Edmond Tarverdyan is one of the most heavily criticised figures in mixed martial arts.
To put it kindly, Ronda Rousey’s head coach is not discussed in the pantheon of great MMA trainers like Greg Jackson, Firas Zahabi and Matt Hume. It’s quite the opposite.
Tarverdyan is viewed as a decent striking coach who hit the jackpot when an Olympic-level Judoka set foot in his gym.
Tarverdyan, and the strategy he implemented, came in for massive criticism after Rousey’s vicious defeat to Holly Holm last November and he continues to be a source of much mockery in the MMA community.
His recent track record with fighters is not what you would call impressive and his stock has dropped to the point that a hugely popular parody Twitter account has been set up in his name.
https://twitter.com/FurysFightPicks/status/815120356210016256
But, to be fair to the controversial coach, it can never be said that he doesn’t care about his fighters on a personal level.
His heartbreak was audible during Rousey’s ill-fated comeback last weekend, when she was annihilated in 48 seconds by UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in the main event of UFC 207.
From the moment that both women took to the Octagon, Tarverdyan barked specific orders at his fighter which primarily centred around a desire for Rousey to move her head off the centre-line.
The advice was not heeded as ‘Rowdy’ remained a stationary target for her heavy-handed opponent and failed to last a minute on the feet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSxYFs_E9go
Above is the corner audio from the fight and it offers a stark reminder of the emotional element of the fight game as devastation doesn’t come close to describing Tarverdyan’s reaction to the sight of his most famous student being lit up.
We’ve taken the liberty of transcribing the advice, which you can read below.
“Head movement! Head movement! Head movement! Head movement! Head movement! Head movement! Head movement! Yes, move!
“Hands up! Hands up! Hands up! Catch her! Clinch!
“Head movement! Good job… Jab!
Amanda Nunes knocks out Robda Rousey in under 60 seconds. pic.twitter.com/V0xFj4JbL6
— Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) December 31, 2016
“Move! Move! Move please! (groans)
“Move, move, move. Clinch, clinch, clinch, clinch, CLINCH, CLINCH, CLINCH.
“No! Noooo. Noooo. Noooo. NOOOOO!
“Move! Move! Move! Fuck…”
