Manvel Gamburyan
 |
Name | Manvel Gamburyan |
| Nickname | Pitbull (Formerly) / Anvil (Currently) | |
| Association | Hayastan Studio / GFC Fighting Club | |
| Weight Class | Lightweight (155 lbs.) / Featherweight (145 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 5" (165 cm) | |
| Reach | 67 in. (170 cm) | |
| Style | Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | |
| Birth Date | May 8, 1981 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Hollywood, California | |
| Country | Armenia/USA | |
| Manvel Gamburyan Pictures | http://www.anvilmma.com/ |
Manvel Gamburyan, also known as Manny Gamburyan, is an Armenian American mixed martial artist. He fought as a Lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but has recently dropped to Featherweight, where he will compete in the WEC. Gamburyan was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 5, where he was coached by former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver. He made it to the finale, but was defeated by teammate on the show Nate Diaz.
He is the older cousin of fellow fighter Karo Parisyan.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 12 - 7 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 2 (T)KOs 6 Submissions 4 Decisions |
| Losses | 2 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 4 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Michihiro Omigawa | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC on FOX 4: Shogun vs. Vera | 8/4/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Diego Nunes | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem | 12/30/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Tyson Griffin | Decision (Majority) | UFC on Versus 4: Kongo vs. Barry | 6/26/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Jose Aldo | KO (Punches) | WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan | 9/30/2010 | 2 | 1:32 | For WEC Featherweight Championship |
| Win | Mike Brown | KO (Punches) | WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber | 4/24/2010 | 1 | 2:22 | Won Knockout of the Night Honors |
| Win | Leonard Garcia | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo | 11/18/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | John Franchi | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber 2 | 6/07/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Featherweight debut |
| Loss | Thiago Tavares | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2 | 1/31/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | After the fight Gamburyan decided to drop to WEC's Featherweight division |
| Loss | Robert Emerson | KO (Punches) | UFC 87: Seek and Destroy | 8/09/2008 | 1 | 0:12 | One of the fastest knockouts in UFC history |
| Win | Jeff Cox | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs. Lauzon | 4/02/2008 | 1 | 1:41 | |
| Win | Nate Mohr | Submission (Achilles Lock) | UFC 79: Nemesis | 12/29/2007 | 1 | 1:31 | |
| Loss | Nathan Diaz | Submission (Shoulder Injury) | The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale | 6/23/2007 | 2 | 0:20 | UFC debut; Lost The Ultimate Fighter 5 Lightweight contest when Gamburyan dislocated his shoulder |
| Win | Sam Morgan | Decision (Unanimous) | RSF: Shooto Challenge 2 | 1/02/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Jorge Santiago | KO (Punch) | KOTC 27: Aftermath | 8/10/2003 | 1 | 0:21 | |
| Loss | Sean Sherk | Decision (Unanimous) | RSF 3: Reality Submission Fighting 3 | 3/30/2001 | 1 | 18:00 | |
| Win | Pat Benson | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | RSF 2: Reality Submission Fighting 2 | 1/05/2001 | 1 | 2:01 | |
| Win | Darren Bryant | Submission (Heel Hook) | KK 14: Kage Kombat 14 | 4/05/1999 | 1 | 0:35 | |
| Win | Timothy Morris | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | KK 12: Kage Kombat 12 | 2/01/1999 | 1 | 0:16 | Won Kage Kombat 12 Tournament |
| Win | Danny Henderson | Submission (Armbar) | KK 12: Kage Kombat 12 | 2/01/1999 | 1 | 0:17 | |
Biography
In May 1991, Gamburyan's family relocated from Armenia to the United States. Shortly after his arrival, he began training in Judo at Gokor Chivichyan's Hayastan MMA Academy and quickly became one of the top judoka in the country, winning junior nationals less than two years later. He went on to win junior nationals eight times, the junior Olympics once, and was a member of the 2000 judo junior world team.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Gamburyan began his career in 1999 at the age of 17. He won his first three fights, then lost a decision to future Lightweight champion Sean Sherk in 2001. His cousin Karo Parisyan nicknamed him "Pitbull" for the tenacity he displayed in the fight.
The Ultimate Fighter
In 2007, Gamburyan appeared on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter 5, fighting on Jens Pulver's team. His nickname was changed to "Anvil" for his UFC career because "Pitbull" was already taken by other UFC fighters such as Andrei Arlovski and Thiago Alves.
Manny defeated Noah Thomas by kimura lock in the preliminary round. In his next matchup, Gamburyan defeated Matt Wiman to advance to the semifinal round. In the semifinal round, Manny beat Joe Lauzon in a unanimous decision and advanced to the finale with Nathan Diaz. He was considered an underdog in each of his fights, in part due to his short stature. After the Lauzon fight, UFC president Dana White personally apologized to Gamburyan for doubting him.
UFC Career
In the finale, Gamburyan controlled Diaz for the majority of the fight, but tapped out in the second round after dislocating his right shoulder on a successful takedown attempt.
Despite losing the show, Gamburyan secured a UFC contract with his performance. He won his next two UFC fights, defeating Nate Mohr by ankle lock at UFC 79 and Jeff Cox by guillotine choke at UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs. Lauzon. Gamburyan raised some controversy in the Cox fight by delivering a spinning leg kick after faking the mutual tap of gloves that is often seen at the beginning of the match. The crowd in attendance reacted with heavy booing. He was knocked out by Rob Emerson at UFC 87 in 12 seconds, one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history.
Gamburyan frequently uses the System of a Down song "Toxicity" as his entrance music. Like Gamburyan, the members of System of a Down are of Armenian heritage.
After his recent defeat to fellow UFC lightweight Thiago Tavares at UFC 94, Gamburyan has decided to drop down to the Zuffa owned WEC's featherweight division (145 pounds). He will be a welcomed addition in a division that already boasts current WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown, Former Champion and perenial 145 powerhouse Urijah Faber, former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, and former UFC Lightweight and contender Leonard Garcia.
WEC Career
For his Featherweight debut with the WEC, Gamburyan was slated to fight undefeated John Franchi at WEC 41: Brown vs. Faber 2. The fight took place on June 7, 2009. Gamburyan controlled Franchi for all three rounds winning a unanimous decision victory, winning his Featherweight debut.
He was then scheduled to face off against former WEC Featherweight title challenger Leonard Garcia on November 18, 2009 at WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo. Gamburyan controlled most of the fight with his takedown attempts and clinch work, which was enough to earn him the win via unanimous decision.
It was next learned that Gamburyan would face off against former WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Thomas Brown on the WEC's first PPV event, with the winner most likely getting a title shot against the winner of the Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber fight that also took place on the same card. A patient Gamburyan continually circled and remained at a distance in the opening minute of the fight. As Brown engaged, Gamburyan tested his ability to counter. The trial resulted in virtually no error, and just two minutes into the fight, he found his mark and blasted Brown with a perfectly timed counter right. Brown dropped to the mat, and Gamburyan followed with additional punches to force the TKO stoppage at the 2:22 mark of the first round. He won Knockout of the Night Honors for his impressive performance.
Gamburyan did indeed get a title shot against Jose Aldo. The fight took place at WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan. Gamburyan struck first with a right hand that knocked his opponent off balance. Aldo quickly reset, circled the center of the cage, easily sidestepped Gamburyan's punches and short reach, and delivered a few low kicks to close an otherwise uneventful first round. In the second round Aldo began popping his opponent with a left-right combo and an counter right when Gamburyan shot in, which was where Aldo saw his opening. He quickly pounced on the challenger, battered him with punches, continued the assault as Gamburyan fell to his knees, and then unloaded a couple dozen unanswered blows from behind. Gamburyan briefly went out cold, which prompted the ref's intervention. The TKO stoppage officially came at the 1:32 mark of the second round. The loss was Gamburyan's first since dropping to Featherweight.
Ranks and Titles
- Eight-time junior national judo champion
- 2000 judo junior world team
- Junior Olympics judo champion
- 2nd Dan Black Belt in judo.
