The next season of TUF: Brazil will be coached by sworn enemies, Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the major news during an interview with Sonnen on FOX Sports Live last night.
White joked the Sonnen that he’ll be given plenty of security since the season will be filmed in Brazil where the outspoken Oregonian is widely hated for unsavory comments he’s made about both the country and it’s fighter’s in the past.
Nevertheless, Sonnen seemed happy with the announcement, describing it as, “awesome news.”
Both fighters are very familiar with the TUF format, having each coached a recent series of the reality show.
Sonnen stood opposite Jon Jones on The Ultimate Fighter 17 less than a year ago, while Silva coached against Vitor Belfort on the first season of TUF: Brazil in early 2012.
It should be noted that Sonnen already has a fight lined up against Rashad Evans at UFC 167 on November 16th in Las Vegas which will serve as the evening’s co-main event, and it appears that bout will still go ahead as planned.
No doubt the thinking is that regardless of whether Sonnen wins or loses, people will still be eager to see him finally have a chance to settle his differences with ‘The Axe-Murderer’ afterwards.
The rivalry between the two men first occured when Sonnen started badmouthing Brazil in the lead-up to his fight with Anderson Silva, which caused Wanderlei to warn him to stop disrespecting his country or he’d “lose his teeth”.
Bad blood between the two has continued ever since, and most recently resulted in a brief verbal spat when Silva hunted down Sonnen at a Mr. Olympia show in Las Vegas.
News of the coaches should virtually guarantee that TUF: Brazil Season 3 will be a ratings success in the region, while fans elsewhere will be scrambling to find a way to watch the episodes which should be available to watch via streaming online when the time comes.
It’s not clear exactly when filming for the show will begin, but tryouts are taking place in Brazil on November 11th for lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight competitors.
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