Comments on: Report: Bisping and Henderson early favorites to land TUF 9 coaching slots

By: gigi

gigi — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:29:51 +0000

The Sun adds that is believed that Henderson, with http://www.casinodad.com the former PRIDE middleweight and welterweight champion, will coach the U.S. team and that the two coaches would face each other in a fight that would take place in December of 2009 to determine a number one contender for the middleweight title.

By: Daz

Daz — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:42:05 +0000

What about a certain Ian Freeman?

Granted he is a bit old but he knows his stuff……..
Not exactly a middleweight though I agree.

By: platypus

platypus — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:26:52 +0000

i agree on nate, tho i believe hendo vs silva 2 would offer much more of a challenge than nate vs silva 2.

By: Sergio Hernandez

Sergio Hernandez — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:50:12 +0000

Neil: I totally agree with you.

But Bisping has name recognition so him getting the coaching slot of TUF is simply the nature of the beast. If it’s going to be “US vs. UK” the show simply needs a UK coach. Bisping isn’t just the best option, but the only option.

On the other hand… as much as I like Hendo, the fact of the matter is is that he’s almost 40 years old and already somewhat popular even amongst the casual fan. Marquardt isn’t even 30 yet and still relatively unknown so if Zuffa really wants to put it’s TUF marketing muscle behind someone, I think the smart money is on Nate.

By: JBAR

JBAR — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:12:06 +0000

If Zuffa did buy the IFL I wouldn’t mind seeing Bas Rutten as the UK coach. I know he is not from the UK but he is well known there and has European roots. I also would not mind seeing a Bas/Hendo fight.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:03:22 +0000

Bisping would be entertaining, I don’t know why everyone hates him so much he was jackass after the Matt Hamill fight but apart from that he seems a good guy. The nerves obviously got to Bisping in the Hamill fight, he obviously would’nt lose the standup in a rematch you could see the surprise in his face when Hamill was throwing punches he was prepared for Hamill to wrestle him not box him. I also think Bisping should have gotten the decision against Rashad.

Hendo is obviously way more experienced and credible than Bisping but Hendo isn’t unbeatable he’s beaten some great fighters but lost to guys worse than Bisping as well. I think Hendo would win a decision against Bisping but I don’t think he’d dominate.

The main plus side of Bisping as coach is that he’s entertaining, I’m not convinced someone like Marquart would be that much fun to watch. I don’t think bisping will have too much trouble with Leben I think he’ll take him down and smash his face in, Bispings ground and pund is excellent.

By: JollyDV

JollyDV — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:08:40 +0000

I think Bisping as a coach would be a big mistake. I still have the pictures in my head from when he was on TUF a few seasons back crying because he felt Tito gave too much attention to Hammill. It seems like it was just yesterday. Come on, they surely have better choices for the coaches than that. Please let them have someone, anyone, but not Bisping.

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:12:31 +0000

Sergio: I don’t particularly care whether he’s a big name or not, my point is that he’s not an accomplished fighter. Kimbo isn’t (and may NEVER be), but he also isn’t being scouted to be a trainer for a seaosn of TUF either. My point is that even though Bisping deserves a spot on a PPV main card (because he’s got some wins and good recognition), they should put a someone a little more legit then him in the coach spot.

Marquardt’s name got brought up, which would be a great idea. That guy is a great talent in the cage, and giving him a few months on TUF to get people in tune with him as an individual would not only net the UFC a talented fighter with good recognition with the casual fan, it would also give them someone that can be marketed in a fight with Anderson Silva (unlike Cote).

By: Philb

Philb — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:50:55 +0000

They can’t make the announcement until after the PPV, how stupid would they look saying something, and then Leben KO’s Bisping…………………….which IS going to happen

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:54:46 +0000

Just to let the guy know who said Hendo barely got past Toquinho as if that’s nothing. Bisping would not get past Toquinho.Palhares has more skills and is more of a future title contender than Bisping,but Bisping was a TUF winner and to most people now that means he’s an a fighter with top notch MMA skills.Henderson would tear Bisping up on the feet,in the clinch and on the ground.

By: Batman

Batman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:33:53 +0000

Hendo is too old to wait a year to fight, he needs to fight as much as he can because he is at the end of his road. Michael Bisping vs Nathan Marquardt would be the better match up and could arguably be for the number one contender spot at that point in time. Who knows who will be champion in december 2009. Either way this match needs to take place so why not build their personalitys and fame at the same time.

By: BoRocker

BoRocker — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:14:40 +0000

I really hope Leben womps Bisping….

By: muscleshark64

muscleshark64 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:03:23 +0000

i meant the ultimate fighter will probably stick to it standard the ufc has operated with the last 3 years

By: muscleshark64

muscleshark64 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:02:17 +0000

that has to be wrong- tuf should by the standard the ufc has operated with the last 3 years is the show will premiere in april, the fight will be in june or july (probably another uk card with bisping in the main event) and then they get the spider in october or november depending on his schedule and injuries

By: cornerman

cornerman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:58:17 +0000

Hendo barely got passed Toquinho , he’s not an MMA guy he’s an old school ass kicker, but that train is slowly leaving the station, just ask Chuck Liddell.

By: Grappo

Grappo — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:34:21 +0000

Though I can see the financial benefit, it’s way too soon for Bisping to be a coach.

“razzle – I don’t know about you, but I lost almost all respect for Bisping after the Matt Hamil fight.”

I didn’t really lose respect for Bisping… he fought as hard as he could and lost, but won the decision. Unless you are talking about post-fight antics or statements that I don’t know about. I lost nearly all respect for the judges, but then again, that happens at nearly every sporting event where judges are often the deciding factor. Watching Women’s Olympic Gymnastics was a serious test of my patience. Nearly smashed my TV on a couple of occasions.

By: jaydog

jaydog — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:12:00 +0000

If I were entering TUF season 9 in hopes of top notch training, I would demand a full refund if I found out that Michael Bisping was my coach. No offense to him as a (mid-level at best) fighter, but his skills in the cage don’t indicate that he has that much to offer… well, aside from the “If I could do it, you can do it.” And maybe that’s just it. He got a UFC contract and that’s what the castmembers want. If that’s all there is to it, then this is a sorry excuse for a sport (and I don’t believe that for a second). By the way, Hendo as a coach, would be great.

By: KTru

KTru — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:10:26 +0000

Way to long of a lay off. Something will pan out, it always does.

Bisping is really the only fighter that could coach the U.K. Henderson is on another level when it comes to their fight. But it makes sense every way you look at it. Just need to get it moved up to Spring ’09.
As for Bisping vs. Leben, you know it will not be a boring fight, and a loss for either of them does not destroy their careers too.
Leben can only win this fight if its a KO. That being said, Bisping by split decision.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:53:55 +0000

December 09? That better be an effin joke. If they want them as coaches, fine. But then they wouldn’t be fighting Anderson tip mid-2010. Absolutely ridiculous. I’m seriously angry about this.

By: razzle

razzle — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:29:22 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I lost almost all respect for Bisping after the Matt Hamil fight.