This is not
news or even a rumor. It is completely speculation on who I think should be
the coaches for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
For the last 2 seasons
of The Ultimate Fighter (including the current season), the coaches have
been a champion and the number 1 contender. While this is
an easy way to build up the fight, it puts the rest of the division on hold
for filming, editing, and airing.
On the first season of
TUF, then light heavyweight champion Randy Couture and #1 contender Chuck
Liddell were the coaches building up to the rematch. This
situation worked great as MMA and the UFC were not on the map yet. Contenders
did not run so deep in each weight class. Title defenses for each weight
class came maybe twice a year.
Now, each champion has 2 or 3 fighters ready to take the step up for their
title shot. A champion can defend his title every 3 months. Putting a division
on hold for a reality show seems unfair.
Another issue facing coaches
for TUF is the language barrier. Right now, English is the second language
for 2 UFC champions and another hardly speaks a word
of the language. Newly crowned welterweight champion Georges
St-Pierre has
worked on his English to the point where he is fluent in his first language
of French or his second language of English, although we do occasionally
get great quotes such as “fairly squarely.” Heavyweight interim
champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira continues to learn the English language,
but is much more fluent in his native language of Portuguese. “Handy
Couture” anyone? Anderson Silva requires an interpreter for every interview.
He has promised to learn the language, but not much improvement has been
seen in that arena yet. It may be difficult for the latter of the two champions
to be effective coaches.
This brings me to my picks
for the coaches for TUF 8. The season is rumored to include both light heavyweights
and lightweights. I like the aspect of
the coaches facing each other in an event close to the finale of the season.
In keeping with that format and to prevent language problems and not hold
up a weight class, I suggest Rich Franklin and Dan
Henderson be the coaches
for TUF 8. Both of these fighters would make great coaches.
Both fighters lost to middleweight
champion Anderson Silva, but both of them present the most danger to the
champion. A fight between Rich Franklin and
Dan Henderson has been on the list of many MMA fans dream fights. Here is
a great opportunity to make it come true and set up an obvious #1 contender.
In the mean time, Silva can continue to defend his title against possibly
Yushin Okami or Nate Marquardt.
TUF
8 Coaches?
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