiate careers.

While Karakhanyan isn’t exactly expecting to toss Palmer around the cage all evening, he thinks Jenkins’ insights will be beneficial in his performance.

“Bubba has experience with Lance – I think he wrestled him like nine times and beat him eight times,” Karakhanyan said. “It was good to go work with Bubba. I plan to work with him for my future fights.”

Karakhanyan’s newfound open-mindedness toward the wrestling aspect of MMA has been beneficial beyond developing his skills in just one area.

Karakhanyan believes it has improved him as a fighter overall and added a new element to his game should he be unable to finish an opponent with strikes or a submission.

“I think wrestling controls fights, and from my previous fights I’ve learned that if I can’t finish the fight, then wrestling is the best way to win by decision and kind of control the fight,” Karakhanyan said.

The PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, Canada, will play host to the inaugural WSOF featherweight title contest between Karakhanyan and Palmer this Saturday. The event can be viewed on NBC Sports Network with prelim action streaming on MMAjunkie.

As the most significant fight of his life rapidly approaches, Karakhanyan has pulled out all the stops to ensure a victory.

The 28-year-old will have the development of his weaknesses put to the test by Palmer, but Karakhanyan believes as long as he does what he’s supposed to, everything else will fall into place.

“I’m just focused on going there and fighting my fight,” Karakhanyan. “The belt and all that stuff will come after I perform the way I want to perform.”

For more on WSOF 7, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.