Cruz, Faber to coaches first TUF on FX

Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber had better be ready for some more live jousting.

Cruz, the UFC's bantamweight champion, and Faber, the former WEC featherweight champ and current No. 1 contender to the UFC's 135-pound crown, will be the first coaches of the revamped "Ultimate Fighter" fighter reality show, which debuts on March 9 on FX and will feature live fights each week.

The first 14 seasons of The Ultimate Fighter, which features MMA prospects living in a house for an extended period and competing in fights to determine a champion, aired episodes midweek on Spike TV after full seasons were taped and only the finals were contested live after the final episode aired.

In the new season of the show, episodes will now air on Friday nights and include footage featuring contestants living in the house that week and then a live fight as the contestants vie for two, six-figure UFC contracts. This retooling is part of the UFC's multi-year deal with the FOX network.

TUF's 15th season will feature lightweight and welterweights. The most recent season had featherweight and bantamweights for the first time, and they were coached by Michael Bisping and Jason Miller.

"We're producing ground-breaking television with The Ultimate Fighter LIVE and we can't wait to kick this season off with FX in March," UFC president Dana White said. "It's going to be can't-miss TV. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are two incredible personalities who also happen to be two of the best fighters in the world. They genuinely dislike each other and I expect this to make for the best season yet."

The rivalry between coaches Cruz and Faber dates back to March 2007, when Faber handed Cruz his first and only professional loss in a 145-pound bout. The 26-year-old Cruz avenged that loss this past July, defeating Faber by unanimous decision to retain the bantamweight crown in a Fight of the Year candidate.

"Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a gym rat and love learning and teaching mixed martial arts," Cruz said in a press release. "This is a dream come true. To get a chance to coach TUF and beat Faber again is all the motivation I need. This is going to be an insane season of The Ultimate Fighter."

Faber was also eager for the chance to fulfill one of his passions -- coaching.

"I can't wait to be the next coach on The Ultimate Fighter," Faber said. "I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters. The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn.

"Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn't be more perfect. I'm not too thrilled about being in each other's space for an extended period of time, as I am sure we are going to get on each other's nerves. But I can't wait to mentally beat him up as a coach, and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap."

On Saturday, The Ultimate Fighter concluded its run on Spike TV. A total of 2.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the Season 14 finale headlined by Bisping defeating Miller by TKO.

The event was the highest rated and most watched TUF finale since TUF 10 in 2009.

James is a writer, editor and MMA enthusiast. His nickname, "Big Game" was given to him in the tradition of former Laker James Worthy and current Rays pitcher James Shields.