Bisping and Henderson Rumored as 'TUF 9' Coaches
(Will Michael Bisping follow in Forrest Griffin's footsteps? Photo courtesy of daylife.com)
Michael Bisping is hot favourite to be named as one of the coaches on the new series of The Ultimate Fighter...
The UFC have not yet offered Bisping the coach's role on TUF 9 because he is scheduled to fight Chris Leben at UFC 89 at the Birmingham National Indoor Arena on October 18.
But SunSport understands Dana White will immediately hand the British star a contract to appear on the show if he overcomes Leben next month.
It is believed Dan Henderson will coach the US team, with the TUF 9 finale featuring him in a clash for the #1 middleweight contender's spot against Bisping, which could take place in December next year.
As the UFC's only British star, it makes sense that the TUF 3 winner would be chosen as a coach for the "U.S. vs. U.K." season of The Ultimate Fighter. But it also makes you wonder who will be picked to lead the British team if Bisping loses to Leben. We're assuming it would still be Bisping — but then would a fight between him and Hendo really be a #1 contender match? When contacted by MMA Weekly, The Count confirmed that he hadn't been made an offer yet, but he'd certainly be open to one:
“I saw it all over the internet the other night, U.K. vs. the U.S., I think it’s an amazing idea,” commented Bisping. “I think it might inject a little bit of life into the “Ultimate Fighter”. The “Ultimate Fighter” is a great show, but obviously you know it’s season after season, maybe this can mix it up a little bit. I think it will make some funny goings on in the house as well you know. All to do with the language barrier and the cultural differences and things like that. I think it’s a great idea and I look forward to seeing it.”
If this rumor turns out to be true, the best part about a Bisping vs. Hendo season of TUF is that it doesn't tie up a championship belt like past seasons of the show have. Anderson Silva would still be free to defend his middleweight title and book light-heavyweight superfights as he pleases. Bisping is already popular enough to challenge for the title, and a win over Dan Henderson would cement his credibility. Unfortunately, there's the even more likely scenario that Henderson would beat Bisping — and few fans are demanding a Silva/Henderson rematch at this point. Would you rather see Hendo get destroyed again, or Bisping get destroyed for the first time?
Login or register to post comments
DIGG THIS 
Comments
Anonymous Says:
"All to do with the language barrier..."
Does he not know both countries speak English?
B Says:
"All to do with the language barrier..."
Does he not know both countries speak English?
greenseed Says:
they speak brenglish silly
Reel Sandman Says:
Clearly, you don't spend enough time with those who claim to speak the King's English. I hope this rumor becomes reality. Either way, the end result should be an interesting fight.
moo Says:
I dotn know about you guys but i would honestly rather see Hendo fight silva again. He has a good style to beat him with and last time he held his own and won the first round but fell apart in the 2nd. As for Bisping vs Hendo i would think that hendo gets the nod but anything can happen. If Bisping does win i think he will get easily get picked apart ont he feet by SIlva because his standup seems rough and unpolished in other fights. Either way it should be intersting. Hopefully by the time this is over there will be some more talent in the MW division rather than other rematches against silva.
L Grant Says:
Why is everyone counting out Cote?
MKXii Says:
@ b
Your an idiot. Dialect.
UFC fan Says:
I dont care how round about and bad enough I want to see bispenis get beatdown from Silva, or hendo, I think him being a coach is the worst of bad ideas.
Bispenis was a horrible student, no way he makes a good coach, all he did was whine and make stupid fucking jokes on the show.
I hope the crippler destroys him.
Jon Says:
There is a huge difference in the english spoken here in america vs the english over in england.
I have a friend from england and we both sometimes say things that leave the other totally dumbfounded yet.. its an everyday saying for us.
I would like to see that show.. I really enjoyted TUF3 cuz of Bisping
howmuchwoodcouldawoodchuckchuckifawoodchuckcouldchuckwood Says:
joachim hansen is dream lightweight champion.....wtf .....anybody.....
Derly Says:
@HMWCaWCCiaWCCCW
What does Hansen have to do with any of this? He's a LW and from Norway isn't he? Not a MW from US or UK so he shouldn't enter this discussion.
Anonymous Says:
I don't think Hendo got demolished in his fight with Silva. I thought he won the first round and just got caught at the end of the second. I'd like to see a rematch but Bisping is my fighter so I'd rather see him get the chance for the belt.
hooligun Says:
Bisping rocks! Great personality and very good fighter. I think the 3 fights represent serious challenges to his skill but hope and believe he can make it all the way to a title shot. If he beats leben and hendo he will certainly be a worthy challenge to Silva.
MKXii Says:
Sorry, I is an idiot. I said "Your an idiot." How ironic. I wish I lernd bettar grammir in skewl!
As for Bisping v Hendo; I would hope that Dan gets a few more modern UFC wins under his belt before he's made a captain on the show.
Dildo_Slice Says:
"Hendo get destroyed again"????
He won the first round in that fight no doubt, and did good in the second until he got caught in the end. Ever since that fight I wanted to see a rematch, I believe he has the style to stop silva.
Mythor Says:
Considering they added subtitles to about 50% of what Bisping said in TUF3 (and 95% of fellow brit Ross Pointon's utterings) I think Bisping is spot on for thinking there's room for some misunderstandings between the US and UK fighters.
Remember, the UK isn't one homogenous accent, there's some really wild variations. Just like someone from the US's deep south sounds different to a New Yorker.
Whether Bisping coaches them or not, put me down as another person interested in seeing a UK v US series. Though I'll miss the qualification fights of more recent series. Hopefully they'll do something similar, just with UK v UK and US v US fighters. No more pussies getting through to the house, thanks.
MMA FAN Says:
Bisping will get destroyed by leben. FACT
hooligun Says:
"FACT" lol you twat. Look it up in a dictionary .....
tallkitchenbags Says:
a certain portion of the american populace (mostly dumb ass republican sh*tbags that have never traveled) like to think they are the best at everything. they also happen to be so illiterate that they probably won't understand the british fighters. WAR OBAMA!!!!
Scott Whitt Says:
Of course Bisping should be made a coach, he has so many big wins behind him. I guess the next season will be filmed in the UK since that is the only place that Bisping is allowed to appear. I don't know why Dana insist in ramming this guy down everyone's throat. I would rather watch a Houston Alexander wrestling clinic than Bisping.
Bill C. Says:
I still think that Hendo has the best chance of beating Silva. He definitely won Round 1 in their first fight. He can definitely hold his own, again. Hendo matches up very well against Silva, and I could see it going differently if they were to fight, again.
jesus christ Says:
bisping gona beat leben like a dog and turn him in to THE CRIPPLE.ufc man suck my fat one u paki bastard all remember yr name and am gona rip fuck outa u and all bispings haters when he beats him down. i can already smell the victory fucking stanks stronger than yr mums fanny man
Who Says:
who's that girl on the left?
WAR BISPING
shutupandfight Says:
i think it's Michael Bisping.
shutupandfight Says:
might be Sinade O'Conner...i dunno.
Me Says:
I am a portion of the american populace
I am a republican
I have never traveled outside the US (except to Mexico twice)
I do not think that we are the best at everything
I am literate and actually enjoy the british tongue
Obama sucks.
Not a big fan of McCain either
Unsure about Palin, but she seems almost normal (which is good)
The Bloc Says:
"L Grant Says:
September 21st, 2008 at 11:51 am
Why is everyone counting out Cote?"
LOL i dunno...i like Cote, but somehow i dont see him win this fight and i guess im not the only one. I cant wait to see the betting odds on that fight lol
MMA FAN Says:
its hard to imagine cote winning that fight, but i guess a few lucky strikes could make anyone loose. Wont happend thou
UFC fan Says:
"# tallkitchenbags Says:
September 21st, 2008 at 5:34 pm
a certain portion of the american populace (mostly dumb ass republican sh*tbags that have never traveled) like to think they are the best at everything. they also happen to be so illiterate that they probably won’t understand the british fighters. WAR OBAMA!!!!"
fuck you...obama is trash, his momma was a white hooker who hung out with blacks for drugs and dicks. Obama's father was a piece of shit who would fuck anything and knock it up , and thats what he did to Obamas momma...then left them!
Anyone who thinks they want change so bad they gotta vote Obama is a fucking mental reject.
One good thing about it will be IF his black ass gets elected the black people will see that even with a black president they are not gonna get everything just handed to them still...get a damn job! avote for Obama is a vote for trash bag whores.
Can't we all just get along Says:
and find out who that chick on the left is ?
w Says:
UFC Fan, your just an ignorant ass, in all aspects of the word. I'm not voting for Obama, but everytime I read posts on this blog -- you continually come off as a fool with something up his ass.
That just had to be said
cr_trinity Says:
All of you who still believe in the Political Process are dumbasses. Wjy don't you fucks discuss the upcominh North American Union? oh, that's right. Most of y'all live in 6:00 news Land, where extraneous insignificant shit like who coaches one of the worst fucking shows of all time takes up what limited brain capacity that you have.
You don't vote new parties in. You vote the old ones out because you're sick of the corruption. Then you "live" in hope that the same corruption won't be continued by the "New" regime. You have to rely on hyperbole; it's amazing that most people acknowledge the tendency of government to lie, yet doublethink their way pst it when a candidate they are emotionally attached to gives them yet another bag of shit for them to ponder over.
Most of you are complete dumbasses who already enjoy totalitarianism. Enjoy letting down your children, and their children as well Cracker Scum.
Dakyn Says:
@cr_trinity: Loving the Orwellian reference there.
It's off topic but it always makes me laugh how people get so invested in politics and emotionally attach themselves to a specific party. What's even more amusing is how a party claims to be "democratic" or "republican" or "liberal" and then find themselves in the situation where they either have to dedicate themselves to a purely 1 dimensional mode of thinking; I.E. all liberal policies, or contradict their agenda and get slammed for being autonomous logical people and having views which come from a whole array of political stances. (The latter of which can be seen in the British Conservative Party where David Cameron is/was constantly being attacked for being "too left").
In my opinion, and i'm kinda quoting Chris Rock here, anyone who aligns or declares themselves to a political stance, like right, left, liberal, conservative BEFORE they here the issue at hand is a complete idiot.
Back on to topic - There is a language barrier and its not just down to accent/dialect either. American English and British English are too different languages. I study English Language at university and they refer to the different forms of the English language around the globe as "Englishes" Indian, Singaporean, Canadian, American and British English are all different (Indian English has been given the term Hinglish I think). Not to mention some of the British accents and dialects (if you can call the varying use of slang a "dialect"). Pointon's stoke accent is not only ugly as hell but hard for ME to understand and I only live 50 miles from the place!! And for all you American's how've never had the... pleasure of hearing Liverpudlian, Geordie and the Black Country dialects... hah you're in for a big surprise.
I'm really looking forward to Team UK Vrs Team US. I'm hoping it'll give all the American's a reason to show more respect to British fighters and all being well two of my training partners might be appearing in the middleweights.
Bisping is the only logical choice for a coach for Team UK, although I can't see why an American couldn't coach the British team - it's not like its all that serious or that the eventual winner would really prove anything. Which is important to remember lest everyone starts getting all patriotic about it and people start chanting "U.S.A" or wearing Union Jack/St George T-shirts ***shudders***
chefdaddy Says:
and the girl on the right is?????
@ Who Says:
I agree that bitch is huge! Why doesn't she fight bisping? or leben?.... Hell why not fight them at the same time, she's hungry!
thekendoll Says:
I'm with chefdaddy. The girl on the right should replace Edith.
She reminds me of Barbie. *sigh*
TUF Guy Says:
Chick on the right has nice little melons.
Smart arse Says:
i think Ian Freeman will coach team UK
he was coaching the british team for the IFL
and he did fight Frank Mir at UFC 38 (i think)
keithly Says:
Hendo dominated the first round with silva in case u missed that but got caught because he faded. Henderson will be the one to knock off silva if they give him the rematch.