Report: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans to Coach Ultimate Fighter, Lyoto Machida Left Out

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 11:26 AM EDT in News Comment 57 comments

According to Fighters Only, which is referencing multiple sources:

A source close to former champion Rashad Evans says that rumours he will be taking a coaching spot on TUF10 are true.

And Jackson himself yesterday confirmed his own participation as a coach via an update on his Twitter account.

Lyoto Machida had been tipped to oppose Jackson on the show, leading to an end-of-season title fight, but that rumour was dismissed by Ed Soares yesterday.

However, Machida's official website does say that his first title defence will take place against Jackson in Las Vegas, Nevada in September.

That means Jackson will challenge for the title before facing Evans in the traditional TUF coach v coach match.

This is a very telling development.

The fact that the current champ Machida is not being considered for the show makes me doubt that Dana White and the UFC are 100% behind their new champ. Or maybe SpikeTV are not interested in featuring the enigmatic new Brazilian champion.

Its also very interesting that the title fight will happen BEFORE the TUF show. In the past the UFC has been very willing to put belts on hold for a long time to build title fights.

The odds are that Machida will beat Rampage and hold the belt, making the TUF season a long exercise in heat-building for a fight between to fighters looking to get back on top.

But if Rampage wins the title, it would mean the season would build to a heated Rampage vs Rashad title fight, surely a bigger and better outcome for UFC and SpikeTV.

Personally as a fan, this is all fine with me. I'd rather the title not be held hostage to a show I only fast forward through to see the fights.

But based on the crowd's chants of MACHIDA-MACHIDA at UFC 98 and the boos for Rashad at the weigh-ins, I wonder if someone isn't going against the tide of fan opinion here.

On the one hand, I think its laudable that Spike and Zuffa are willing to put the big push behind two African-American fighters. On the other hand, I wonder if they're missing the opportunity to market their best fighter as a martial arts master uniting the traditions of Bruce Lee and Royce Gracie in one package.

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= p

What’s wrong with putting your marketing behind 2 African American fighters. Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson held huge marketing behind them vs other African American fighters. >= p

by evilstuntz on May 28, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

laudable = good

I like that part.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love it, having Krazy Horse coach on the Iron Ring did not cut it.

by The Bronzeville Bully on May 28, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only reason that didn’t cut it is because you could tell that Krazy Horse wanted to KTFO T.I., and I was so hoping it would happen. That show would have actually be worth the excruciating pain of sitting through it if Krazy Horse just went crazy.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on May 28, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't Ed Soares...

allude to some “things” already being signed? Is it possible that Machida isn’t doing TUF due to his own obligations?

by Loot on May 28, 2009 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this is what think as well. machida probably didn’t want to do it, not that the ufc didn’t want i him too.

by bdw on May 28, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spike might of already planned on Rashad and Rampage but didn’t want to change it when Rashad lost too. This move really sounds like something SpikeTV would of pushed through because Rampage vs Rashad as coaches should bring some fireworks and drama to the show.

by who me on May 28, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if ever they pick machida to coach

I wouldn’t know how he’d do it.. They subtitled nog, but nog is a much much more fluent in English compared to machida so I don’t think they could do that.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on May 28, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cheetohs would sign on as a major sponsor is what would happen.

by SamCupitt on May 28, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got the impressions that Machida was not really interested himself. In my opinion this is the best solution, fast title fight, interesting season and Evans-Jackson fight.

by Thomas Kane on May 28, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From Tatame

"They talked about it, but I don’t need to focus on this until its confirmed. I wanna rest a little, I’m coming from two fights and I need to rest some days and then come back to training. Then, I’ll focus on my goal: remain champion", says the Brazilian, open to be the TUF 11 coach, with one condition: "I can do it, but I have to have a structure here in the US, because I have to train too. I can’t be only coaching, it’s six weeks and it’s very important. My focus is fighting. I know I have to use this moment to make my name bigger and all that, but it’s not my main focus right now. With the right structure here, I’d do it".

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on May 28, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Have you also taken into account what kind of coach Machida would be? Granted I know that it doesn’t really matter the type of coach you are, but with the language barrier and his unique fighting style, he may not be a great candidate. This also gives the UFC time to scout and find better fighters for the TUF season.

by Gogo Platter on May 28, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or he could train fighters to be little machidas :D. But without the skills… it would just be dudes running all over the place waiting for counters they will never be able to set up.

by spectaa on May 28, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure he’s got a lot more to offer than just that

by soadtrails on May 29, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like how this turned out:

If Rampage loses to Machida… the Rampage vs. Rashad fight is great.
If Rampage beats Machida… the Rampage vs. Rashad fight is great.

Win, win. =)

by Nick Thomas on May 28, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It seems unfair to give Rashad another title fight so soon. I’d like to see him beat another contender before he gets it back so quickly. Hell, Rampage had to fight Jardine (yes, I know the UFC needed a headline, not the point).

by frickshun on May 28, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re right…. I’d like Rashad to beat a contender first as well.

by Nick Thomas on May 28, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way Evans gets an immediate

rematch if he gets past Jackson given how he was absolutely destroyed by Machida last time.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on May 28, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they would use Machida but his English is not there yet. We’ll be seeing a lot of subtitles on TUF if he were chosen

by The Bronzeville Bully on May 28, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not just subtitles like those for nog

But direct translations..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on May 28, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even though Ramage is said to be fighting Machida in September and Rashad suffered a devastating brutal loss, it actually appears to be a great idea to have these oppose each other on the tenth season of TUF.

I’m guessing based on the post-fight confrontation at UFC 96 and an altercation at a UFC photo shoot, UFC and Spike TV officials felt the potential fire works between the two would lead to the highest rated season of TUF.

by The Bronzeville Bully on May 28, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Spike has alot of sway (which I believe they do), there probably wasn’t anything Machida could have done to get onto the show seeing how he dismantled Rashad and all. It’s not even a knock on Machida, it’s just that Rashad has so many things about him that make him a perfect fit to coach TUF in this specific instance.

by bigweeze on May 28, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t be surprised if the only reason Rashad wasn’t named sooner was Dana. Both Lyoto or Rashad would have been equally good in my opinion, but one will clearly draw more eyeballs.

by bigweeze on May 28, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best case scenario I think.

The only slight problem I see is Rashad possibly getting an immediate title shot after not having defended the belt and getting tooled while trying to. But whatevs, at least a division isn’t on hold.

by SamCupitt on May 28, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they’re going to do Machida vs. Shogun and hope that Rampage will beat Rashad. A victory over Shogun would further build up Machida and make an eventual fight with Rampage even bigger.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on May 28, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that's what i was thinking too

until i saw rampage confirming a september title shot.
Feeding Shogun to Machida would be a win-win for UFC since it would likely build Machida and give them an excuse to cut Shogun and his big salary.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You see them wanting Shogun out of there?

by The Bronzeville Bully on May 28, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

he’s expensive and I don’t think he’s gotten over with the American fans that much.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on May 28, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a lot tougher

to get over with American fans without PED’s.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on May 28, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if they did give shogun the first show at machida, i doubt rampage would care. he’s said he wants to avenge that loss. what better way to do that than with a potential title fight. of course that’s assuming the two of them could win (against machida and evans)… which in my opinion, is a bit of a stretch.

i am however curious what the shogun “signing” was all about yesterday though. probably the interweb making something out of nothing.

by woooburn on May 28, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rampage vs Anderson Silva for TUF

Thats what I want to see!

by Bandaka on May 28, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is a great decision by the UFC and SPIKE. It has nothing, zero, to do with the UFC not being behind Machida.

Was Machida even interested? It doesn’t seem so. Would he have been an interesting character as a coach? Doubtful. The language barrier is also not great for viewers, or the fighters on the show.

The question I have is about Rampage’s decision to film TUF now against Rashad, and then fight Machida in September. IMO, that scenario isn’t going to be the best for Rampage to get ready for that fight.

by Hardcharger on May 28, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Machida doesn't want to do it

Do you really think a guy like Machida, who obviously takes his training extremely serious and doesn;t neccesarily love the limelight want to coach a Junie Browning or a Dave Kaplan?

Makes perfect sense to me. He doesn’t want to do it. It’s not really his thing. No big deal… except to Dana White.

by ThomasJ on May 28, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah… that’s a good point. Esp. in light of the clowns on TUF the past 2 seasons. I don’t see Machida putting up with that crap.

by P4P is a stupid concept on May 28, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He might join in the shots of urine …

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on May 28, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evan’s needs at least another win to get a title shot no? Rashad vs shogun could be a fun fight. I hate it when TUF postpone fights like that.

by spectaa on May 28, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Could it be that Machida is not able to communicate effectively enough to train english speaking fighters? That is, if it’s not a Brazil vs. USA show.

by jyoseph on May 28, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

where does this leave shogun?

so rashad will fight rampage no matter what, so who’s shogun going to fight? I thought they were going to give him rashad on the rebound, but with this news, whoelse is there left without anyone to fight? all the big names have fights coming up, that would suck if they give shogun a no name to fight… this sucks!

by orcus on May 28, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shogun could fight Luiz Cane or Rich Franklin for his next fight.

by Hardcharger on May 28, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or jardine maybe, if he gets past t.silva. shoguns fans want to put him in the title contention too soon.

by bdw on May 28, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i’m curious how rampage will handle his training camp if he’s gonna be filming a tv while he prepares for it. or will he already be done with the filming before then? kinda confused on when that starts.

i dont think the ufc dodged machida by doing this, and i dont think he’s totally disinterested in doing it (at least i didnt get that impression from the post fight press conference when it was brought up to both him and dana). just seems like a matter of logistics more than anything.

at least we’ll get to hear “don’t say that rashad” a few more times in the coming months.

wonder if greg jackson will be a coach, or if evans will teach his teach how to do the rashad dance.

by woooburn on May 28, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

long live typos

by woooburn on May 28, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The next season should start filming any time now even though it won’t air till the fall. Rampage could probably film this now and still get in a training camp and fight Machida before it airs.

by who me on May 28, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cool. thanks. i wasnt sure how long the tapings usually take, and i know he blamed his performance in the griffin fight on ring rust (as a result of the last time he coached).

by woooburn on May 28, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s why people gripe about TUF putting titles on the bench for so long. If they film in June and then wait till September to air it then it puts guys on the back burner those months between filming and the airing. This way Rampage could film against Rashad and fight Machida without slowing the title defenses down that much. It would seem to suck a bit for Rashad because this could put him on the bench till November or December but at least it doesn’t leave the title up in the air for that long.

by who me on May 28, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well maybe not.

by who me on May 28, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It makes sense, really...

Machida is my boy, but I think this makes total sense.

1. Machida can hardly speak english. It’s hard enough understanding the Brits right now.

2. Machida is a Karate fighter. There is no way he can coach a team in Karate-standup in only 8 weeks or whatever. He’s got a black belt in BJJ, but other than that I don’t know how much he could really contribute to coaching a bunch of guys with brutish/simplistic muay-thai backgrounds. That would be like taking a truck driver and trying to teach him how to fly a fighter jet in 8 weeks.

by P4P is a stupid concept on May 28, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He could just focus on Sumo.

This is the best possible scenario. Rampage vs Rashad is a fight we all want to see. Machida will maybe one day be the perfect TUF coach, but not right now. In another year he could learn a lot of English and be a seasoned dominant champion and maybe build up a promising contender.

My only problem with this is that Rampage’s stint on reality TV didn’t end so well last time. I’d rather see him focus on fighting and training.

by Dooda on May 28, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I think Rampage’s second crack at being a TUF coach will go much better than last time. Mainly because I think the opposing coach is kind of terrible. In my opinion, Rashad’s striking is very basic (as shown last saturday night), and the only things he brings to the table are his wrestling and the ability to throw bombs. One of those you can’t coach. Thus, I think Evans will be a horrible TUF coach.

by P4P is a stupid concept on May 28, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is a good chance Rampage will bring Greg Jackson with him for at least part of it. It seems that a lot of the “coaching” is done by the assistant coaches anyway.

by who me on May 28, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean Rashad might bring Jackson

Which would probably be for a guest shot at best, considering he has alot of other fighters to focus on in his camp…one even still has a belt!

by Razreshat on May 28, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep my bad. I can’t imagine a season with Rashad as coach where Jackson doesn’t at least show up for a bit. I figure we should get a techno viking sighting and perhaps GSP and/or Marquardt popping in too.

by who me on May 28, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry guys; didn't read through the comments

Want to throw my two cents in quickly then go back over. I think this is brilliant. Rashad and Rampage have the makings of ratings gold and getting the Machida/Rampage title fight out of the way, win or lose, would either free up Machida to more defenses, or keep the belt from being held hostage for at least a little less longer (should Rampage) win. Plus, the obvious, in that Evans/Rampage is a major fight that has heat presently, and could die down considerably (or altogether) by the time they actually get a chance to fight under the original circumstances (Rampage/Machida as coaches). I really think this is a very wise move. Now, to see if anyone has speculated on when Rampage/Machida is going to happen, or if any official word trickles down soon so I can book my fuckin place ticket. I’ve been waiting for that fight for years.

I poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on May 28, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This Is The Part Where...

"It would appear that the strain was more than he could bear".- Doc Holliday

by MyFistYourFace on May 28, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Page decides he would rather fight Rashad and Dana decides it would get better ratings.

"It would appear that the strain was more than he could bear".- Doc Holliday

by MyFistYourFace on May 28, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it possible that this move was made in part because the UFC decided to quit putting titles on hold for entire TUF seasons? It’s one of the things people have complained about on here before — that when they have the champion as one of the coaches, it ties up that belt until after the season and the finale show, etc. — and this way that doesn’t happen.

I don’t know if that’s even something they would have considered, but it seems to me an interesting angle that I didn’t see anyone else bring up.

by Kierkegaard on May 28, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs