Last month, in the main event of UFC 207, Ronda Rousey was mauled in just 48 seconds by reigning women’s bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes. Given how helpless the former champ looked in this long awaited comeback fight, opinions that she should leave her long-time coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, once again erupted to the surface.
Of course, Rousey is not the only Edmond Tarverdyan student to struggle in the Octagon. Her boyfriend, UFC heavyweight contender Travis Browne, has also realized poor results under the tutelage of the frequently criticized coach. Yet while Rousey has not given any reason to believe that she’ll leave Tarverdyan’s gym, Browne has apparently heeded his critics’ advice and relocated.
Earlier this week, an Instagram post from Black House MMA in Los Angeles, which showed Browne honing his wrestling inside the respected gym, created a tidal wave of rumors that he had left Tarverdyan’s facility in Glendale. Shortly thereafter, The Fight Network was able to confirm that Browne is now training at Black House, where he is sharpening his skills for a bout with the hulking Derrick Lewis at UFC 208 on February 11.
Travis Browne will enter this fight with Lewis on an unfortunate, two-fight losing streak, having recently been TKO’d by former champ Cain Velasquez, and decisioned by another former champ in Fabricio Werdum. This two-fight skid is part of a larger 3-2 stretch, during which his only wins have come against UFC veterans Matt Mitrione and Brendan Schaub.
Lewis, meanwhile, will step onto the canvas in Brooklyn on a five-fight win-streak, having recently defeated Viktor Pesta, Damian Grabowski, Gabriel Gonzaga, Roy Nelson and Shamil Abdurakhimov.
Do you think Travis Browne will return to his winning ways now that he’s departed Coach Edmond’s gym and relocated to Black House? Or is it unfair to blame his recent losses on his coach? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/20/2017.