The next season of The Ultimate Fighter (season 14) is expected to feature the UFC's two newest weight classes, bantamweight (135-lbs) and featherweight (145-lbs). Tryouts began in March and drew some veteran names including Din Thomas, Micah Miller, and Wagnney Fabiano. No casting rumours have surfaced as of yet except for the coaching choices who Dana White revealed today. Returning to the Ultimate Fighter is former cast member (TUF 3) and former coach (TUF 9) Michael Bisping. The 32-year old Brit won the third season of The Ultimate Fighter but never reached title contention at either light heavyweight or middleweight. Bisping went on to coach the ninth season of the show that ended in a title eliminator bout vs. opposing coach Dan Henderson, who famously knocked Bisping out with a monsterous overhand right and pounced on an unconscious Bisping afterward out of spite. Bisping's opposing coach this time will be television veteran Jason "Mayhem" Miller who hosts MTV2's "Bully Beatdown" and has been competing for Strikeforce in recent years. The 30-year old American fought once before in the UFC, losing to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 52. Miller has recently had two title shots for Dream and Strikeforce, failing to capture either belt. Miller is expected to face Aaron Simpson at UFC 132 in July before filming begins for the series. Miller replaces the originally targeted host Chael Sonnen who is currently serving an indefinite suspension by the California State Athletic Commission, also recognized by the Nevada SAC, for various charges including activities detrimental to the sport related to a money laundering conviction in Oregon. The fight between Bisping and Miller is likely to be a title eliminator if Bisping wins but not for Miller, who hasn't yet built a resume in the UFC.
Kind of sick of Bisping's schtick but I am actually excited to see Miller whoops his ass. Miller on a TV show = AWESOME.
Update: Miller/Simpson has been scratched from UFC 132 due to Miller's coaching commitments, and from what I am reading, Bisping/Miller is unlikely to be a title eliminator fight.
miller and bisping is going to be great on tv.. its what we need after a dreadful lesnar/jds showing.
Nick Diaz was supposed to coach opposite Mayhem Miller--creating one of the most contentious coaching rivalries on the show ever--but contractual issues with Strikeforce/Showtime nixed the idea. Shit.
