Armenian-American MMA fighter Jean-Paul Leposnoyan had his first fight in the welterweight division over the weekend under the UFC banner, competing at the UFC Houston event.
Leposnoyan won the fight by judges’ decision against Phil Rowe, who tried in the final (third) round to change the outcome after losing the previous two rounds, but was unsuccessful.
It was a high-level match, in which both fighters were fast and agile, making the bout very interesting and exciting for the fans.
Jean-Paul has Armenian roots on his father’s side and Romanian roots on his mother’s side. His original surname from his father’s side is Posnoyan. Jean-Paul’s father, Nerses, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach and is originally from Armenia.
The 27-year-old Jean-Paul was invited to the UFC after winning a qualifying bout against Jack Congdon, after which he signed a contract. Previously, he competed in the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he fought alongside serious contenders for the championship.
He has had 10 fights, winning 8 of them — 3 by knockout and 5 by submission. It is also noteworthy that 7 of his 8 victories were achieved in the first round.