SPORTS NOTEBOOK:
GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
MITICHYAN HEADLINES UPCOMING MMA CARD
Glendale’s Roman Mitichyan will make his return to mixed martial arts competition on Jan. 29, as he headlines a California Xtreme Fighting card filled with Armenian talent.
Mitichyan (9-2), who last fought on April 2 in a second-round technical-knockout loss to George Sotiropoulos at an Ultimate Fighting Championship card, will return to competition at the El Monte Expo Center in the CXF event.
Mitichyan, who trains locally at the Glendale Fighting Club and Main Event Gym, will face Jason Meaders (4-7).
Four other fighters with Glendale ties will be a part of the card, as well.
Glendale resident Sevak Magakian (4-2), who trains at Main Event, will square off with 2-0 Jeremy Umphries.
Sarkis “Sako” Chivitchyan and Andy Dermenjyan, fighters who both train locally, will also be competing on the card against opponents to be determined.
Georgi Karakhyanyan, who will be training at the Glendale Fighting Club in preparation for the card, brings his 11-1-1 record into a fight with Jared Papazian (2-2).
Mitichyan was a contestant on the UFC’s reality series “The Ultimate Fighter: Season Six,” but was sent home early due to an elbow injury. He did, however, fight on the show’s live season finale, submitting castmate Dorian Price in only 27 seconds.
REID, EAGLES SET FOR POSTSEASON
The Philadelphia Eagles, led by Coach Andy Reid, qualified for the NFL playoffs Sunday with a 44-6 victory against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Reid, a former Glendale Community College football player, saw the Eagles go 4-1 during the last five weeks of the season to earn a playoff spot.
Philadelphia (9-6-1) will meet the Minnesota Vikings (10-6) at Minnesota at 1:30 p.m. PDT Sunday. Philadelphia avoided elimination after the Oakland Raiders upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans beat the Chicago Bears in the earlier games Sunday.
“I want to thank the Raiders and Texans,” Reid told the Associated Press. “They did a heck of a job.”
Reid told nfl.com that the Eagles will look to ride their wave of momentum against the Vikings.
“I don’t think you’re going to have to drive much home,” Reid said. “These guys have fought like crazy to get into this position, and I don’t anticipate that they’ll stop fighting.
“This is their nature. They’re an aggressive bunch, and they see it. We have to take one step at a time, and one game at a time here.”
BAZRGANIAN SECOND IN CALIFORNIA BOWL
Glendale’s Sahak Bazrganian recently took part in the California Bowl at the Calabasas Tennis Center.
Bazrganian posted a 7-6, 6-3 semifinal victory against Matthew Alves of Gold River in the boys’ 16-under division on Dec. 18, but came up short in the final.
He suffered a 3-6, 6-4, 10-7 loss in the final to Andrew Scholnick of Illinois.
ST. FRANCIS HANDS OUT TEAM AWARDS
After a 6-5 season and a return to the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs, the St. Francis High football team recently held its team banquet and handed out a slew of team awards in the process.
Leading the way was junior offensive and defensive standout Dietrich Riley, the reigning All-Area Football Player of the Year, who was voted the Golden Knights’ Most Valuable Player.
Senior offensive and defensive lineman Rian Younker took home two awards, however, winning the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player and Most Valuable Lineman accolades.
Senior wide receiver Malik Speed took home the award for Most Valuable Offensive Player, while the Most Valuable Back nod went to junior running back Chris Cabrera.
Special teams Player of the Year was Justin Posthuma.
Other awards included Most Inspirational, given to senior running back Evan King, Most Improved, given to senior lineman Craig Romero and Will To Win Player of the Year, awarded to senior quarterback Justin Sciarra.
Senior tight end/linebacker Nick Yoka was named Practice Player of the Year and senior tight end/defensive end Kevin Mitchell won the National Football Foundation Award.