UFC 127 Aftermath: Dana White Considers Coaches for the Next Ultimate Fighter

Of all the developments in the MMA world that followed UFC 127, perhaps the most shocking is one recently reported by the Daily Telegraph.

They state that Dana White has confirmed planning is under way for "The Ultimate Fighter: Australia versus Great Britain."

The paper also mentioned that Michael Bisping and Kyle Noke are being considered as coaches for the next incarnation of the Ultimate Fighter (commonly abbreviated as TUF).

Is this a positive decision?

In some ways it is and in some ways it isn't.

First of all, Kyle Noke does not deserve to headline the show opposite Michael Bisping. Noke is almost completely unknown and untested in the UFC—his last three fights have been against low level fighters on the undercard. Now, all of a sudden, he is worthy of headlining TUF against one of the UFC's biggest draws?

Putting such an unheralded fighter as a coach on the show will likely anger many fans who are clamoring for Vitor Belfort or even Chael Sonnen to be Bisping's nemesis on the show.

Nevertheless, making Bisping and Noke coaches does have its positives.

The UFC will now make excellent headway in two foreign markets instead of just one.

The show has become stale in the United States and expanding it overseas is the next logical option. "The Ashes" cricket rivalry between Australia and Britain is well known, and transplanting that rivalry to MMA will provide much needed fuel to the growth of the sport.

In addition, the UFC will also gain more stars in both markets. New English and Australian fighters will come to the forefront and the UFC will no longer have to rely on Bisping and Australian standout George Sotiropoulos to push the UFC product in their respective markets.

Lastly, the whole issue demonstrates the global expansion of the UFC. Think back to the days of TUF 1, the UFC would have never been able to successfully do a "UK vs. Australia" show.

While many fans may be disappointed by this, look for it to be the new trend in the Ultimate Fighter.