LAS VEGAS -- The UFC is done with Karo Parisyan after the welterweight's last-minute pullout from his UFC 106 bout against Dustin Hazelett, according to UFC president Dana White.
White unloaded on Parisyan via Twitter on Thursday, saying the former 170-pound contender had "pulled out of the fight the day before weigh-ins again with a laundry list of excuses!!!
"Let the press ask Karo why! Let him explain."
Reached by phone, Parisyan said he could not talk about it. "For the time being, I'm pretty much depressed. I can't say anything right now," he told The Canadian Press.
With the Parisyan fight off, the welterweight bout between Paulo Thiago and Jacob Volkmann has been promoted to the main card, according to the UFC's website.
White said Hazelett (14-4) will be paid in full including his win bonus. Parisyan, however, seems history.
"He will not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC!!" tweeted White.
The 27-year-old from North Hollywood, Calif., was slated to make his comeback Saturday after a drug suspension following a win over South Korean Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 94 in January.
The 170-pounder tested positive for hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxymorphone. All three are painkillers.
He was banned for nine months and fined US$32,000 -- 40 per cent of his purse. His split decision win over Kim was also declared a no decision.
Parisyan (26-5 with two no contests) said at the time that he had a prescription for all three drugs, but forgot to tell the Nevada State Athletic Commission before the bout. He said he didn't remember until he took the urine test.
He said the pain pills were for his hamstring and sciatic nerve.
The judo black belt pulled out of UFC 88 in September 2008 at the last minute, citing sciatic nerve problems. Prior to that he was diagnosed with severe panic attacks.
He fought just once in 2008, losing by TKO to Thiago Alves in April.
Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada commission, said Parisyan had been having issues with his leg and had called him last week and again Monday to see what pain medication he was allowed to take.
Kizer was surprised by the pullout, saying his understanding was that Parisyan's doctor was going to get in contact with the commission doctor.
Kizer had also had talks with Parisyan about how to pay his $32,000 fine.
Parisyan was due to make $40,000 against Hazelett, with another $40,000 if he won. Kizer was going to allow Parisyan to take $16,000 out of his show money and $16,000 out of his win bonus -- allowing him to pay just $16,000 in the case of a loss or draw, with the other half to be paid later.
Kizer said Parisyan had done the right thing by making the call to the commission about his medication inquiry.