Baroni admits job is on the line at UFC 125

“It’s a must-win fight,” Baroni told MMAjunkie.com Radio. “My back is against the wall, and I’ve got to win the fight. I’m too old to be a journeyman.

“I don’t want to be fighting on small shows. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. My back’s against the wall, and it’s time to get serious and take care of my business.”

“Nice kid,” Baroni said of his UFC 125 opponent TUF 11 cast member Brad Tavares. “My wife said he’s a good-looking kid, so I’m definitely going to bust him up. He’s a nice kid, but he signed the contract. He accepted the fight, and I’m not really friends with him right now.

“I’m confident in my ability and my training. It’s going to be a s—storm that first round, and we’ll see if Brad Tavares can get through it. I don’t think he can.”

“They don’t know what in-shape is. fight hard, and I leave it all in the ring. Maybe guys should fight harder and try and leave it all in the ring – try and fight for a finish. If I laid on top of guys or ran around the ring, I wouldn’t get tired, either. That’s just how I fight.”

“I just want to perform my best. I’ve been hearing this for six, seven, eight years now – I’m gone. The sport has passed my by. It’s a bunch of b——-. I like to prove people wrong.

“One thing I’ve done over the years is take care of my business. I’ve always been fighting in the big shows, and when my back’s up against the wall, I seem to show up. Plan on me showing up, and plan on me taking this guy out.”

“I’m not that old. I’m pretty tough, and I’m confident in myself. I think I’m going on a run here. That’s my plan, to win a bunch of fights in the next couple of years in the UFC – not get released and kick some ass. That’s what I’m going to do. It’s now or never, so I’m embracing the moment. I’ve been in the sport for 10 years. It’s time to go on a run.”

A win would be Baroni’s first in the octagon since his legendary 18-second win over Dave Menne at UFC 39.

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