Bas Rutten to Join TUF 19 Coaching Staff

TUF 19 Coach BJ Penn made an appearence on journalistic MMA show Inside MMA today and while he was there he extended the offer for television host Bas Rutten to join his all-star cast of assistant coaches for the upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter.  Bas Rutten happily accepted and will be expected to make an appearance on the show.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Bas Rutten retired from MMA with an impressive 28-4 record.  Bas Rutten is a man that eats, sleeps, breathes and lives MMA.  Rutten became a major player in the legendary Pancrase promotion years ago and won the King of Pancrase Championship twice.  In 1999, Rutten made his way to the UFC and defeated Kevin Randleman to become the UFC Heavyweight Championship.  After winning the UFC Championship, Rutten retired from MMA but later came out of retirement in 2006 for one more fight before officially retiring again.

Mark Coleman to Aid Team Penn on TUF

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion and Pride Grand Prix Champion, Mark Coleman, retired from MMA competition earlier this year at the age of 48.  Though he has retired from fighting himself, he still will be involved in the the future of MMA as we have received word that Mark Coleman will be aiding longtime friend BJ Penn in the upcoming season of the UFC's the Ultimate Fighter reality show.

Mark Coleman will be working alongside former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion, BJ Penn, as the wrestling coach for Team Penn on TUF 19.  Coleman stated that it would be an honor to work with a man who has been his friend since the early days of the UFC.  BJ Penn will be coaching opposite of the man who has beaten him on two different occasions and taken his title, Frankie Edgar.  The two men will square off at the end of the season in a featherweight bout.