Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal? Potential Coaches for the Return of The Ultimate Fighter

After a break of two years, the UFC is ready to bring back The Ultimate Fighter. A big part of each season is the two coaches who mentor incoming fighters and share their experiences with them. While the UFC has announced the season, the coaches are yet to be known. Therefore, we take a look at the potential coaches for the TUF 29.

It’s been fifteen years since the UFC first experimented with the idea of The Ultimate Fighter. In all these years, a lot has changed in the way new talent makes its way into the UFC. With regional promotions and UFC’s very own Dana White Contender Series, the possibility of UFC unearthing hidden potential is relatively less.

Regardless, if the UFC brings in changes to capitalize more on the reality television aspect of the show, then it still has the potential to be big. On top of that, if the two coaches have some history between themselves, it makes the rivalry between the teams even better. Having said that, let’s dive into the possible pair of coaches who check the requisite boxes.

1. Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz

The prospect of a belt on the line always adds a layer to the drama. Now that we know Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz will fight each other next year, the two of them serving as coaches makes a lot of sense. Adesanya is a dynamic character who can share a world of experience with the fighters. Plus, his personality is of the kind that would do good on reality television.

Blachowicz, on the other hand, isn’t as crafty with the gab as ‘The Last Stylebender’. However, he will have a ton of support from Poland and that can lead to an increased viewership from that part of the world. Moreover, the timeline of the two fighting goes very well with the scheduled timing of the broadcast of the show.

However, Adesanya hasn’t welcomed the idea of coaching TUF. This was because he doesn’t want to expose all his weapons. He didn’t close the door on the show entirely, adding that everything comes at a price. Therefore, if the UFC wants to rope in ‘The Last Stylebender’, they may have to spend a hefty amount for the same.

2. Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili

There haven’t been a lot of female coaches in TUF history. Therefore, Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili could be the contenders to take that number up a little bit.

Rose Namajunas lost her strawweight belt to Jessica Andrade last year, a defeat she avenged at UFC 251. Dana White has confirmed that her next fight will most likely be for the belt against the strawweight queen, Zhang Weili.

Rose is one of the rather reclusive fighters in the UFC. The same is the case with ‘Magnum’. Therefore, having them as coaches can lead to fans knowing a lot about them. Moreover, just like Blachowicz, Zhang Weili can boast of the support of a large Chinese audience who may tune in to watch the show because of her.

Read More: Dana White Says Weili Zhang Will Fight Rose Namajunas Next- Reveals Potential Date

3. Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler

While having coaches that will fight for the title makes sense, it also may not be the best bet looking at the history of how it has turned out. Several fights have been held up because of the show. Plus injuries have led to a number of them getting canceled as well. Therefore, if the UFC can two coaches who can create the buzz without a title fight, it may turn out to be a safer bet.

This is where Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler come in. The UFC has been investing heavily in Chandler. After making weight as the backup for UFC 254 lightweight title fight, he is now ready to actually step inside the UFC Octagon for his promotional debut. He has even had a little back-and-forth with ‘El Cucuy’ as of late.

‘El Cucuy’, meanwhile, has been looking to get his due share from the promotion he has been a part of for a significant time. The Ultimate Fighter could prove to be the gateway for him to land a big fat cheque. Moreover, who wouldn’t want to witness more of Ferguson’s antics on the show? If the two end up fighting after the show, it could also have a big impact on the way things shape up in the 155-pounds division.

Read More: “He’s Got a Screw Loose”- Michael Chandler Calls Out Tony Ferguson for a Fight

4. Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal

Saving the best for the last, the combo of Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal as coaches is something that you can bet on to not disappoint. There’s a genuine beef between the two welterweights. Given the rumblings of a fight between the two coming up here and there, having them as coaches right now makes all that much more sense.

Covington’s pro-wrestling heel like persona could be even better in a reality show setting. Meanwhile, Masvidal, on the other hand, is as real as a fighter can get. Having fought his way through the backyards in Miami, ‘Gamebred’ is a stark contrast to what ‘Chaos’ brings to the table. Throw in the fact that they were former teammates and you get a good recipe for choosing coaches.

On top of all this, the winner of the fight could very well be the next contender in line for a shot at welterweight.

So there you have it. The four possible choices of coaches for the return of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. Do let us know in the comments section if you have something else on your mind.

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