Manny Gamburyan Won’t Rule Out Drop to 125

Manny Gamburyan spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Johnny Eduardo at UFC Fight Night 100. Some highlights are below:

On having a family: “I always loved babies. Babies are the best thing in the world. But having one? Your own, waking up in the morning and looking at her face? It’s just on a different level. It’s kind of, it was weird. When I woke up, I had to open my luggage, and I saw a little present for me, from her and my wife. It was just like, ‘Damn, this so cool.’ So I’ve got to go out there and whoop his ass. Just for this, I’ve got to do out there and whoop his ass.”

On a possible move to 125: “I started off with the career, and I never thought I could make 155 (pounds). And I made it. And then I made 145. And then they asked, ‘Manny, can you make 135?’ And I’m like ‘Hell, no.’ Then I made 135. Can I make 125? I don’t know. For the right money? I might kill myself. I might kill myself and make 125. Is it possible? They say, ‘Never say never.’”

On potentially retiring: “It’s not about when you want to retire. It’s about when I feel like I can’t train the way I want to. You don’t have to ask me twice. I’ll hang my gloves. I’m 35, I feel good, I feel healthy, and I feel strong as hell. I don’t know how many years I have in me, but I feel good.”

On a fight with Caraway: “Do I want to fight him? When I fought the first time at 135 (pounds), against Cody Gibson, they made me bring (former UFC bantamweight champion) Ronda Rousey in the cage and hugging her and calling out Bryan Caraway. I never got it. Beating Scott Jorgensen, I didn’t get it. And I’m like, ‘What the hell? What do I have to do to make this fight?’ People message me all over the world, ‘Manny, kick his ass.’ Talk to these people. It’s not my job. I called him out. I went to UFC.com, Ariel Helwani show, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, on his Facebook. What do you want me to do to call him out? He told (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby that he doesn’t want to fight me. And I respect that. You don’t want to fight me? I’m a bad fight for anyone. I’m not scared to fight anyone. You call my name out? You don’t have to ask twice. I’m fighting you.”