One of the four recently announced featherweight signings by the Chicago-based Bellator FC, Russian-born Armenian fighter Georgi "Insane" Karakhanyan aims to put his stamp on the division as he competes in the promotion's promising second season. The 12-week tournament, debuting April 8, is set up to determine the number one contender for each of Bellator's four weight classes (featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight) and will conclude with four respective championship bouts. MMA Spot’s C.M. Holden recently sat down with Karakhanyan (12-1-1) to discuss a variety of topics, including his recent signing with Bellator, his thoughts on the featherweight division, and his career as a mixed martial artist.

Karakhanyan (Kah-ra-kahn-yan) is intently focused on a title contest with the current featherweight champion, Joe "The Hammer" Soto, and the three elimination fights that will get him there. MMA Spot’s C.M. Holden recently sat down with Karakhanyan (12-1-1) to discuss a variety of topics, including his recent signing with Bellator, his thoughts on the featherweight division, and his career as a mixed martial artist.

Being able to focus entirely on training and competing is an uncommon luxury that allows athletes the gains necessary to perform at an elite level. "It's really important. There is so much you need to learn in this game, so you need to put in a lot of time. It's really important."

With a record of 12-1-1, Karakhanyan has put in that time, and a lot of it has been spent shuffling between multiple MMA organizations on the regional level. Joining the growing ranks at Bellator provides the 24-year-old with the security, stability, and national exposure he has yet to experience in his young career.

"I'm really excited. Last year Bellator did a really good job with all the fights. I was really shocked watching the featherweights and even the lightweights, and with that submission of Toby Imada against Jorge Masvidal, it was really exciting. I personally think Bjorn [Rebney, Bellator's CEO] is a really smart man. With the three channel TV deal he has with Fox Sports, NBC, and Telemundo, it's really good exposure; not just for me but for other fighters to show our skills. It's not on pay-per-view, you know," Karakhanyan exclaimed.

That being said, the tournament format implemented by Bellator is no walk in the park. Aside from the possibility of losing one of the three scheduled bouts on the way to the title shot, fighting once a month presents the very real possibility of suffering an injury severe enough that it would force a fighter out of the competition.

Karakhanyan relishes the opportunity. "I feel really excited. I think it's good, you fight every month. If I had the opportunity to fight every month, 12 fights a year, I would have done it. I like to fight a lot. I like to stay busy." And as for injuries, "That might happen, you never know. I don't know until I fight. If it happens, things happen for a reason."

If he does make it through the season victorious and relatively unscathed, the newly crowned champion, Joe Soto, awaits with the belt. Karakhanyan is ready for the shot. "He's a good wrestler. He's well rounded. I match up really good. I'll be a tough opponent for him. We'll see, I can't wait until I beat those three guys and fight him."

Full Interview

The interview is pretty long, but it's good.  Georgi is pretty damn impressive already, I look forward to seeing what he'll do in Bellator.  It should be much easier to see now with their three channel deal.  Season 2 looks to be good.