UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter series may have been given new life.
Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer is reporting that Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping have been cast as coaches for the series, scheduled to run from September through to December on Spike TV.
Sonnen and Bisping began publicly talking trash to one another following Bisping’s controversial victory over Jorge Rivera at UFC 127.
Bisping has taken quite a bit of heat from other fighters, including Nate Marquardt, but it was Chael Sonnen’s taunts on Twitter that seemed to catch the most attention from Bisping.
According to reports, the UFC and Spike TV cannot report this news due to Sonnen not being licensed in the state of Nevada.
If Sonnen does get the greenlight to coach in the series, it could very well be one of the most highly viewed seasons the show has experienced thus far. Both Bisping and Sonnen are among the best trash-talkers in the business and the obvious hostility between the two could boil over into some unforgettable moments on screen.
Still, the move will not come without criticism, since both potential coaches have gone through some serious public relation hits as of late.
Bisping’s actions before, during and after his fight with Jorge Rivera have been publicly scolded by UFC President, Dana White.
Meanwhile, Chael Sonnen remains suspended for failing a drug test after nearly defeating Anderson Silva to become the UFC Middleweight Champion at UFC 117. He is also awaiting punishment for a guilty plea that he entered relating to mortgage fraud.
But the UFC is obviously looking for these two hot-headed personalities to create fireworks, similar to the ones we saw with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans, or Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock.
The bottom line is that the series is about creating a bigger brand for the UFC—if the company believes Bisping and Sonnen can do that, they will be the choices to coach TUF 14.
In addition to coaching, the two fighters would square off after the show in what is expected to be a No. 1 contendership match for the UFC Middleweight Championship. The winner of the fight would likely earn himself a title shot sometime in 2012.
Dido Joss Stone Majandra Delfino Maria Bello Jennifer Gareis
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