Author: Chatinian Lara

PAN-ARMENIAN WINTER GAMES TO BE HELD

Noyan Tapan
Aug 24, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobian received Deputy Chairman of Pan-Armenian
Games’ Committee, Canadian Armenian businessman Hrant Bardakchian
on August 21. The latter said that during the meeting with
Mrs. H. Hakobian he learnt about the activity and programs of the
Ministry, about the results of the Minister’s visits to Spain and
Poland, as well as about the RA Ministry of Diaspora’s Hayern Aysor
electronic newspaper and website.

Touching upon the programs of Pan-Armenian Games H. Bardakchian
attached importance to the fact that young people from different
communities of Diaspora visit their Homeland. He pointed out with
pleasure that the community teams of Diaspora won 2009 Pan-Armenian
Games. Thus, the team of Tehran Armenians won the final of the football
tournament, and the team of Sochi won the Los Angeles-Sochi final
game of the basketball man championship. H. Bardakchian also said
that a meeting of Pan-Armenian Games World Committee will be held
in May 2010 in Yerevan and the problems connected with organization
of the next Pan-Armenian Games of 2011 will be discussed during that
meeting. Pan-Armenian Winter Games are also planned to be held.

NEW ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR HANDS OVER COPIES OF HIS CREDENTIALS TO MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF EGYPT

Noyan Tapan
Aug 24, 2009

CAIRO, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Egypt Armen Melkonian handed over the
copies of his credentials to Foreign Minister of Egypt Ahmed Aboul
Gheit on August 20.

During the conversation following the ceremony of handing the
credentials A.

Gheit hoped that the ambassador will contribute to the deepening and
development of Armenian-Egyptian relations during his tenure. He highly
assessed the cooperation between the two countries and underscored
the necessity of continual contacts at different levels. The Minister
also pointed out the role of the Egyptian-Armenian community both in
the domestic life of the country and in deepening Armenian-Egyptian
relations.

A. Melkonian expressed his willingness in bringing to life the
mentioned programs and further expanding the mutually beneficial
cooperation. At the request of A. Gheit he presented the last
developments in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process and
current state of Armenian-Turkish dialogue.

Regnum news agency, Russia
Aug 18 2009

Armenian politician says talk of military bases sign of Azeri-Russian tension

An Armenian politician has named dispute over energy resources between
Azerbaijan and Russia as the likely reason for the emergence of
reports about the possibility of Yerevan deploying military bases in
Russia.

It is possible that military bases will indeed be deployed if
Azerbaijan continues its current policy, Stepan Safaryan, Armenian MP
from the opposition Heritage Party, told Russia’s Regnum news agency
in an interview on 18 August.

"The latest developments in relations between Azerbaijan and Russia,
and in particular Azerbaijan’s refusal to sell all of its gas to
Russia and the noise made over the possible decision of Turkey to
grant transit for supplies to the Russian military base in Armenia,
gave grounds to Moscow to ‘bring Azerbaijan into submission’," the
agency quoted Safaryan as saying.

Regnum news agency on 17 August quoted an anonymous source in the
joint headquarters of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization as saying that the military circles in Yerevan and Moscow
are discussing the possibility of setting up two Armenian military
bases in the North Caucasus: in Krasnodar Territory and
Dagestan. "They are discussing deployment of a limited contingent to
ensure security of the transport infrastructure," the source said
according to Regnum.

Meanwhile, the Armenian news website Lragir.am dismissed reports on
the possibility of Yerevan having bases in the North Caucasus as
"provocation". On 19 August the website said Russia might attempt this
to channel the energy of the North Caucasus rebels against Armenia.

"One of our well-known political analysts noted that Armenia is
fortunate that Ankara does not allow anyone to use Armenia against
it. This is a painfully correct statement. Yerevan is unlucky with
Russia, however, as it uses Armenia to the full," Lragir’s report
said.

Interfax, Russia
Aug 21 2009

SuperJet International and Armavia agree to terms for aftersale
service of SSK-100

MOSCOW Aug 21

Russo-Italian company SuperJet International (SJI) announced that has
signed an agreement with Armenian carrier Armavia regarding the
aftersale servicing for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100).

The signing took place at the MAKS-2009 airshow, SJI said in a
statement.

According to the statement, the companies confirmed their plans to
reach an agreement at the end of November 2009, which would be binding
for five years with an extension option. The provision of services to
the SSJ-100 aircraft is part of the SuperCare plan.

The SuperCare Plan is an all-encompassing program, based on an hourly
rate developed by SJI especially for the SSJ100. For example, Armavia
will receive access to such services as spare parts and a single
servicing interface, as well as of maintenance of on-board equipment.

SuperJet International, which is based in Venice, is a joint venture
founded by Alenia Aeronautica, which is part of the Finmeccanica Group
with 51% and OJSC Sukhoi with 49%. The joint venture engages in the
marketing, sales, customization and supply of SSJ-100 aircraft to
foreign markets. In addition, SuperJet International is responsible
for the aircraft’s after-sales service, as well as the design and
development of VIP and cargo versions of the SSJ-100.

UKRAINE, AZERBAIJAN, BELARUS BOYCOTTED ABKHAZIA AND S. OSSETIA

News.am
15:30 / 08/20/2009

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry suggests Ukrainians to retain from visiting
Abkhazia and South Ossetia and entering Georgia through Adler and
Nizhny Zaramag check points of Georgian-Russian boundary.

Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland and Germany
called their citizens to abstain from breaking Georgian law,
particularly entering Abkhazia and South Ossetia through Russian check
points. However, currently crossing Georgian border is impossible
and unsafe, as its border with S. Ossetia and Abkhazia is closed.

One can enter the Caucasian countries only Russian territory.

Armenian authorities have never banned or called its citizens not to
go to either of the mentioned countries.

However, RA Foreign Ministry informs that Abkhazian or Ossetian
entry visa, stamped on Russian check point mechanically encourages
prosecution in Georgia.

MFA Spokesman Tigran Balayan said previously such cases were frequent,
however deceased dramatically within last year.

DASHNAKTSUTYUN TO HOLD A RALLY

News.am
14:21 / 08/20/2009

On September 2, 2009, ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction intends to hold rally
dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh Independence Day, Artsvik Minasyan,
ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction MP told NEWS.am. According to him, ARFD is
preparing a platform on political forces cooperation to be presented
that day.

"It [platform] will enable you to get acquainted with our esteems
on all foreign and domestic policy issues," MP said, underlining
that possible collaboration with protesting parties depends on ARFD
Supreme Council’s decision and oppositions’ opinion on the matter.

NORTH AMERICAN PRELATES HOLD MEETING IN MONTREAL

Asbarez
0/north-american-prelates-hold-meeting-in-montreal /
Aug 20, 2009

MONTREAL-The prelates of the Eastern and Western Prelacies of the
United States, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, held consecutive meetings with Canadian Prelate
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian on August 19 and 20.

During the meetings, the prelates planned projects related to the
spiritual, administrative, financial, and organizational aspects of the
prelacies. They also prepared reports on all of the churches of the
North American prelacies, with regards to the different communities
and services each church offers, from meeting the spiritual needs of
its members to Christian education.

The prelates also discussed common worries and issues, as well as new
methods of improving communication and dialogue between the Prelacies.

The issues and projects outlined during these sessions will be further
examined during the next World Assembly Catholicosate of the Great
House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, in November of this year.

August 20, 2009

NORTH AMERICAN PRELATES MEET IN MONTREAL

The three North American Prelates, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
(Eastern U.S.); Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian (Western U.S.); and
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian (Canada), have been meeting in Montreal
yesterday and today to discuss general issues that are of concern to
the three prelacies, including religious, administrative, economic,
and organizational issues, as well as preparing reports on issues that
will be presented in November during a meeting of the three North
American prelacies with the Central Religious and Lay Councils in
Antelias, Lebanon. Photo: Archbishops Oshagan, Khajag, and Moushegh
during their meeting yesterday.

BISHOPS IN MONTREAL
As noted above, the three North American Prelates are in
Montreal. Coincidentally four other bishops were in Montreal creating
this great photo opportunity. Photo left to right: Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, and Bishop Papken Tcharian.

BIBLE TRANSLATION CONTINUES

While in Montreal the Bible translation team (Archbishop Oshagan,
Archbishop Khajag, and Bishop Anoushavan) continued its Bible
translation project.
SEMINAR CONCLUDES IN BIKFAYA

The third ecumenical formation seminar successfully concluded last
week at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. The program
included presentations, plenary discussions, and round tables on the
Armenian Church, its history, liturgy, feasts and rituals, as well as
inter-church and inter-religious relations. Participants reflected on
the overall theme of the seminar, "Who is my friend?" during daily
morning Bible studies.

Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Director of the Office of Ecumenical
Relations, and Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian, the Moderator of the
committee, invited the participants to assess their experiences. After
expressing their thanks for this opportunity to learn about the church
and ecumenism, they asked the committee to organize such events more
often to deepen their understanding of the church and its traditions,
the ecumenical movement, and the nature of inter-religious dialogue in
general and Christian-Muslim dialogue in particular. They requested
that thematic seminars be organized on a rotating basis in the
dioceses in different regions. They also suggested that the committee
strengthen the work on a diocesan level.

In his concluding remarks, His Holiness Aram I expressed his
appreciation of the contribution of the participants, and he said that
living in a diaspora situation, the Armenian Church is in touch with
different religions and cultures. These interactions must be taken
seriously by our church in its ecumenical and inter-religious
engagement. His Holiness reaffirmed the ecumenical commitment of the
Armenian Church and reminded the participants that relations,
collaboration and reflection constitute the interrelated dimensions of
ecumenical vision and action.
NOW IS THE TIME TO FINALIZE YOUR PLANS FOR 2009 PRELACY LINKED IN WEEKEND

In his sermon delivered during the Feast of the Assumption, His
Holiness Aram I said this about our youth: "On this day of the Feast
of the Assumption of the Theotokos, I pray to her to intercede with
her Son on behalf of our youth. We declared 2009 as the Year of the
Youth to remind ourselves that youth are both our present and future,
and therefore, we should listen and respond to them. Today, our youth
are facing many problems. We should enable them to discover the
spiritual foundations of our church, the ethical values arising from
the teaching of our church, and the cultural traditions shaped by our
Armenian roots."

With the words of His Holiness in mind, the 2009 Prelacy LINKED IN
weekend for young adults will take place September 25-27, at the Holy
Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts, as part of
the ongoing Year of the Youth activities. Here in the northeast it
seems that summer just started this week, when we finally experienced
real summer weather. But, truth be told, Labor Day is looming ahead,
so make your plans now for this inspiring LINKED IN weekend of
September 25-27..

Under the general theme of "Know Your Church," presentations will be
made by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, Professor Michael Papazian, and Yeretzgin Margaret
Stepanian. The weekend gathering will also feature prayer services,
meditations, bible studies, and panel discussion.

For more information and registration form click here
( 82/goto: htm ).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA

The Prelacy’s Executive Director, Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, will be in
Armenia next week where he will confer with the staff of the Prelacy
office, The St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The Prelacy
continues its various programs in Armenia, including the highly
successful orphan sponsorship program, aid to orphanages, and aid to
families. Visits to oversee the work of the Yerevan office are made
during the year by the Executive Director and by the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan.

While in Armenia, Dr. Ghougassian will attend the conference for the
heads of Armenian libraries and library collections which will take
place next week. The conference will convene under the auspices of His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and is being
coordinated by the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). The Prelacy’s
Hovsep and Suzanne Hagopian Library, on the third floor of the Prelacy
office building in Manhattan, contains a rich collection of more than
13,000 volumes.

MORE IMPRESSIONS FOR DATEV

We have received two more impressions written by 2009 Datev attendees,
which we are pleased to share with you:

I have been involved with Datev, even longer than I have been involved
with Sunday school and church choir. As a Post Graduate Student, the
classes are more advanced than the first four levels. The classes were
illuminating and gave us an opportunity to think more about the Bible,
church history, and the church fathers. For one week all the
Datevatsis are united into a family that prays, eats, worships, and
learns together. That’s why anticipation builds every year when Datev
comes around, we all can’t wait to be together and see each other.
Ani Yaghmourian (Post Graduate)

In the beginning, I was a little nervous about going to Datev. I
thought I wasn’t going to know anyone, but when I got there it felt
like I knew everyone for a long time. I also met new friends from
different states. I had a good time. It felt like God was
everywhere. Whoever is there feels like they’re in the presence of
God. I learned a lot about Armenian language, religion, culture,
hymns, and the Bible. When I came back, my father asked me, "Did you
like it?" I answered, "Yes, but now I have to wait 51 weeks."
Unfortunately it is only one week.
Celina Bozoian (1st year student)

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, August 20, are: Proverbs
11:30-12:4; Zechariah 2:10-13; 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Luke 1:39-56.

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple
of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among
them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore
come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and
touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your
father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the
fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
( ).

BLESSING OF THE GRAPES IN OUR PARISHES

Last Sunday was the Feast of the Assumption and the Blessing of the
Grapes. Many of our parishes perform the Blessing of Grapes ceremony
outside in the open air. Here are two more photographs.

Photo: Bishop Anoushavan, Archbishop Oshagan, and Rev. Fr. Bedros
Shetilian last Sunday during the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony at
Holy Cross Armenian Church, Troy, New York.

Photo: Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian and deacons during the Blessing of
Grapes of Sts. Vartanantz, Providence, Rhode Island, at the parish’s
picnic which took place at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.

CATHEDRAL PASTOR AND PARISHIONERS HELP KEEP THE TRADITION FOR
RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK HOME FOR AGED

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in
New York, and 27 of his parishioners visited the Armenian Home for the
Aged in Flushing, New York, on August 19.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob performed the Blessing of Grapes ceremony for the
residents and then blessed each one individually while distributing
the blessed grapes. Der Hayr presented the Home with a $500 donation
from the Cathedral, and the parishioners matched the amount.

Der Mesrob is a familiar face at the Armenian Home; he goes every
Wednesday and worships and visits with the residents.

Photo: Der Mesrob blesses the grapes at the Home for Aged in Flushing,
New York.

Photo: Cathedral Parishioners liven up the day for the residents.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 12–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Haigazian
Armenian School.
September 13–St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts, annual picnic on newly renovated church grounds, 158
Main St., North Andover. Enjoy food, music. Fellowship. For details
go to
church’s web site ( (
4882/goto:
)) or call 978-685-5038.
September 13–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Sunday
School.
September 13–Annual picnic of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of New
Britain and Hartford at the Quartette Club, 225 Wooster Street, New
Britain, Connecticut, beginning at noon, rain or shine. Live
music. Armenian
food. Free admission.
September 19-20–Re-consecration of the altar and the newly renovated
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday. Episcopal
Divine Liturgy and Madagh on Sunday.
September 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Lobster Fest. For
information: 215-482-9200.
September 20–St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York), annual picnic
on
the church grounds, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, beginning at 1 pm
immediately following church services and the blessing of the basil.
Delicious
Armenian kebabs, sweets, etc., along with games, music, dancing,
tavloo, basketball, volleyball, vendors and returning by popular
demand–"Kid-Z-One," with a host of activities for children. For
information 718-224-2275.
September 21–St. Stephen’s (Watertown, MA) Armenian School/ACEC 14th
annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf,
lunch, dinner, and contests. For information contact Astor at
781-326-5764.
September 25-26-27–Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the youth. For
details click here (
4882/goto: 9.htm
).
September 27–75th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Country
Club of Wilbraham, 859 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham,
Massachusetts. Special
performances by Dottie Bengoian and the St. Gregory Sunday School
children. For information: 413-596-9242.
September 28–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Golf Outing at
Talamore
Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania. For information: 215-482-9200.
September 28–Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, Massachusetts), 6th
annual Golf Outing, Sterling National Country Club, Sterling,
MA. Golf, breakfast, dinner, and prizes, $130 per person. For
information send email
to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or telephone
508-872-9629.
October 1–Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th annual
Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175
includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great
day and
support the church. For information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.
October 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 17–National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will
follow.
October 18–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the
source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be
included in the calendar. Send to: [email protected]
(mailto:info@armenianprel acy.org)

TEAMS OF TEHRAN AND SOCHI – WINNERS OF THE FIFTH PAN-ARMENIAN GAMES

PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.08.2009 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Fifth Pan-Armenian Games , held from 9 to 16 August,
2009 in football and basketball, finished in Armenia.

The team of Tehran won the title of winner in the football tournament,
winning Yerevan team with a minimum score 1:0. Beirut Armenians became
bronze prize winners, who defeated the team from Buenos Aires.

The Sochi Armenians won in the basketball tournament for men, who
defeated their compatriots from Los Angeles with the score 72:68.

In the fight for the 3 rd place the Tehran team easily defeated
Yerevan. The match ended with the score 69:67.

‘EMPEROR’ RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
By Grant Gordon

Glendale News Press
/16/sports/gnp-spfight081709.txt
Sunday, August 16, 2009

Roman Mitichyan, left, after defeating Mike Dolce, right, Saturdy at
Called to Arms’ CalledOut MMA event.

Mixed martial arts: Glendale fighters Roman Mitichyan, Ando Dermenjyan
both earn victories.

Published: Last Updated Sunday, August 16, 2009 7:26 PM PDT ONTARIO
– Behind a steady stream of leg kicks, coming close to the only
near-finish of the bout and executing his game plan with patience
and diligence, Glendale mixed martial arts fighter Roman Mitichyan
got his career back on the winning track.

"The Emperor" secured a unanimous decision win against Mike Dolce in
a three-round welterweight fight at Saturday night’s CalledOut MMA
event in Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena.

"I was just planning my game to be smart," said Mitichyan, who improved
his MMA record to 10-3. "Trying to be a smart fighter."

In addition, featherweight Ando Dermenjyan, who trains at Glendale’s
Main Event Gym, turned in his most impressive fight yet, steamrolling
past Dustin Rhodes and looking every bit the part of a maturing
all-around fighter in securing a technical knockout 1 minute 35
seconds into Round 2.

"I’m just really happy with the way things turned out," said
Dermenjyan, who improved to 3-0 and looked the most comfortable and
content at keeping the fight standing as he ever has thus far in his
burgeoning career. "The sport’s growing and you have to grow with it."

The 25-year-old Dermenjyan, who also trains at SK Golden Boys in Van
Nuys and Team Hayastan in North Hollywood, showcased superior grappling
and striking and finished the fight with a ground-and-pound barrage.

For the 30-year-old Mitichyan, who also trains at Main Event and
Hayastan, along with the Glendale Fighting Club, his victory against
Dolce broke a two-fight losing streak and was his first win since
Dec. of 2007. He tallied the decision win with two scores of 30-27
and a 29-28 outcome on a third card. The News-Press scored it 30-27.

Coming off an upset knockout loss to Jason Meaders in January in
which Mitichyan, a high-level judo and Sambo player, was drawn into a
stand-up slugfest, the Jewel City grappler joked after the fight that,
had he been unable to pick up the win, he might have disappeared into
the mountains and never come back. Thus he showed his resolve, besting
Dolce (4-8) in what became a chess match of sorts and refusing to
engage the striker in a toe-to-toe brawl despite a moment in the
second round when Dolce landed nicely, appearing to fire up the
hot-blooded Mitichyan.

"It’s [my] Armenian blood, you get all pumped up," he said. "I said,
‘Roman, cool off, you gotta get the win.’" And he did.

The first round saw a lot of circling, with both fighters tossing out
jabs and looping hooks. Mitichyan swung hard with a right that led
the combatants into a clinch, but Dolce quickly shoved his opponent
off and just missed Mitichyan’s chin with a strong right. But as
the round progressed, Mitichyan unveiled his most valuable weapon,
as he began to work a right leg kick to the inside of the lead right
leg of Dolce, a southpaw.

"I punished that leg," Mitichyan said.

Mitichyan went for two takedowns in the opening round with the
aforementioned clinch and then a single-leg attempt later in the
round that saw him succeed in grounding Dolce. Mitichyan landed some
solid elbows from top position, but Dolce defended well for the most
part before Mitichyan dropped down for a kneebar. Dolce worked his
way free of the submission attempt and got back to his feet, but
Mitichyan clearly sealed the round.

"He’s a strong guy," Mitichyan said. "[The kneebar just] didn’t
happen."

The second and third rounds played out with sporadic exchanges but
rarely any solid punches landing. Both rounds also saw the crowd boo
the fight on occasion.

It was clear that Mitichyan’s game plan was to go for a takedown,
weary of Dolce’s one-punch power. But Dolce, who never attempted a
takedown and was content to stand and strike, appeared content only
to counter-strike and was, surprisingly, never really the aggressor.

"I did feel that," said Mitichyan when asked if he was a bit surprised
that Dolce was not more aggressive in initiating a slugfest before
adding that he suspected Dolce’s corner warned the fighter not to
get over anxious and leave himself open for a takedown.

Thus, Mitichyan’s myriad leg kicks and him being the more aggressive
fighter carried him in the second round. He opened the third with a
hard leg kick that staggered Dolce, who then came forward smiling as
if he’d been playing possum.

"Being a fighter, you know when you connect and you hurt someone,"
Mitichyan said. "I hurt him."

Earlier on the 11-fight, five-hour card, Dermenjyan won his first
fight by TKO, having submitted his first two opponents.

In the opening round, both fighters threw punches in a feeling-out
phase, but Dermenjyan was clearly more relaxed on his feet than in
either of his previous two fights.

"[I’ve been] working my butt off [on my standup]," Dermenjyan said. "I
did feel comfortable."

Rhodes (3-3) eventually locked up Dermenjyan twice in the round,
but was unable to do any more than push him against the cage. In the
second clinch, Rhodes said he was hit low by a Dermenjyan knee. The
referee did not stop the fight, but Rhodes persisted in pleading for
the infraction, eventually leading to a temporary stoppage with 1:21
left in the round.

When the fighting commenced, Dermenjyan landed a solid 1-2
combo. Rhodes went for a high kick, but Dermenjyan used it as an
opportunity to get back control standing.

"I thought he was more of a grappler," Dermenjyan said. "It was kind
of surprising to me that he wanted to stand up."

Eventually, Dermenjyan got Rhodes down to all fours and established
back control there. With Dermenjyan riding his opponent on the ground,
he eventually worked in some punches to the head and knees to the side,
easily winning the round, 10-9, on the News-Press scorecard.

Dermenjyan opened the second round with a stiff left jab to Rhodes’
face. Rhodes clinched again, but Dermenjyan took him down and landed
in Rhodes’ guard.

Dermenjyan would eventually allow his opponent to his feet before
securing a front-face lock, positioning Rhodes to absorb an onslaught
of knees to the head. Rhodes dropped to the ground with Dermenjyan
moving swiftly to his back.

Dermenjyan worked in his hooks and proceeded to rain down rights and
lefts until the referee halted the bout with 1:35 left in the round.

"Coming into this fight, I didn’t really have a gameplan. I was
just gonna see what came my way," Dermenjyan said. "I’m very happy,
of course there’s a lot to improve. One step at a time."

In other notable fights, Gabe Ruediger (15-5), who, along with
Mitichyan and Dolce, is a former "The Ultimate Fighter" cast member,
defeated Wander Braga (10-1) via guillotine choke in the second
round. Thomas "Wildman" Denny (27-18) also won with a second-round
guillotine, stopping Joe Cronin (13-11) in the night’s main event.

In what became a theme throughout the CalledOut card, victorious
fighters would "call out" future opponents or vice versa.

Glendale’s Karen Darabedyan, who was victorious in the promotion’s
first card earlier this year, was in the cage to challenge Ruediger for
Caladium’s Nov. 14 event. Much of the conversation could not be heard
in the ring and when the in-ring interviewer asked Ruediger to recap,
the fighter, who had earlier flipped off Braga’s corner in postfight
celebration before apologizing, said he accepted the challenge. When
he was asked who challenged him, he replied by saying Darebedyan’s
first name, then stuttering through his last name as if he could not
pronounce it before adding, "What’s his name, I don’t know his name."

Denny was far more respectful after his win in suggesting Mitichyan
and him clash on a future card, but specified he’d like Mitichyan,
a 170-pounder, to fight at 160 or 165.

The Nov. 14 card is also slated to see Glendale’s Sako Chivitchyan and
Sevak Magakian. Magakian fought on CalledOut’s first card on May 16,
submitting Harold Lucambio with a kneebar. The effort was awarded
submission of the night and Magakian was presented with a watch on
Saturday in the middle of the cage.