so The Ultimate Fighter season 7 is underway and Spike and the UFC are already getting ready for the next installment by having tryouts around the Country. The weight categories (they're back to splitting the weights again) will be Lightweight 155 lbs and Light Heavy Weight 205 lbs. here's the news so far. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Coaches not signed for "TUF 8" Despite some rumors and even a published report to the contrary, the UFC and Spike TV have not signed coaches for the eighth season of "The Ultimate Fighter," which debuts later this year. "TUF," the UFC's hit reality series that debuted in 2005, is currently in its seventh season and features UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin as coaches. The application process and tryouts have already begun for the eighth season, which will include lightweight and light heavyweight fighters. However, reports that UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and former champ Frank Mir have been signed on to become coaches are not true, a source close to the show tells MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). Earlier today, the blog CagePotato.com cited "an unofficial source" who said the fighters had been signed for the show. However, while the fighters have not been signed, our source does tell MMAjunkie.com that Nogueira and Mir are among a short list of candidates for the coaching spots. Nogueira, a former PRIDE heavyweight title-holder, defeated Tim Sylvia at UFC 81 for the interim title. The UFC created the interim belt after Randy Couture resigned from the organization in October. Mir won the title in 2004 but was stripped of the belt after a motorcycle accident that kept him sidelined for nearly two years. Mir is 3-2 since the comeback, and he's won his past two fights.</div> With the dearth of HW's on UFC's roster who appear ready to challenge Nogueira for the title, having him coach may not be a bad idea. His English is decent enough for the show IMO... although they probably want him to take some more english lessons or they may just subtitle his english which seems to be a popular thing to do in TV these days with ppl who speak english as a second language. Mir, Mir would be great, the guy is well spoken as seen by his turn as the colour commentator on the WEC's fight shows. He's a talented Jiu-Jitsu guy and has tons of experience in MMA like Nog. Both guys meeting for the title would make sense after Mir raised his profile with casual MMA fans with his win over Brock Lesnar.
1st rumoured fighter for TUF 8... seems a little early, we'll have to wait and see <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Krzysztof Soszynski being considered for eighth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” Casting arrangements for the eighth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” are currently underway. An open casting call was held in Boston last Thursday with several hundred hopefuls showing up to try out for the show. Light heavyweights and lightweights were both called to appear in front of Spike TV and UFC executives. While some of the fighters that showed up for the open tryouts will be cast, most of the show’s participants usually come from video tape auditions. While former IFL heavyweight Krzysztof Soszynski did not attend the tryouts, he received a call from the UFC to fly to Vegas, according to the Winnipeg Sun. Soszynski received the call this past Friday just hours before he fought Marcus Hicks at Cage Wars 11. Despite some jitters upon hearing the news, Soszynski was able to bear down and dispose of Hicks at just 3:10 of round 1. “It was huge,” Soszynski is quoted as saying in the Sun in regards to his first match in his hometown in nearly three years. “Maybe it wasn’t the slugfest they wanted. I had to play it a little safe, but I got the job done, which is the most important factor.” It might be too early to speculate, but I couldn’t imagine Soszynski not getting picked for the show. A former body builder and pro wrestler, Soszynski entered the IFL with little MMA experience and was very green during his initial fights. However, during the latter half of 2007, Soszynski really showed signs of turning the corner. He has a look and the verbal skills needed to be a star in MMA if he gets the right exposure. Incidentally, fellow former IFL fighters Dante Rivera, Mike Dolce, and Gerald Harris are all involved in the final cast of 16 for the current seventh season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”</div>
