Ronda's trainer rules out catchweight fight with Cyborg: 'No exceptions'

Edmond Tarverdyan (right) bets big on Ronda (left) against Cyborg. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

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The staff of Ronda Rousey appears to be firm in his position of rejecting a catchweight fight against Chris Cyborg. The North American's head coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, ruled out any possibility of the fight taking place at 63 kg, making it clear that the duel will only take place if the Brazilian moves down to bantamweight.

Cyborg is the current champion of the Invicta FC organization in the featherweight division, whose limit is 66 kg. Rousey, in turn, fights at bantamweight, weighing 61 kg. The Brazilian claims that she would not be able to lose weight in a healthy way, and, therefore, suggested that the fight take place somewhere in the middle. Tarverdyan, however, was against the idea.

“People need to understand that there are no exceptions. I don't want exceptions: I want the fight to be at 61 kg. She needs to make weight to fight. I don't like married weight. There are weight divisions and everyone needs to follow these weight divisions to fight for the title”, said the coach, in an interview with the “Submission Radio” podcast.

Furthermore, Tarverdyan once again brought into debate the doping case in which the Brazilian was involved in 2011, when she was caught using anabolic steroids. “Cyborg has done things in the past that put fighters’ lives in danger. If she stopped using what she was using, she should be able to hit 61 kg,” she stated.

If the fight ever gets off the ground, Tarverdyan disagreed that Rousey's only chance would be on the ground. For him, the North American would also be a standing favorite. “Ronda would beat her in striking. Cyborg subdues people, she throws strong and heavy punches, but these opponents end up giving up. Ronda's last knockout was a true knockout. And Ronda will throw even better punches from now on. I think Cyborg is slow and intimidates people because of what she's been doing. Ronda is a better athlete: she's faster, stronger. That’s it,” she analyzed.

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