Bellator MMA, Spike TV Announce Cast For ‘Fight Master’ Series

Bellator MMA will dip into the world of reality series television in June with “Fight Master: Bellator MMA.”

The program, which will feature welterweights competing for a spot in an upcoming Bellator tournament, will include legendary fighters and trainers Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Joe Warren and Greg Jackson as coaches.

The series begins June 19 at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV and the list of fighters scheduled to be part of it was announced on Monday.

Those selected include: Marcus Aurelio, Nick Barnes, Eric Bradley, Mike Bronzoulis, Frank Carrillo, Darryl Cobb, Christopher Curtis, Evan Cutts, Mike Dubois, Tom Gallicchio, Ismael Gonzalez, Gareth Joseph, Chris Lozano, AJ Matthews, Rob Mills, Steve Montgomery, Chip Moraza-Pollard, Brett Nakamura, Jason Norwood, Dom O’Grady, Jacob Ortiz, Josh Quayhagen, Joe Riggs, Eric Scallan, Cristiano Souza, Brendan Tierney, Bryan Travers, Andy Uhrich, Tim Welch, Cole Williams, Joe Williams and Artenas Young.

 

Greg Jackson Feels Jon Jones At Heavyweight Would Be A Welcome Challenge

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Jackson has built himself an empire in New Mexico, as Jackson’s MMA features several of the elite fighters in the world.

Leading the way is UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Fresh off his fifth successful title defenses, Jones continued to hint at a possible move to heavyweight in the future.

With his body and age, it appears as if it’s only a matter of time before “Bones” dukes it out with the big boys of the UFC – and Jackson is welcoming that decision.

“I’m okay with whatever they want to do. If he wants to do that, then I’ll help him out,” said Jackson, during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour. “I’ve always said that it’s up to the fighters and the management. It’s my job to figure out how we’re going to do that. If that’s the parameters they want to give, that’s what I do. I actually enjoy that; anything different is good.”

Jones seems interested in a possible super-fight with Anderson Silva before any move to heavyweight. The division is currently ruled by fellow former Iowa Central Community College NJCAA national champion Cain Velasquez.

 

Greg Jackson On Upcoming Jon Jones-Chael Sonnen Bout: There Are A Lot Of Danger Zones With Sonnen

Not many people believe Chael Sonnen will be able to solve the unsolvable puzzle that is UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

The two will collide later this month at UFC 159 in New Jersey, despite Sonnen not having recorded a win at 205 pounds in years.

Still, Jones’ trainer, Greg Jackson, knows that the outspoken one holds many interesting cards in his stack, as he told BloodyElbow.com recently.

There are a lot of danger zones with Chael. Chael is tougher than a lot of people give him credit for. When we didn’t want to fight him on three days notice or whatever, we’d never fight anybody on such short notice for somebody at Jon Jones level. People think he doesn’t have any punching power, but then you see him drop Anderson Silva. Once he gets on top of you, it’s trouble, and a lot of guys can’t seem to get around that ground and pound style, so if you don’t do things correctly with him, you get in trouble real quick.

The two were coaches on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, allowing each access to the other. Jackson believes he knows exactly where Sonnen will try to strike come fight night.

We have to make sure we take him very seriously. He’s a very tough opponent and he’s very smart. He’s going to try to negate the length and push the fight forward, and we have to be ready for that. We have to be ready for a 25 minute, all out war. He’s going to try to wear Jon down with his cardio. We have to be ready for all of those eventualities to make sure that Jon is on point and ready and can execute his gameplan. It’s not going to be an easy fight.

So, do you feel Sonnen can take Jones down like he did Anderson Silva, finishing the job this time? Or will it be a record-tying performance for “Bones.”

 

Melvin Guillard Departs From Blackzilians, Returns To Train With Greg Jackson

Melvin Guillard’s recent string of bad luck has left him pondering his future.

However, he won’t be doing that at the Blackzilians camp in Florida, as Guillard has returned to New Mexico to train with Greg Jackson.

Guillard seemed like a top prospect in the lightweight division after stringing together five straight victories from 2010-11. Since that time, though, he has gone just 1-4, including back-to-back defeats in 2012.

Returning to Jackson’s gym can only help Guillard, as the Blackzilians have not fared the greatest in recent fights inside the Octagon.

 

Greg Jackson Talks Georges St-Pierre’s Emotions Heading Into UFC 158

Greg Jackson knows how to get fighters prepared for battle, as the world-renowned trainer boasts several of the top names in MMA to his gym.

While UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre tends to spend more time at Tristar Gym in Canada, he still works with Jackson in preparation for fights.

Jackson recently appeared on Sherdog Radio to discuss the mindset of GSP as he prepares to face Nick Diaz at UFC 158 Saturday night.

Some have questioned GSP after the verbal tirade the two had during a conference call last week. Typically, St-Pierre is very quiet and doesn’t engage in such battles, but Diaz appears to have brought out a different side of the champion. Does Jackson believe it will cause any issues inside the Octagon?

“I don’t think so because Georges is so smart. I always say that, but I don’t know if people realize just how smart he really is. He understands the game extremely well. Even if he gets mad, he’ll be able to control it and keep his business his business. He’s incredibly smart, like off the charts smart. I think he’s going to be much too smart to fall for that.”

Jackson went on to say that he respects Diaz as a fighter, but that he “wouldn’t want to see Georges upset (heading into a fight). I’ll put it that way. He’s a son of a gun when he’s calm and rational. If you got him upset and he stays focused, that would be a very dangerous individual.”

 

Bellator Bringing ‘Fight Master’ To Spike TV; Couture, Shamrock To Coach

Spike TV made a big splash Wednesday announcing “Fight Master: Bellator MMA,” as the promotion will bring in former UFC champions Randy Couture and Frank Shamrock to serve as coaches.

Joining Couture and Shamrock will be Greg Jackson and ex-Bellator champion Joe Warren.

The series, which will feature welterweights, will begin taping soon and is expected to air this summer on Spike TV.

“As the fighters control their own destiny, they will need to utilize strategy in and out of the cage if they want to succeed and advance,” said Sharon Levy, the executive vice president of original series on Spike TV. “The stakes are high and the wrong decision, whether it is picking an opponent or fight camp can mean all the difference.”

The 32 fighters will select which coach they want to train with, while the finale of the tournament will air live on Spike TV. The winner will earn a spot in the next welterweight tournament.

Levy explained that the coaches and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney will conduct a seeding of the 16 finalist that will be used to determine which fighter picks his fight first.

Couture, a former coach on The Ultimate Fighter when it aired on Spike TV said “this is a watershed moment to create more opportunity for more fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts.”

 

Greg Jackson Thinks Chael Is Being Underestimated

Greg feels the fight between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen will be more even than even than people think.

 

Greg Jackson Suggests Hendricks May Fight GSP Next

Greg talks to Bas about who Georges’ camp has been eying.

 

Greg Jackson: ‘I Don’t Think I Would’ve Changed A Thing’ In Regards To GSP-Condit Decision

Greg Jackson took himself out of the equation for the recent Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit match for the unified UFC welterweight title.

Having worked with both fighters, Jackson didn’t want to see – and didn’t watch, in fact – the two come to blows. GSP earned a decision, and Jackson informed The MMA Hour recently that he believes nothing could have changed that.

I don’t think I could have changed anything. I don’t think it’s one of those things where I’m that important. And that goes for either guy. I don’t think I would’ve changed things either way.

Condit works very closely with Jackson, as he lives in New Mexico. St-Pierre, meanwhile, informed reporters during a recent press conference that he typically brings Jackson to his gym in Montreal if seeking his guidance.

 

Rashad Evans Feels He Is Better Off Without Greg Jackson

Rashad feels he is better off leaving Jackson’s team, and he also feels his split from former coach Greg Jackson has become very personal.