EXCLUSIVE (Part 2) | Manny Gamburyan on TUF 18 & Ronda’s Public Image Hit

Yesterday we released part 1 of Manny Gamburyan’s BJPENN.COM Radio Exclusive Interview where he addressed the ongoing saga with former opponent Cole Miller.

In today’s part 2 ‘The Anvil” discussed all things Ronda Rousey and The Ultimate Fighter season 18.

As part of Rousey’s coaching staff, Gamburyan was privy to all the happenings in the house from the coaches standpoint.

He gave our radio crew first hand accounts of the pranks, the drama and what he thinks about the declining popularity of Ronda since the show started to air.

TUF 18
“It was a great experience. I looked at it as not a coach but I was part of the fighters also. I trained with them every single day. I sparred, I wrestled, I did jiu-jitsu, and I did conditioning. I felt like I was part of the fighting crew not the coaching crew. We had a great time and it was a great experience. It was eight talented guys and eight talented girls and it was an honor to be a part of it. I was really blessed.”

In the middle of the drama
“(The eyebrow picture) was some shady stuff on their part. It’s a girl thing, you know? You don’t want to get involved or in between Ronda and Miesha. They’re girls, they’re superstars and they’re great fighters. I didn’t want to get involved. That’s girl stuff. But I wanted to be next to her to be a big brother to her and if anything happened I had her back, no doubt.”

Rousey’s image taking a hit
“Listen, Ronda is a fighter. People don’t get her. She’s a very emotional fighter. She takes every step very personal. She’s a different kind of girl. Like I’ve said, I never take anything away from any girl fighter. I think the girls are showing that they belong in the UFC. I’m very happy for them. Ronda is being Ronda. She’s not being fake, she’s not being cocky, that’s her, that’s her personality. She’s a fighter. Everything she takes she takes it very seriously. She’s an emotional girl. Hate her or love her, she’s the greatest of all time. The girl trains freakin’ all the time. She’s always trying to improve, she’s always trying to get better on her feet, get better on her jiu-jitsu, her judo, her wrestling, everything. She’s a hard worker. I’ve known her for many, many years, when she was like very young, I’m not going to just be on her side, but the girl is something special. I’m very honored to be partnered with her and being friends with her and I’m looking forward to being with her the rest of my life, off the mat or on the mat. It doesn’t matter … She always said, I could fight. I said please don’t. You have a pretty face, don’t mess it up. I always laugh about it. But now she is proving me wrong.”

Listen to the full interview below or wait for part 3 tomorrow!: