TUF 14 Coaches: Five Options to Choose From
Posted on April 3, 2011, 05:44 AM by Anton GurevichFourteenth Season of The Ultimate Fighter is expected to debut sometime in late summer, as the rumors wildfire about possible coaches is already spreading across the internet. TUF 14 will be the first season featuring lower weight classes, with Bantamweights and Featherweights attending tryouts on March 21st in New Jersey.
Here's a quick look on five leading options for the role of coaches at The Ultimate Fighter Season 14:
Drama Queens Kings
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping
The Ultimate Fighter franchise is all about controversy and trash talk, and who can bring more drama to "the house" than the trash-talking Kingpins Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. Thanks to the famous pre-fight campaign against Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen managed to become one of the UFC's biggest stars (or entertainers, if you will), and an always interesting subject of discussion in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. From the other side, Michael Bisping was recently involved (depends on who you are asking) in an embarrassing incident at UFC 127, which gave him a deserved image of UFC's Bad Boy – loved by few, hated by many. Both Sonnen and Bisping already expressed their desire to fight each other, in what could serve as the number one contender fight for the UFC Middleweight title. Fireworks are promised.
Bitter Rivals
Dominick Cruz – Urijah Faber
Despite Dana White's recent comments about Cruz and Faber not being the coaches for TUF 14, it's still the most logical option out there. The rivalry between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber roots back to 2007, when "The Dominator" and "The California Kid" met at WEC 26 for the WEC Featherweight Title. Faber defended his title, and still remains Cruz's only defeat until this day. The situation today is the complete opposite, with Dominick Cruz being the UFC Bantamweight Champion and Urijah Faber the #1 Contender. Both men don't like each other, and definitely have the trash-talking potential to deliver more than enough classical TUF moments.
The Good Guys
Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann
What can be better than having a soft spoken PRIDE legend and the former Marine Crops Captain as TUF coaches? Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann are role models for many fighters, and will surely prove themselves as great coaches. However, the trash talk capabilities are not really there, and "Wandeco" stated not once that he's not interested in fighting the fan favorite in Brian Stann. Still, in my opinion it's a safe assumption that fans would love to see Stann and Wanderlei Silva as coaches, even in expense of the trademark TUF drama.
Heavyweights
Shane Carwin – Mir/Nelson Winner
Frank Mir and Roy Nelson already been there done that, while Shane Carwin's personality has the required attributes to deliver high ratings on Spike TV. If successful against Jon Olav Einemo, Shane Carwin's fight against the Mir-Nelson Winner will have a great value in race for the UFC Heavyweight title shot. It's always interesting to see Heavyweights coaching Bantamweights/Featherweights, but that's also could be one of the reasons why Dana White and Co. will look for coaches in lower weight divisions.
Superfight
Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre
TUF 12 showed Georges St. Pierre is not into trash talk, while Anderson Silva's English could definitely be an obstacle during the season. Both Silva and GSP are two of the greatest fighters in Mixed Martial Arts today, and would surely have a great value as coaches. But in my opinion, fans prefer to see these two inside the Octagon, rather than breaking cardboard doors somewhere in Las Vegas. Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre on TUF is an exciting idea, but on practice, there's definitely a possibility that the fans will get bored to death somewhere in the region of fifth episode.
Comments
i have a strong feeling it will be anderson vs gsp. i wouldnt like to see it personally for 2 reasons
1. this would prospone the fight for months
2. gsp was litrally just a coach
from the ufc point of view this is a marketing heaven. they would have time to hype the fight even more, get more people to buy the ppv. still i really hope it doesnt happen (them as coaches, i would love the fight =] )
Hell no.....Its going to be the most ratings wise choice...which is obviously Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping. If they get any other of those other fighters mentioned (Except GSP vs Silva because that will not happen anytime soon) it will be a mediocre season. That "Drama Queens/Kings" should be changed to "Trash Talkers" or "Obvious Choices" IMO
I like Bisping/Sonnen the most out of that list....Cruz/Faber would be second for me because they will be making history as the first FW/BW coaches and they dislike eachother
bisping and sonnen are both TERRIBLE ambassadors to mma, and neither of them have ever held a major title, not to mention both currently suspended. Cruz/Faber is the best option by far; both have held and defended WEC title, are extremely talented in unique ways, are excellent ambassadors, and their rivalry will be interesting. Stann doesn't deserve it, we've already seen a few heavyweights, and anderson and gsp probably wouldn't do it since a fight between them might not happen for a long time.
For the best choice it would have to be Sonnen/Bisping, and it would be a personal first for me pulling for an ass like Sonnen but i cant stand Bisping!
I think Bis and Chael would be the best to watch out of all those by quite some way. Wand vs Stann would only be good for the fight at the end, same with GSP/Anderson. Carwin/Mir/Nelson wouldn't be much to watch either. Faber Vs Cruz might be fun tho...
Fingers crossed for Chael/Bisping.
I think a season of Chael vs Bisping would be worse than a season of "The Real World" it would be just plain garbage. Cruz and Faber are already fighting on ufc 132 i believe so that means they are out. I dunno how Brian Stann worked his way in there but that would either be very interesting or very boring.. I see only gsp and silva and like someone above me said gsp was JUST a coach. So i dunno, its unfortunately looking like a chael and bisping season
yeah for me chael an bisping for the no1 contenders spot i think it could do good numbers maybe even a uk vs usa again. i think faber cruz would be great but im not sure if the general public or plain ufc fans would take so im not sure what the numbers would be like. I dont fancy wand vs stann either great fight but it would be boring i think we all like a bit of anomociety dont we? lol. and finally andersons english could be a problem or his unwillingness to speak it, the only way this would be good is if there was a canada brazil ultimate fighter.
Would be so much fun to watch Brit vs Yankee ....hahaha
One dirty bastard versus another? Sign up the drama queens!
Bisping vs. Sonnen would be a good fight and love 'em or hate 'em, both are highly entertaining.
On top of that, it would give Chael some extra time to sort out his 'legal issues', while still keeping him in the spotlight.
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping FTW!!!
It would be fun to watch the war of words...
nelson a coach wud be good aswell considering he won tuf. I think i read before its more than likely going to be cruz faber which isnt to bad but wud prefer bisping sonnen for the entertainment of them tearing chunks out of each other b4 the fight even starts
if TUF AS vs GSP happen it would be the best season, and it would be crazy, you know how much stuff these guys can teach to other fighters!! it would be cool to see
I'm sorry to disappoint you people, but TUF was never about the quality of coaches. Yes, it plays some part and definitely adds to the whole concept - but it's now what makes people to tune in.
I agree, its not always about the quality of the coaches but this list is not a very good one to begin with. First off, the weight class is 145 lbs. so to have the heavy weights coach is not the best option to teach smaller guys...the Silva GSP scenario wont happen because it will be too expensive and GSP is not willing to put on that much weight to get beat up by Silva - Stann vs. Wand would be cool but having two hard to understand Brazilians in consecutive seasons doesnt make good marketing sense
Dana already said Urijah vs. Cruz is not going to happen, so that basically points to Spitsbing vs. Cheating Chael, which is already what David Meltzer hinted at...now that trash talking feud is what will make good ratings.....Anyways, I think its just a slow Sunday because this article is rather boring and too ponderous for any real worth
Cruz /Faber- let give the bantam weights some air time.
Anybody but Chael and Bisping, i want a good season nt fn Jerry Springer quality arguments.
even if GSP and silva were fighting, i would rather they get PRimetime show and bisping & sonnen get TUF just so we can have more time listening to all the shit talk
Anderson vs GSP will not be good for Dana White's business, therefore I really can't see that fight happening anytime soon.
I'm not interesting in watching Wanderlei Silva and Brian Stann nor Shane Carwin – Mir/Nelson Winner so we can cross those two out.
Chael Sonnen vs Bisping might be the best option IMO, however if we can't get C.S vs Bisping, I'll settle for Dominick Cruz – Urijah Faber
Would be so much fun to watch Brit vs Yankee ....
I'd much rather watch Chael vs Wand ;-)
it is reality television and it revolves around drama so chael vs bisping is the obvious choice. gsp just did tuf and anderson is probably the worst choice ever silvas skills cant be taught it is just pure talent i dont think he even knows what he is doing half the time
jon jones vs rashad would be interesting
But then we'd have to wait longer for the fight to happen(Already long at [removed] would mean December).
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann is the only option listed above.
Chael vs. Bisping won't happen - Chael's legal problems outside the cage and Bisping's problems inside are too well known for them to be used as "role models", which a coach essentially is.
Anderson Silva vs. GSP - This will not happen, GSP was on too recently, Anderson's language barrier is too strong and we all know it will just not happen.
Cruz vs. Faber - Why put this as an option if you say TUF 14 is going to be in late summer while they re fighting in July? They would need to start filming tonight if they wanted to fit it in. Also Dana white said it isn't happening.
In my opinion it will be someone no one expects.
I would love to see Rashad and Jones!
Chael and Bisping would for sure be the most interesting for both all the drama and the fight, which almost certainly Chael would win...But since he is possibly going to jail, and is also has the roids blemish on his last fight, this won't happen. I seriously doubt the UFC will put a cheater and criminal on what is essentially their most important marketing tool for the company.
Silva and GSP would be the best possible fight for the fans, but not likely to happen for two reasons neither one of them have seemed too enthusiastic about changing weight classes, and it just wouldn't leave enough time for GSP to put on the weight/muscle he needs to compete with Silva. Also it would be the most polite two coaches in the history of the UFC, and obviously the biggest draw for ratings in reality t.v. is when people act like idiots and create drama.
I think while Faber and Cruz makes sense, the fact that Dana said they aren't is probably true. If they were and he didn't want to let us know, he would have probably said something like "I comment on who the coaches are going to be." If he actually said, "no, they definitely won't be." I think I'd believe that statement.
One other option you forgot that might actually be even better than most of them: Rashad and Jones.
err yeah i meant he woulda said "I can't comment..."
Oh yeah how about Edgar and Maynard?
ah nvm forgot they announced fight date already, but no matter how that fight comes out, it could still be not a bad choice, especially if it's a super close fight again.
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping
Would be so much fun to watch Brit vs Yankee ....imo
You are annoying... 3rd time you post this comment.
Sonnen vs. Bisping for sure! I think Sonnen would seriously get under Bisping's skin(seeing he couldn't even handle Rivera's antics) :-D
I honestly had a dream last night that it was announced that if Couture beats Lyoto he will be the coach with Franklin, how good would that be!
as long as chael is in it im happy :)
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From the fighting coach stand point GSP and Silva would be great to watch and see inside there mind set for fights BUT with Silvas lack of English and GSP lack of speaking (LOL) it would make for a very boring show. Wand and Stann I don't know about this not too sure about Stann we all know that Wand is crazy but his new face really creeps me out. Cruz and Faber not too familiar with their rivalry since We did not get the WEC here. Personal favorite would be Bisping and Sonnen the dislike with one another and they both like to talk trash would make for a great TV it would be like the Real Housewives of New Jersey the reunion..... I mean not that I would watch that kind of a show....