Manny Gamburyan Interview

Ben Zeidler recently caught up with TUF finalist Manny Gamburyan, who is looking to rebound from his disappointing injury and loss against Nate Diaz. Gamburyan, who has an upcoming fight at UFC 79 against Nate Mohr, discusses everything from his preparation for the fight, a potential rematch with Nate, and the possibility of taking on Sean Sherk.

MMA Madness: How’s your training going?

Manny Gamburyan: Training is going really well. I feel good.

MMA Madness: Your next fight is at UFC 79 against Nate Mohr. How do you think that you guys will match up?

Manny Gamburyan: I think it’s a great match up. Nate is a good guy and a good fighter. He’s got the experience in the UFC. He lost his first UFC fight with a leg lock but he won the last one so he’s got that. I’m preparing for what he can do so I should be good.

MMA Madness: How do you see the fight going? Do you look to finish or can that lead to sloppy mistakes?

Manny Gamburyan: I always try to finish. Always. You don’t want the fight to go to the judges. You never know what can happen with them. So yes, I will try to finish him as soon as I can.

MMA Madness: Are we going to see the same powerful and explosive Manny that we saw on TUF?

Manny Gamburyan: It’s going be a crazy pace. I’m going to be all over him, stand up, ground and pound, submission, I’ll be looking for it all. Anywhere the fight goes, I’ll be working fast.

MMA Madness: You've got a decision loss to Sean Sherk. Is that something you'd like to avenge?

Manny Gamburyan: Sure, why not? I’d love to fight him again. Hopefully, I’ll win on the 29th and then get a couple more fights under my belt, get a little more technical, and maybe I’ll get a shot. It would be a dream come true to take on Sean Sherk.

MMA Madness: Most people had you winning your fight against Diaz, and you dominated the fight until your shoulder injury. Do you want a rematch with Nate?

Manny Gamburyan: 100%. I want a rematch 100%. I guarantee you guys that I’ll continue right where I left off against Nate the first time. I was too confident in myself before the fight and I pushed the injury too hard during training. I had the injury during training but it wasn’t hurting too much and I never thought it would pop out like that. I had hurt it for the first time in 2001 and I’ve hurt it a few times since then. The Nate Diaz fight was the fourth time I hurt the shoulder. I promise you guys when I get that rematch, I’m going to show everyone that I was the real Ultimate Fighter.

MMA Madness: Your cousin, Karo Parisyan, has an upcoming fight at UFC 78. Have you trained with him for this fight? Do you think that he is ready?

Manny Gamburyan: We train every other day, we grapple, do a lot of technique. He’ll definitely be ready.

MMA Madness: He’s been letting too many fights go to a decision. You think he’ll finish this guy?

Manny Gamburyan: This guy (Chonan) is a wily kid so Karo has to stay active and that’s what I’ve been telling him. Go to the ground and try to submit him. I think Karo will submit him in the 2nd round.

MMA Madness: If he can win a strong finish, he might get a title shot after GSP gets his.

Manny Gamburyan: Yep, he’s definitely looking for the title.

MMA Madness: What was the best part of being on TUF?

Manny Gamburyan: Being with Pulver and Penn was definitely the best part. I respect both guys a lot. They’ve got different training but both are great guys. The house sucks. Don’t even go there. Being a part of it was a great experience and it’s great to get that much fight time in. You don’t talk to friends and parents you don’t know what anyone outside of the house is doing so you end up training all the time. You really have to be mentally strong to be on the show. You can never do it if you’re not.

MMA Madness: Cole told us he liked the house.

Manny Gamburyan: Really? I don’t think he was having a good time.

MMA Madness: Looking back, are you glad you were on Team Pulver?

Manny Gamburyan: Y’know, either way, I ended up in the gym. I’m happy I was with Pulver, we trained like animals. We had one day off a week and Pulver’s got tons of experience and heart. I’ve got lots of respect for the guy.

MMA Madness: Steroids have become a huge issue in MMA lately. Why are fighters taking them if they know that they'll probably get caught?

Manny Gamburyan: If I were Dana White, I would say I don’t care if you’re the freaking champion, don’t give them one chance, you’re off the UFC for the rest of your life. I should be like that all the time. If Sherk did it, he should be out, no more UFC for him. I don’t care if you’re Matt Hughes, Andrei Arlovski, or Tim Sylvia, if you do it, get out. Not even 1% chance you should be let back in. That’s the biggest cheating ever. You aren’t real if you cheat. I don’t respect you at all if you cheat.

MMA Madness: Who do you think will win the following fights and how will they do it?

MMA Madness: BJ Penn vs. Jens Pulver 3?

Manny Gamburyan: BJ Penn. Jens is too small for 155. He’s got great technical ability but BJ can stand up and has great Jiu Jitsu.

MMA Madness: Karo Parisyan vs. Ryo Chonan?

Manny Gamburyan: Parisyan in the second by submission or stoppage

MMA Madness: Manny Gamburyan vs. Nate Diaz 2?

Manny Gamburyan: I’ll submit him in the first round

MMA Madness: Sokoudjou vs. Machida?

Manny Gamburyan: Sokoudjou with a KO

MMA Madness: Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva?

Manny Gamburyan: This is the hardest fight to call and I’m not good at predictions, but I’ll say Liddell KO with a counter punch, first round.

MMA Madness: Any sponsors you’d like to thank?

Manny Gamburyan: Sprawl.

MMA Madness: Do you have anything to say to your fans?

Manny Gamburyan: Yes. I want to say don’t miss UFC 79. I’m back, it’s going to be great. I love my fans. Don’t forget about me.

(originally conducted for MMA Madness)