Sako Chivitchian

Sako Chivitchian
Born Sarkis Chivitchian[1]
(1984-03-11) March 11, 1984
Armenian SSR, Soviet Union[1]
Other names The Psycho[2]
The Armenian Psycho[3]
The Chainsaw[4]
Nationality Armenian
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division Lightweight
Welterweight (formerly)
Reach 71.0 in (180 cm)
Fighting out of Glendale, California, United States
Team Hayastan Studio
Rank black belt in Judo
Years active 1999 - one fight
2009-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 7
Wins 6
By knockout 1
By submission 3
By decision 2
Losses 1
By knockout 0
By submission 0
By decision 1
Draws 0
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Sako Chivitchian (born March 11, 1984) is an Armenian-born mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who competes in the lightweight division. He emigrated to the United States and is based in Los Angeles.[3] A full-time professional MMA competitor since 2009, Chivitchian mostly competed in his regional circuit of California before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Chivitchian began training in judo at the age of six with his uncle Gokor Chivichyan;[3] he has won a total of eleven U.S. national titles[6][7] including junior titles in 2000[8] and 2001,[9] and two junior Olympic championships.[10] In 2001–2002, he was named the United States Judo Federation's National Youth Male Athlete of the Year.[11] He has placed first and third in the Junior U.S. Open Judo Championships.[10] He also competed in the 2002 World Junior Championships in South Korea, where he lost his only match.[12]

In addition to judo, Chivitchian took up wrestling, and by age 14 had placed second at the California State Championships and third at the Freestyle State Championships.[10] He next took up mixed martial arts (MMA) and won his inaugural fight (at age 15) in 98 seconds by armbar.[4] Chivitchian's opponent in his first fight was Timothy Morris,[13] who has previously lost to teammate Manny Gamburyan.[4] In the years following, he took up jiu-jitsu and boxing.[10]

Chivitchian was involved in a shooting at age 19, after he and his friends were jumped by a gang. Chivitchian suffered a gunshot wound to his leg which made him temporarily unable to train, prompting his move to college and into real estate.[7]

Chivitchian trains in Glendale, California at the Hayastan Studio, alongside The Ultimate Fighter 5 runner-up and World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight contender Manny Gamburyan.[14]

Despite having first fought professionally in MMA in 1999, Chivitchian did not take up fighting full-time until 2009. He won his return bout in January 2009 by technical knockout (TKO) and achieved a submission victory two months later.[4] In October 2009, Chivitchian won a further fight via submission, before claiming a split decision victory in December.[4]

The Ultimate Fighter

Chivitchian then signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck.[5] He competed on the debut episode against Toby Grear, taking a unanimous decision victory.[15] In the next episode, the team picks were made and Josh Koscheck selected Chivitchian as his third pick (fifth overall).[16]

Chivitchian faced Dane Sayers in his opening round matchup.[17] His performance was criticised for grabbing the fence to avoid being taken down on multiple occasions, yet he was not penaised with any point deduction. Chivitchian won the fight by unanimous decision as all three judges scored the fight 20–18.[17]

In the quarter finals, Chivitchian faced Jonathan Brookins. Brookins was able to throw Chivitchian to the mat, which forced Chivitchian to try to stand up. Brookins then got hooks in and worked for a rear naked choke, eventually sealing it soon after, eliminating Chivitchian from the competition.[18]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Chivitchian made his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck Finale against Kyle Watson[19] and lost by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28). He along with Aaron Wilkinson was released from the promotion.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 8–1 Dominique Chisem Submission Xplode Fight Series - Summer Fight Night 3 June 21, 2013 2 1:10 Twentynine Palms, California, United States
Win 7–1 Tony Lewis Submission (rear-naked choke) Gladiator Challenge - Battleground March 24, 2013 1 0:40 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win 6–1 Preston Scharf Decision (split) Lights Out Promotions - Chaos at the Casino May 5, 2012 3 5:00 Inglewood, California, United States
Loss 5–1 Kyle Watson Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale December 4, 2010 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–0 Marcos Gonzalez Decision (split) NFAMMA - Resurrection December 18, 2009 3 3:00 Ventura, California, United States
Win 4–0 Sergio Salcido Submission (armbar) Long Beach Fight Night 6 October 18, 2009 1 1:28 Long Beach, California, United States
Win 3–0 Frank Baldivia Submission (rear-naked choke) California Xtreme Fighting March 26, 2009 1 1:28 El Monte, California, United States
Win 2–0 Noe Rodriguez TKO (punches) California Xtreme Fighting January 29, 2009 3 0:14 El Monte, California, United States
Win 1–0 Timothy Morris Submission (armbar) Kage Kombat 14 April 5, 1999 1 1:38 Los Angeles, California, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Lose 2-1 United States Jonathan Brookins Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck 1 2:05 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Quarter-finals
Win 2-0 United States Dane Sayers Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Preliminary bout
Win 1-0 United States Toby Grear Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Elimination bout

References

  1. 1 2 "Sako "The Chainsaw" Chivitchian". sakomma.com. Sako Chivitchian. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/the-ultimate-fighter-12-finale-sako-the-chainsaw-chivitchian-vs-kyle-watson
  3. 1 2 3 Armstrong, B. (September 15, 2010). "On The Spot ~ Sako Chivitchian". mmaspot.net. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sako "The Chainsaw" Chivitchyan". sherdog.com. CraveOnline Media. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Meet the cast for "The Ultimate Fighter 12," field includes 28 lightweights". mmajunkie.com. August 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Ultimate Fighter Season 12 cast breakdown". mmavalor.com. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Meet The Ultimate Fighter 12 cast: Sako Chivitchian, the latest Armenian prospect". mmajunkie.com. September 21, 2010.
  8. ↑ Israel, D. (July 1, 2000). "2000 Junior National Results". usjf.com. United States Judo Federation. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  9. ↑ Israel, D. (July 15, 2001). "2001 Junior National Results". usjf.com. United States Judo Federation. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "About (Sako Chivitchian)". sakomma.com. Sako Chivitchian. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ USJF Development Committee (August 8, 2002). "July 2002 Development Report". usjf.com. United States Judo Federation. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Judo record".referenced 12/23/2012
  13. ↑ "Timothy Morris". sherdog.com. CraveOnline Media. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Spike TV unveils TUF 12 cast: Sako Chivitchian". sherdog.com. CraveOnline Media. August 3, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Episode no.1 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. September 16, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Episode No. 2 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. September 22, 2010.
  17. 1 2 "Episode No. 7 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. October 27, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Episode No. 9 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. November 10, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Kyle Watson". sherdog.com. CraveOnline Media. Retrieved January 27, 2011.

External links

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