TUF 17: Reasons Daniel Cormier Should Be Coaching Against Jon Jones

Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Daniel Cormier is perhaps the biggest star left standing in Strikeforce. He's fresh off winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in which he absolutely dominated a very formidable Josh Barnett.

There has been a lot of talk of Cormier facing off with UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones once "DC" comes to the Octagon. Both men have exchanged words about a possible match up through the media but alas, all that talk fell by wayside when Chael Sonnen was awarded a UFC title shot.

Putting Cormier on The Ultimate Fighter to coach against Jones seemed like a great way to get him some free exposure and introduce him as a real threat in the heavyweight division. Although Sonnen-Jones will get plenty of ratings, there's no way around it, Cormier deserved the spot more.

Jon Jones Plans to Move to the Heavyweight Division in 2013

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

With Jon Jones eyeing a move to heavyweight, a fight with Daniel Cormier makes perfect sense. I know Jones feels like he has some unfinished business with Dan Henderson, but that fight is likely to look a lot like his fight with Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson with Hendo looking to land that one perfect punch.

Jones' fight against Chael Sonnen makes next to zero sense in terms of rankings and is a clear move to save The Ultimate Fighter and create a gain in the wallet for the UFC.

I'll give you that a season of Cormier and Jones wouldn't create anywhere near the trash talk of Sonnen-Jones but would give a more credible match up for a finale.

Jones is likely to be inserted against a top contender when he moves to heavyweight and facing "DC" would be a perfect test for Jones' skills at 206 pounds and above.

Daniel Cormier Already Has Experience as a Coach

Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Daniel Cormier fights out of American Kickboxing Academy but is also one of the wrestling coaches. Cormier competed at an Olympic level in amateur wrestling and no doubt possesses plenty of knowledge on the subject matter.

That's already a one-up on both Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen. Sonnen may be an elite-level wrestler but will no doubt leave it to his own group of assistant coaches to provide most of the instruction on technique. Jones also will likely step back and let his own coaches do most of the work during practices.

Cormier would represent a nice change from the personality-driven seasons of TUF lately and provide an accurate portrayal of what it means to be a MMA coach.

Daniel Cormier Needs the Exposure More

Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Everyone in the MMA world knows who Chael Sonnen is. They also know who Jon Jones is. Ask your average fan who Daniel Cormier is and you would likely be met with a blank stare by the vast majority of them.

It's a consequence of Cormier competing on a channel that few US households get and even fewer feel the need to tune in to watch a MMA event on. Strikeforce fighters have been complaining about the need for more exposure due to sponsor money and it's an issue that affects everyone from the top guy to the preliminary fighter.

Cormier is a top contender in the heavyweight division but is likely to be met with skepticism upon his arrival to the Octagon due to never competing in the UFC. A stint on TUF would give the division a new contender that would have a fanbase behind him.

Guys like Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum are all household names in the MMA world but even though Cormier ranks somewhere in the midst of those men, he is not.

The reality show has been a promotional tool for years, so why not use it on one of the top contenders that will be moving over to the UFC?