Cagewriter - UFC

Cagewriter

Thu May 28, 2009 10:20 am EDT

TUF 10 coaches: Now who fights Machida?

By Steve Cofield

The rumors are flying about The Ultimate Fighter 10 and who'll be coaching this season. The UFC and Spike will officially announce the selections today.

Earlier in the week, Dave Farra from MMAFix reported that Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson are the coaches. Then Machida's website threw us off that scent a bit with a post on the right side of the page saying "The Dragon" is fighting Jackson in September in Las Vegas. One problem with that scenario. It's unlikely that the UFC will be in Sin City that month. The promotion is on the road in Oklahoma City on Sept. 16 for Ultimate Fight Night 19 and it sounds like for proximity reasons a UFC pay-per-view may follow that weekend or the next in Dallas, San Antonio or Houston.

As Maggie Hendricks wrote earlier, it's not Machida-Jackson. It seems crazy to put Evans in a such a high profile slot after suffering a devastating loss at UFC 98. But what's more insane Evans in that slot or the risky move of Machida and subtitles for an entire season? Machida's english is quickly improving but not at a level where his translator Ed Soares could be left out of the mix.

Once the anger subsides about the Evans-Jackson selection, the show will be a huge hit. The potential trash talk, heat and confrontations could make for a classic season. It's not worst move to improve the UFC's standing in the African-American either. That's a demographic the promotion would love to steal away from boxing.

It is a tough blow for Jackson. Sure, he further raises his awareness but it means Jackson is kept from a Machida fight until April of 2010 at the earliest. It also leaves the UFC's newest superstar Machida without an opponent for later this year. Who are the candidates to possibly slay "The Dragon?" Could this be a chance for one final Chuck Liddell superfight? Would the UFC force Machida to battle fellow countryman Shogun Rua? Is there any chance if Randy Couture gets by Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira injury free that he could be ready for a superfight against Machida in December? Could the UFC bump Luiz Cane up for a shot at the title? Would the winner of Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin be a candidate? If Dan Henderson smashes Michael Bisping at UFC 100, would Hendo get the nod? Or is there a free agent, like Ricardo Arona, that the UFC could bring in?

Machida site tip via MMAConvert

digg delicious
more

156 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Jay-R
    1. Posted by Jay-R Thu May 28, 2009 10:30 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Machida!!!
  2. A Yahoo! User
    2. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu May 28, 2009 10:44 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    "or the risky move of Machida and subtitles for an entire season" LOL. That was so funny. Amazing how people just don't want to read anything. They had to use subtitles for Big Nog at times.
  3. mystic1221
    3. Posted by mystic1221 Thu May 28, 2009 10:51 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hell, they need to use sub-titles to understand Bisping.
  4. ktheer
    4. Posted by ktheer Thu May 28, 2009 10:56 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    From Fighters Only Magazine:
    "Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson will be opposed by Rashad Evans on season ten of The Ultimate Fighter reality series, Fighters Only can confirm.
    A source close to former champion Rashad Evans says that rumours he will be taking a coaching spot on TUF10 are true."
  5. Anton
    5. Posted by Anton Thu May 28, 2009 11:10 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    mystic1221 - Yeah! And for Matt too, I think. Also Wanderlei. And Dana White during his doublespeak. "(insert name) is the best p4p fighter in the world." translation. He's my new cash cow. So what's the problem?
  6. Patrón
    6. Posted by Patrón Thu May 28, 2009 11:18 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Wow, Couture vs Machida? I'm strangely interested!
  7. Irish Bastard
    7. Posted by Irish Bastard Thu May 28, 2009 11:40 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    If Brock can get a title shot with the record he had ,then anyone from the show or in the UCF should get a shot too.
    What a joke .
    Didnt Evans just get beat and he might be a coach .........Dang sounds like how the WWE is ran .....
    If your in NTSKS good side you get perks....
    O well as soon as the dragon has a loss or ticks off NTSK "White he will be old news.
  8. atikiN
    8. Posted by atikiN Thu May 28, 2009 12:28 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Another theory is that is that Machida used the word "fight" symbolically like he's going to go head to head with Jackson as a coach.
  9. TKflash
    9. Posted by TKflash Thu May 28, 2009 1:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Kimbo and Gannon vs Machida
  10. Dwayne
    10. Posted by Dwayne Thu May 28, 2009 2:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Nog was on TUF. At times I can barely understand Bisping or some other members from team UK and it's no problem at all. We really only want to watch the fights. All that talking and drama is just a little bonus. Machida should have no problem being on the show.
    I have to admit though that Evans-Jackson will make a much more entertaining show.
  11. chadd
    11. Posted by chadd Thu May 28, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    apparently Cofield doesn't proof read his blogs...sometimes it's as if a kindergartner wrote it because of all the missing words and horrible ways the sentences are put together....maybe we need subtitles for his blogs, hahaha
  12. TKflash
    12. Posted by TKflash Thu May 28, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Cofield abuses this blog like Bisping abuses the english language.
  13. Mainevent
    13. Posted by Mainevent Thu May 28, 2009 4:36 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I would put my money on Keith Jardine. First off, he lost a very close decision to Rampage. Also, it makes for a great story line. Will Jardine be able to avenge his best friend's KO? Will Greg Jackson learn from his mistakes and come up with a better game plan? I'm tellin u, it would work. Plus, Jardine uses good leg kicks, atleast to a greater degree than Machida's last 3 opponents, Evans, Ortiz, and T. Silva. So he could give Machida trouble.
  14. Celebrity Slayer
    14. Posted by Celebrity Slayer Thu May 28, 2009 5:04 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Liddell vs Machida? What are you smoking Cofield?
  15. Sean M
    15. Posted by Sean M Thu May 28, 2009 5:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Forrest (if he beats Anderson) or Shogun.. but Randy is interesting.
  16. K-Doc
    16. Posted by K-Doc Thu May 28, 2009 5:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Jardine is too slow for Machida. True his style is a bit unusual, but I don't see how Jardine can keep up with Machida.
  17. swrestler
    17. Posted by swrestler Thu May 28, 2009 5:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The UFC is afraid that the 205 division will become a dead division just like the 185 has become. Ever since Anderson Silva became champ, he beat all contenders and he made a burial ground of the entire division. The UFC is afraid Machida will do the same thing. Their solution is to protect their top contenders from Machida, because when Machida clowns them, the UFC won’t be able to market them.
    Think about it…would you even care to see a Rampage/Evans fight if Rampage were to fight Machida right now and get KO’d. Who would want to see two guys fight each other who just got clowned by Machida. It is obvious, the UFC is making sure the same thing that happened in the 185 division doesn’t happen in the 205 division. So you can expect a lot of spin doctoring, a lot of excuses and a lot of BS in the 205 division for the very near future. I am not surprised at all that they are protecting Rampage by handing him Evans.
    Anyone who loses to Machida becomes damaged goods….
  18. hotsilvertone65
    18. Posted by hotsilvertone65 Thu May 28, 2009 5:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Its obvious that Rampage doesn't want any part of Machida. He is trying to get as much mileage out of his sorry ass as possible. He would be taylor made for Machida and would likely last one round. He is going to maximize his earning ala Mayweather Jr. I think he will have a hard time with Evans too, but he is probably thinking he can capitalize on Evans bubble being burst against Machida, thinking his confidence is at a all time low.
  19. HALLOWEEN81
    19. Posted by HALLOWEEN81 Thu May 28, 2009 5:20 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    machida vs anderson silva YEAH BABY
  20. fatloserboi
    20. Posted by fatloserboi Thu May 28, 2009 5:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    after this the only thing I can think of is the winner of the silva/griffin fight... if not shogun should get the next crack, or if absolutely nesscary randy can step in and win the title again...
    but honestly because they are all out of african americans to fight the japanese/brazilian hybrid, maybe houston alexander should get a should... he did knock out jardine... hehe
  21. NYer_in_Florida
    21. Posted by NYer_in_Florida Thu May 28, 2009 5:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Damm seems like Machida has the whole LHW division shook. Though I'm not a Machida fan, I don't see anyone that was mentioned beating him. As such, this is how i see it:
    Randy Couture = Outpointed as Machida effectively avoids/stuffs (runs) Randy's takedowns.
    Luiz Cane = Knocked out like Thiago Silva, though in 2 rounds.
    Wanderlei = Knocked out in the 1st (sorry, your chin is now suspect)
    Hendo = See Randy above
    Chuck Liddell = RIP
  22. Joshua S
    22. Posted by Joshua S Thu May 28, 2009 5:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Machida vs Anderson Silva will never happen. Jackson vs Evans is a good fight. And after Jackson KO's Evans you will see Machida vs Jackson. They all will be or could be great fights for all us fans!!
  23. fatloserboi
    23. Posted by fatloserboi Thu May 28, 2009 5:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    if only ufc signs fedor.. but they wont.. cause they dont want 1 person holding 2 belts and then leaving....
  24. Robert C
    24. Posted by Robert C Thu May 28, 2009 5:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Chuck Liddell? Why would you even put his name in there?
    I say when Hendo beats the crap out of Bisbing...let him take on Machida if he wants to.
    Other than that I have two candidates I think might fair OK against Machida. Brandon Vera or Keith Jardine. I know these guys might seem laughable at first, but I think their styles could match with Machida.
    Vandy would get knocked out in 30 seconds. Rich Franklin might make to the 2nd round....
    Don't have a problem with Machida/Rua...sounds fine also.
    Randy C. would not last a round. Back in the day he could take Machida thru 5..but not today.
  25. Nate S
    25. Posted by Nate S Thu May 28, 2009 5:59 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    First of all I think you guys have made some great points. But dont question dana white because he know's what he's doing. I am definitely dissapointed that rampage isn't fighting machida for the title because I think that would have been a great fight. I'm a big fan of both rampage and rashad and i think they are definitely the second and third contenders at 205. obviously. I also think that this season is going to be fun to watch because they dont like eachother.
    Machida's next opponent is definitely a mystery. I don't think shogun is worthy enough because the performance against forrest was embarrasing and then he beat a couple of people (Coleman and Lidell) who were in the decline of their careers. Luiz Cane should fight Machida now. (Thats right I said it). Then after Anderson Silva beats Forrest Griffin, the spider should get the light heavyweight title shot. Then the Rampage and Rashad winner should obviously get the title after that. (I know Silva and Machida are friends, but this sport is a business and you should fight whoever is given to you).

Cagewriter

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Steve Cofield

Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Maggie Hendricks, Zak Jensen,

Related Photo Gallery

More MMA Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Cagewriter Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)