Episode Description
The most controversial coach in the history of women's MMA has never told the full story.
Until now.
Edmond Tarverdyan trained Ronda Rousey for five years. He was in her corner for every fight. He watched her become the most dominant champion women's MMA had ever seen — and then watched it fall apart in 48 seconds.
He has been blamed for the losses. Called a terrible coach by her own mother. Analysed by Joe Rogan and every MMA commentator alive.
In this conversation he finally says what he has never said publicly.
What actually happened the night Ronda lost to Holly Holm — and why 28 days notice was only the beginning of the problem. What it was like when she could not drop half a pound after eight hours in a bathtub and they had to fight in Australia in the morning. Why he says Joe Rogan's analysis is wrong. What he wishes he had done differently. The brain hemorrhage that almost made him quit coaching entirely. And what he thinks Ronda would ask him if she was sitting here right now.
This is not the story MMA media told. This is the story from the man who was in the corner.
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WHAT WE COVER
How Edmond started coaching at 16 with a stick in his hand — and why parents loved it
The full story of what happened in the 28 days before the Holly Holm fight nobody talks about
Why Ronda was in a bathtub for 8 hours before the Amanda Nunes fight
What he actually thinks of Joe Rogan's analysis of the losses — and why he says it is completely wrong
The moment he knocked on Ronda's door before the Amanda fight and saw Travis Brown there for the first time
What he wishes he had said or done differently
The brain hemorrhage that almost made him walk away from coaching forever
Whether Arman Tsarukyan is the most coachable fighter he has ever worked with
What Armenian parents get wrong about putting their kids in combat sports
What Ronda Rousey would ask him if she was sitting in this chair right now — and what he would say back
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Cold open
01:00 Building Glendale Fighting Club from a printing shop — two years of legal battles
08:00 Starting coaching at 16 — the stick, the strict parents and the mistakes
13:00 How Ronda came into his gym — and why he threw her out first
20:00 The early years before she became famous — six amateur fights, all first round
27:00 The Holly Holm fight — 28 days notice and what really happened
38:00 The Amanda Nunes fight — the bathtub, the morning weigh-in, Travis Brown
48:00 His response to Joe Rogan's analysis — and why he says it is wrong
55:00 The brain hemorrhage — two months away from the gym
62:00 Arman Tsarukyan — what makes him different from everyone else
68:00 What Armenian parents get wrong about combat sports
78:00 What Ronda would ask him right now — and his answer
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ABOUT EDMOND TARVERDYAN
Founder, Glendale Fighting Club, Glendale, California. Former head trainer, Ronda Rousey. Current trainer, Arman Tsarukyan and multiple UFC fighters. Over 30 years coaching combat sports in the Armenian-American community of Los Angeles.
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ABOUT INSIGHT
INSIGHT is the first Armenian-English language power and culture podcast in the United States, hosted by Emma Sargsyan. Distributed across all major podcast platforms and amplified through emmasargsyan.com.
Subscribe for new episodes every week.
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Follow Emma: @emmasargsyan
Listen: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · All major platforms
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#RondaRousey #EdmondTarverdyan #UFC #MMA #GlendaleFC #ArmanTsarukyan #Boxing #ArmenianAmerican #INSIGHT #EmmaInsight #WomensMMA #UFC #HollyHolm #AmandaNunes
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