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Former UFC light-heavyweight champions (Sugar) Rashad Evans and Quinton (Rampage) Jackson were announced as coaches for Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter on Thursday.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” will feature the highest weight class for the first time since Season 2, the year Evans was a cast-member and went on to become champion.
Since earning a contract in the UFC by virtue of that win, Evans dropped down to 205 pounds and became that division’s champion in December when he beat Forrest Griffin, only to relinquish his belt to Lyoto Machida on Saturday at UFC 98 in Las Vegas.
White had said that Machida’s first title defence would be against Jackson, who lost his crown to Griffin last July. But instead Jackson and Evans will square off in December following the TUF finale. This matchup was originally expected to be Evans’ first title defence before injuries forced Jackson to be replaced by Machida.
On the 10th season of the popular reality show, which will premiere on Sept. 16 on Rogers Sportsnet, 16 heavyweights will compete to become crowned “Ultimate Fighter.” It will be the charismatic Jackson’s second stint as coach — as light-heavyweight title-holder he worked opposite Griffin, who was the No. 1 contender at the time, for Season 7 last April.
“The 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter is going to be the most highly anticipated one in years,” said UFC president Dana White, the show’s host. “And with two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the world today, both of which have personalities as large as their skillsets, it promises to deliver.”
