Ronda Rousey’s mother says the UFC star’s longtime trainer Edmond Tarverdyan is a “terrible coach” and a “bad person” – and says her daughter has only stayed with him out of superstition.
AnnMaria De Mars spoke to LatiNation on Tuesday and wasted no time telling the station what she really thinks of Tarverdyan.
“I think Edmond is a terrible coach, and I will say it publicly,” De Mars said. “I think he hit the lottery when Ronda walked in there. She was winning before she even met him. She probably won 99% of the judo matches she ever fought in. She had won the Junior Worlds when she was 17.
“She [Rousey] got a bronze medal in the Olympics. She got a silver medal in world championships. She was one of the top athletes in the world when she walked in there, and he wouldn’t even give her the time of day for months. Somebody like that is a terrible coach.”
Mars said Rousey, who won a judo bronze in the 2008 Olympics, already was successful in combat sports when she started training with Tarverdyan at Glendale Fighting Club in southern California, and believes the coach has done little to further Rousey’s career
“I think she stays there because it’s like somebody who pitches a no-hitter when they’re wearing red underwear and then they wear that red underwear every day. I think it’s superstition. I would caution anybody from going there. I think it’s bad he uses her to lure people in, and I told Ronda I’m not going to be quiet about this any more.”
Tarverdyan has not responded publicly to De Mars’s remarks.
“He’s a bad person, and people should not go there,” De Mars said. “And if he wants to sue me, that’s my honest opinion.”
DeMars is a decorated judoka herself, and in 1984 became the first American to win a judo world championship. DeMars taught Rousey judo from an early age, and Rousey credits her mother for much of her success.
Rousey (12-0) has worked with Tarverdyan since her amateur career, and the story of Tarverdyan’s initial snubs have been well-publicized. Tarverdyan has said he wasn’t interested in training Rousey at first, but he changed his mind when he saw her compete.
Rousey is scheduled to defend her UFC title against Holly Holm on 14 November in Melbourne.
