Ronda Rousey's Mom Hates Ronda Rousey's Coach

Ronda Rousey is ridiculously good at what she does. Did she become the first female champion in UFC history and the sports biggest star because or in spite of her coach, Edmond Tarverdyan? One person who seems to be on the “in spite of” side of the argument is Rousey’s mom, AnnMaria DeMars. During a recent interview with LatiNation, DeMars went off on Tarverdyan, comparing his importance in her career to that of a pair of lucky underpants.

"“I think he’s a terrible coach. I think he hit the lottery when Ronda walked in there. She was winning before she ever met him. She probably won 99 percent of the judo matches she ever fought in.” “I think she stays there because it’s like somebody pitches a no-hitter when they’re wearing red underwear, and they wear that red underwear for every day – and I think it’s superstition, and I would caution anybody from going there,” De Mars said. “And I think it’s bad he uses her to lure people in. And the reason I tell everybody, and I told Ronda, ‘I’m not going to be quiet about this anymore’ – he’s a bad person, and people should not go there. And if he wants to sue me, that’s my honest opinion.”"

It’s hard to argue that Ronda Rousey walking into your gym is anything less than a winning lottery ticket. I can’t speak to Tarverdyan as a person, but he has previously admitted that he initially dismissed her when she came into his gym. From the Joe Rogan Experience, via MMA Junkie:

"“When she came in, I didn’t want to train her because I had my hands full,” Tarverdyan told “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast recently. “I was like, ‘What’s this girl doing? What is she going to do with this? Is she serious? Is she not?’"

What do they say about first impressions? Still, Rousey has been there for years and the closest she’s come to a career setback was that one time her fight went past the first round two years ago.