TUF 10 coaches likely to be Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Rashad Evans/Lyoto Machida winner

It appears that charismatic former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is indeed the leading candidate to serve as one of two coaches on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10, which is tentatively scheduled to debut on Spike TV in fall 2009.
MMAmania.com has been able to independently confirm an earlier report from "Showdown" Joe Ferraro over at SportsNet.ca.
This will not be the first rodeo for Jackson -- he served as coach alongside then 205-pound number one contender, Forrest Griffin, during TUF 7 in early 2008. He would later go on to lose his title to Griffin via controversial unanimous decision at UFC 86: "Jackson vs. Griffin" in July 2008.
Jackson was great on camera throughout the season, which is more than likely the reason Spike TV producers wanted him back. His now legendary face-to-face jawing session with current division champion, Rashad Evans, as well as an alleged beef with "Sugar" -- the TUF 2 heavyweight winner -- during a recent photo shoot, also works in his favor.
That’s because Jackson will likely be paired up with the winner of the match between Evans and undefeated challenger, Lyoto Machida, which takes place at UFC 98 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 23. Of course, Evans -- currently an underdog -- is no sure-fire bet to win the fight.
While Machida winning would more than likely not be the best case scenario from a production and ratings standpoint for Spike TV, it would be a nice medium to get the quite champion (if he wins) some much-needed exposure on national television, leading up to a big money championship match against Jackson later in 2009.
All the pieces of this developing puzzle will likely come together in less than a fortnight on UFC 98 weekend … so stay tuned.
TUF 10 is expected to focus on heavier divisions -- more than 250 aspiring mixed martial artists from the heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, including three former NFL football players, recently piled into the Marriott Seattle Airport Hotel in Seattle, Wa., with hopes of landing a spot on the show.
For more on TUF franchise click here.
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70 comments
Comments
BOOOOOOO, WTF, Dana this is a dumb idea, why would you put Jackson back on TUF when he had so many damn problems last time as a result of the lay off. So stupid, I don’t want to see Rampage tied up again for 6-7 mnths without a fight; this is lame as hell.
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
this is stupid… we all remember what happened last time rampage did this…… do we really need to see this again
rampage wasnt the best coach anyway
they coaches should be good fighters who are close to a title shot … like banha/T.silva would be good because of the grudge or maybe even shogun/griffin and build up a rematch (i know that griffin and T.silva have matches coming up this is just an idea)
dont do it with the champ and number 1 contender …. i think that fight would be able to build itself up without the help of tuf
tuf sucks anyway it repeats itself although we could do with some new HW talent
by ufcaddict on May 14, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed, it’s completely ridiculous to have to wait an extra 6-8 mnths just because of this show. That and it takes the fighters focus away; their focused on coaching looking good on camera and winning cash/vehicles, when personally I’d rather they were working on their own skill set. Wandi vs Franklin could have done TUF, you wouldn’t be holding up the division and you still get the name recognition and the build up for the fight. The TUF Format needs to change cause imo seeing crap like this happen is really getting frustrating.
AND their marketing their champions/#1 contenders, the guys that have already fought and built up a decent name for themselves! How does this make sense?? Why not throw in some up and comers like ufcaddict said and garner some interest in some promising prospects like Cain Valasquez, Jon Jones, Luis Cane etc… ??
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dana White loves Rampage, and Rampage is loved by fans. SO this makes sense. He lost his chuck liddel, he needs a new face of the UFC.
That face isn’t Rashad or Lyoto. Lyoto drinks his own piss and can’t speak english. Rashad is an idiot.
by Bennie Blanco on May 14, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know, I’m thinking I might boycott the season if that happens, I would rather see Rampage fight than coach, I agree with the post below by DF, they got all the time in the world to coach fighters after they retire, this is complete Bullsh!t.
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Machida can’t speak any english? try again…
by brendan on May 14, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
horrible idea,quit using the champs for the show and jackson should never do the show again.
by roy on May 14, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes, i’ll try again for him, his looks and personality does not fly, and his fighting style isn’t overly exciting to be nice, i’d rather see hockey fights where they go at it..
Rampage needs to say no, what new fans are gonna tune in to see him this time that didn’t see him last time?
by RoB on May 14, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone is bitchin about rampage being a coach, but i like it the real question should be LYOTO??? what are we having team brazil/china, cuz thats the only way his team would understand him. I wanna see rampage again……..and 2 the guy who sugest having jon jones and cain valaskez as the coach’s…..that was probly the dumbest thing ive ever herd
by JG on May 14, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh my goodness, look at all these people “complaining”. Yesterday I say the same thing and I get sh*t from the cup jockey douche bags of the site. You know who are. It’s a sh*tty idea to put chubby Jackson back on the show, but it will please the crotch gnomes who wet themselves at every one liner that he comes up with.
by JRE on May 14, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is about what all things in life are about, MONEY!!! Spike wants Rampage to coach obviously against Rashad… but they so don’t get it! the show has had it’s run, it’s over now.. come up with something new
by RoB on May 14, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only way that I would be down for this if Dana just tapes the damn season…and then gives them 2 months training camp..and then have the fight on ppv, without waiting for the season to be don airing before having the ppv. Keep the ppv, and the season seperate. I dont want to have to wait 6 months to see the LHW title defended.
Problem is the timing is perfect for what the UFC wants to do. No secret that the christmas event is one of the UFC’s biggest every year. if they start taping in June, then by the time it airs, it will be the end of year event…so it actually fits the UFC’s timing perfectly.
by john on May 14, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
JG, all TUF does is give fighters/coach’s air time. Thats it, 6 weeks isn’t enough time for these guys to really pick up any substantial gains from either coach. So yes, I think it better to give fighters like Jon Jones, or Cain Valesquez air time, public exposure and garner interest in their future bouts rather than hold up the belt for 6-8 months just to promo one main event!
“Everyone is bn about rampage being a coach, but i like it the real question should be LYOTO???”
and FYI look at that sentence, how are you gonna rag on someone else’s english when yours looks like that? Thats about the dumbest thing I’VE ever seen. Thanks.
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now that I think about it, Rashad will want time off after he defends his title, and then their’s the training camp..so they probably wouldnt be fighting before NOvember any way. Might as well let them coach their silly season, and have the big fight at the end of 2009.
i can Never get enough Rampage anyway. Plus it will be great exposure for the New LHW champion lyoto Machida who is one of the better speaking Brazilians in the UFC and who is probably easier to understand on TV than Bisping.
by john on May 14, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mean to say, Machida will want time off…..
by john on May 14, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You meant to say Machida; but in the back of your mind you know Rashad is going to win, so you slipped up and subconsciously typed in Rashad. I know thats why you got the parlay on him John! =P
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GSP vs A Silva…just overdub the english version of what they say. Make it like a vintage Kung Fu flick!
by slim473 on May 14, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it’s only goo— rather a positive if Rashad wins but seeing as how Rashad is about to exposed for the fraud he is, a Rampage-Lyoto showdown as coaches is very unappealing and a waste of time if you ask me. Just do a primetime series on it and have that be it. The fight will get more PPV buys than next week’s anyways with Rampage in it.
by Anthony on May 14, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed… Is anyone else getting sick of this show? Let me guess what will go down on season 10.?
1. Interviews with fighters trying to get into the house talking about how “I will never quit, he will have to literally kill me to win,” cut to about 6 different preliminary fights where guys tap out 2 seconds into a RNC.
2. Team jerseys are handed out. Cut to the house, someone breaks something about 25 seconds after they walk in. Cut to everyone drinking. At this point the “Alpha-male-douche-bag” will become apparent, as well as the “quiet tough-guy,” the “emotionally distraught basketcase,” the “still thinks he’s in high school prankster,” and the “I have absolutely no business being here/no skills/no heart/no chance/loser.”
3. Cut to training that seems less than intense, a bunch of dip-sh*t practical jokes, binge drinking, sh*t talking, and lastly, subpar one-sided half-assed fights.
4. Lastly, a couple of no talent jerk-offs get contracts, then mill around the bottom rungs of their respective divisions, while the rest of the cast get put on pay-per-view and televised cards as openers, effectively screwing fans out of the chance to see legitimate contenders, who have been religated to the un-aired undercards, after some sort of tiff with Dana because they refused to get UFC tattos on their asses and make weekly appearances at the soon-to-open UFC gyms.
Did I miss anything?
by Cole on May 14, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
apart from the cheesy “witness to the fitness of the modern warrior” intro, I think you summarized the show perfectly.
by Flyingknees on May 14, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you guys need to settle down , i watch the show and thats what matters….just cuz you dont like it, its pretty simple….Dont watch it then and why even bother commenting about it if you allready know ur just going to bash it?
by JG on May 14, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because if enough negative comes across maybe they’ll consider changing the format, or listening to their viewers that are becoming irritated with the show. I’m for one, hoping enough people don’t tune in, or enough people complain about it to get them to make some revisions.
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good point, let the fans voices be heard. it’s time for something new.
by JRE on May 14, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This isn’t a watch it or don’t kind of issue. This is a take the champ and number one contender of the deepest division out of commision for 7 months. This is slowly mock the legitimacy of real fighters with drunken bozos who don’t know how to control their alcohol consumption. This sub par fights once a week to trick the common man into thinking that getting into the UFC is easier than it really is. (tell me none of you guys have looked at a fighter on a TUF series and said “I can’t take him with no problems”). lastly this is male reality show drama… we don’t need to know these guy’s backgrounds to know why they fight. We don’t need to know their beef with one another, or how they have never been knocked out before in their life. These men usually are not well spoken and have nothing good to say about their peers. I think they should revamp the whole TUF format and recreate it to be tournament style. We could have a set of known fights along with designated back ups in case of injury. Cut the cheap talk between fighters and just give a general run up on how their training went up to the fight, any nagging injuries, issues they see going into the fight, and how they plan on winning the fight. They would be known as the tough tournament champs, no fighters would get a pick advantage to pick out the weakest links, and they would all know their potential match ups weaks in advance so they could train more in specific areas. The teams could still be set up and we could have popular UFC fighters come in and do weekly training with the cast instead of setting champ against champ. You know in TUF we never even get to see clips of the coaches potentially training to fight one another!
by Cogito Ergo Sum on May 14, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s about that time for a Celebrity TUF to get everyone interested again…what reality show hasn’t cashed in on this to try and breathe some life into their worn out show.
by slim473 on May 14, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, here’s my next suggestion…the UFC is flirting with women’s MMA…bring that shit to TUF. I’d love to see a bunch of half-naked chics rolling around together once a week, then beating each other up! If they match make well enough, we might get some lesbo action thrown in.
by slim473 on May 14, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Page is entertaining, but I have not desire to see him coach again.
by DSmith on May 14, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The show isn’t really about the coaches anyway, it’s focused on the fighters. It’s nice to have some rivalries in the mix, but who hates each other anymore. Everyone hugs and kisses before and after a fight. I like sportsmanship, but once in awhile I’d like to see some pure hatred. That’s the only thing that fueled 3 Tito vs Shamrock fights.
by slim473 on May 14, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why is everyone using the “4-point” responses as of late???
by UFC Champ on May 14, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
alright guys, 1 out of the 12 suite seats is left (as of now). I have 3 supposed to pay today! I put the suite view up yesterday, go to wachovia center web site, we got suite 29. Let me know if anyone is interested, and after tix sell out, I can still get some, so keep me in mind!
by kevin on May 14, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You forgot how they all smash up the house at the end
by Belligo on May 18, 2009 7:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is wonderful….let’s take 2 of the top end fighters and put them on the shelf for months for the sake of a male soap opera. This is what the fans want! Or not.
by dw on May 14, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
sigh whatever man..
I hope if they do HW that the winner actually STAYS at Heavyweight.
by Synyster on May 14, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Machida wins the whole team is drinking piss every morning… Better hope you’re on team Rampage if that happens.
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am only slightly interested if Machida wins. If it is Rashad, then I hope they will scratch the idea. They already did Rampage / TUF 1 winner, no one needs to see Rampage / TUF 2 winner.
by naturalshadow on May 14, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha…if it does happen they should keep the same theme as this season and make it USA vs Brazil
by McArthur on May 14, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Lyoto wins I coud even see them doing US vs Brazil woudnt be to happy but woudnt be suprised either!!!!!
by phlicutioner on May 14, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In the UFC’s defense (I dont feel it is fair to give Dana ALL the blame) Machida definitely needs some exposure to the common fan.
Also, does anyone know if there is going to be a Fight Night between 100 and 101, or 101 and 102? Reading the Shields article I thought that a great main event would be Kampmann-Kos. Anyone?
by WB on May 14, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Assuming Machida even wins; if its Rampage vs Rashad then it’s even worse, why hold that fight up?? I am really dissapointed with this whole situation; I don’t think you should hold up an entire division for this stupid @ss reality show. TUF is a great way to find talent, but come on, does a chamion or a #1 contender ALWAYS have to be coaching??
by O damn he got caught on May 14, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Dumb to hold a division up just to promote their show. Especially the LHW division where there are so many possible contenders.
by dw on May 14, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This show is getting out of control. Put the vets in as coaches when they retire and who cares about the coaches fighting. Dana, you’re trying to get too much hype and I bet the fighters hate doing it.
I know Liddell is looking for something to do.
by DF on May 14, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Makes no sense to me at all…Jackson was just a coach on the show…shouldn’t it be new coaches and faces? Wandy, Anderson, Brock,Kenny…
by Robert(1) on May 14, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Id rather NOT see that CRIMINAL on TV again, thanks.
What must the guy do to get cut? Murder someone it seems, oops he allready did that (fetus murder).
by lolop4345 on May 14, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They just had USA VS Britain. Now they should have Canada VS Brazil and have the coaches St Pierre vs A. Silva as coaches.
by Ryan on May 14, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Brilliant!!! Who wouldn’t want either one as a coach
by ~Savage~ on May 14, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is stupid. Rampage said he would never take so much time off and now he might be a coach again.
by RyanHobbs on May 14, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great, delay title defenses in the most competitive division for even longer. This is retarded.
by Belisarius on May 14, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree with you all. I hate this idea. I get tired of only getting to see my favorite fighters fight twice a year while they junk up a PPV card with a guy like krzysztof soszynski.
by natedog77 on May 14, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
no offense but evans vs rampage i would watch but against machida as coaches they would have to do a usa vs brazil or something of that nature
by bryant on May 14, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How about this… Greg Jackson vs Mark DeleGrotte? Thompkins?
Get some top coaches against each other. Then they bring in people from their camps to help coach. The setup a fight between two camp members as part of the finale. Some good coaching would be nice to see. I know these coaches are friends but it could be interesting. I supposed only for hardcore fans though. Brazil vs Canada is not a bad idea.
by Mr. Jitters on May 14, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that would be good although it would lack the luster of star quality the UFC fighters bring plus ur right only hardcore fans would be interested which kind of defeats the original purpose of TUF! nice idea tho!
by Randy for Couture on May 14, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea the layoff sucks for Page but its all he can do in them mean time plus im sure training with the TUF guys will keep him active and lay off the energy drinks..hopefully.
this is all stemming from the waste of time keith jardine fight……what was it for? Rampage should have fought for the belt after he beat Wandy!
by Randy for Couture on May 14, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How do you do a whole show where one of the coaches barely speaks English? I could be wrong, but Machida looks like he has as much charisma as a badly painted wall.
Would be funny Rampage winding him up though.
by UK_Chris on May 14, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Rampage ranks up there as one of the worst coaches in TUF history.
by Dennis on May 14, 2009 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
this is a joke imagine Machida as a coach, he will have his team drinking piss and meditating in the morning, aswell as doing karate chops and waxing his car like in karate kid ( wax on, Wax off).When it comes to the fights they all would be fighting with their hands up a chins down .
And for jackson hes guy would properly lose to these guys anyway due to his lack of coachin ability and would spend most of his time making jokes
by andrewb on May 14, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I usually wouldn’t post anything, but I was wondering if anyone knows how long TUF might last. I still enjoy watching the show, but I didn’t know if anyone affiliated with the UFC had ever mentioned when it would end. 10 seasons is a long time!
Thanks for providing a very informative website.
by a fan on May 14, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bullshit! This better NOT happen! Rampage, what happened brother? You said you’d never coach on that stupid show again! Don’t do it!
by Anthony on May 14, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I Dont agree with this at all Rampage and rashad already are superstar. Machida if he puts on a good fight on the next ufc will be a superstar. I think the coaches should be up and comers in the division And since it is heavyweights on the show i think the hw should be doing the show. The hw division is already lacking why not put a couple up and comers like carwin and kongo on there for number 1 contender.
by desperus on May 14, 2009 1:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i would like see fighters that haven’t coached yet.If GSP wins at 100 it would be perfect timing for him and the top contender possibly Fitch? I would like to see Machida so I wouldn’t complain to much or Evans. If Brock wins him and possibly Kongo or Carwin or Carwin vs Kongo or Cain? Don’t have any of the same coaches if possible UFC.
by Beaver on May 14, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Let’s see, Rampage. Been on TUF already. Missed scheduling of fights meeting with Dana and Forrest. Crashed his car after being main event PPV, allegedly due to dehydration and dementia. Performances not up to par since.
Let’s see, Machida. Little UFC exposure. May not hablo english. Has he coached anyone?
Great way to trash the series
by celticjfc on May 14, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Machida has 28 years of karate training. Machida was a two time brazilian Sumo wrestling champion. He’s 19 years of Sumo wrestling experience. 16 years worth of training now in brazilian jiu jitsu. Machida went to college in Japan, where he started training wrestling and muay thai. If I was a guy going to the show, I would want him as my coach. Machida knows what everybody else does, as well as being a national sumo and karate champion, which are two disciplines that are very uncommon in mma.
He would be the best coach for any team they put together, because he is probably better at every fighting style than his guys.
Some of Machida’s training partners are Vitor Belfort, Anderson Silva, and Noguiera, and could appear as guest coaches.
Hardcore fans of the sport will be very happy with Machida as a coach. Rampage would be a great pick from Spike’s standpoint because he’s good with the one-liners in case Machida doesn’t have much personality. Considering there are 16 fighters in the house, 2 coaches and Dana White all vying for camera time, having 1 of those characters being a little boring wouldn’t be too big of a deal anyway’s. That’s a lot of people the camera can be on when he’s not teaching.
by Chris Daubeny on May 24, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I say that instead of an actual season with a house and all the drama crap, that the UFC selects some “good”(respectable) fighters and has them compete in a tournament where after they fight the first time and win, they go home to train and come back to fight again. this will be repeated until there are 2 left in each division, which then can be put on a fight night card instead of handing them a contract because they made it through 6 weeks in a house…and when i say some, im talking like 72 guys to start and each week show the fights…just an idea which will eliminate all the drama, issues with coaches, training problems, there will be no time for pranks, and those who are bad will have little time to shine and those who are good will have to earn it
by joe on May 28, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
and when i say fight night card, i know that the tuf finales are like fight nights, but in this case a whole card wouldnt be practically dedicated to them and wouldnt have guys who lost come back and fight
by joe on May 28, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
when is the WEC gonna come out with a show like this? i want to see the smaller guys fight and i want to see guys like faber and torres coach these guys
by mike on May 28, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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