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Spike TV and Randy Couture are set to begin casting on the upcoming reality series, “Gym Rescue,” in the coming weeks.

The series, a spin-off of “Bar Rescue” will entail Couture and his team going to gyms and helping build them back up. Right now, according to Metal Flowers Media LLC casting producer Scott Hiller, the program is targeting Colorado, Minneapolis and the Philadelphia/New York City/New Jersey areas for gyms.

“Gyms can be of any type: fighting or fitness, climbing, gymnastics or yoga. The problems are of any kind and combination, too, such as failing marketing strategies, equipment in disrepair, staffing issues, poor management. A generous gym makeover is usually part of the show,” said Hiller, in an interview with FightLine.com. “This series will be exciting and moving to watch as the story of repairing a business unfolds. Struggling gym owners getting schooled by (Couture) and his all-star crew? These guys kick the crap out of ‘FAIL!’ That means you’ll see a lot of drama as a gym owner comes to terms with his failing business, but becomes incredibly uplifted throughout the process.”

Couture will be a main part of the show, which is expected to have “several episodes” and air later this fall. He is the owner of Xtreme Couture, which has three locations.

Bar Rescue is currently in its third season and has over 30 episodes.

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.

Former UFC champion Randy Couture is now a proud member of the Spike TV family, and he isn’t looking back.

However, “The Natural” recently appeared on The MMA Hour to discuss exactly why he isn’t part of the UFC’s executive front office like fellow hall of famers Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell.

Couture will be part of the Bellator MMA series Fight Master, which will be similar to The Ultimate Fighter. Below is what he had to say about Hughes becoming the vice president of fighter relations recently:

I gave the UFC and Dana every opportunity to find a way to significantly use me since I retired a year and a half ago. They acted like they were doing me a favor by giving me the four events on FOX a year as a commentator. In my opinion and estimation, not a terribly significant role in the organization, and the company of Zuffa.

So I tried like hell to get them to keep me with the company in some significant way and they had nothing for me. I made them aware that this offer had come onto the table, that the TV thing was heating up for me, that there were significant offers being pushed to me, but I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to even hear those pitches and could not tell them specifically what was going on or who was offering what.

So, you know, in my professional estimation, they had an opportunity to keep me and use me. They chose not to, and a week later, after this whole thing leaks, they give a job to Matt Hughes in a significant fashion. Frankly that was a big f*ck you to me from Dana. And that’s exactly what he intended to do.

That’s the way it felt to me. I’ve been trying for over a year to get them to use me in some way, shape or form, and they chose not to. They didn’t have anything for me. They continually told me that. And then Matt announces his retirement, and within a week has a Vice President position for fighter relations. You tell me.

Former UFC champion Randy Couture wants to make one thing clear to UFC president Dana White: he has not signed any sort of deal with Bellator MMA.

Couture, while appearing on Knockout Radio (thanks to MMAWeekly.com for the quotes) recently, stated that his new contract is with Spike TV, not Bellator.

“I have to clarify that because my deal is with Spike. It’s for TV shows, both scripted and unscripted potential shows,” Couture stated. “I’ve never been to Bellator. That was the first time I’ve ever met (Bellator CEO) Bjorn (Rebney), was at the press conference (held Tuesday), so I’m not involved in any way, shape or form with Bellator – just to clarify that.”

Couture will be working with Bellator, though, in terms of an upcoming reality series. He will be one of four coaches leading fighters as they pursue a spot in a future Bellator tournament.

Couture made sure to point out that maybe White misunderstood the situation when he blasted “The Natural” last week.

“My deal is to train athletes for this reality show that will get the opportunity to fight in the tournament for Bellator, and that’s about the extend of my commitment, at least at this stage,” Couture said. “I think that is a distinction that is largely misunderstood and maybe lost on Dana. He’s not one for details. But at the end of the day, that’s the reality of it.”

Photo credit: Scott Peterson/MMAWeekly

Randy Couture could become the new face of Spike TV in the coming years, as “The Natural” will be seen on various outlets the network airs.

Couture was formally announced by Spike TV on Wednesday during a conference call. He will join up with Bellator MMA as part of two reality-based TV shows in 2013, including Fight Master: Bellator MMA, where he serves as a coach.

“We are thrilled to partner with such an emerging star in entertainment and an absolute icon in the sport of mixed martial arts,” said Sharon Levy, executive vice president of original series at Spike TV.

Couture was a champion in two weight classes while competing in the UFC, and was also inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame. He served as an analyst on several programs, and was also a coach on The Ultimate Fighter when he originally aired on Spike TV.

He has since taken his skills to Hollywood, appearing in films such as “The Expendables” and “The Expendables 2,” along with “The Scorpion King: The Akkadian.” Couture also runs his own gym, has a clothing line and recently developed a cologne.

“It is an honor to be back with Spike TV. It feels like I am coming home,” Couture said. “Spike had the balls to put (THe Ultimate Fighter) on television when nobody else would. That changed the landscape of MMA for the better. It gave people a behind-the-curtain look at what goes into being a fighter.”

Couture will be joined by Frank Shamrock, Greg Jackson and Joe Warren as coaches for Fight Master.

Photo Credit: The Hollywood Reporter

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.”

Dana talks about all things UFC. He goes into recent comments he’s made, all the while promoting UFC 156.

Dana sheds light on his true relationship with Randy Couture. He basically says Randy isn’t a great guy. He even challenges Randy’s parenting and says he’s glad to be done with him. Dana says he has no ill-will towards Rampage, and he only wished him the best.

Former UFC champion Randy Couture has had issues with the UFC and UFC president Dana White in the past.

After it was revealed that Couture signed a deal with Bellator and Viacom recently, it appears as if that bridge between Couture and the UFC is up in flames – for good.

White informed reporters following media day at UFC 156 Thursday that he would talk about Couture for one final time, and he let the sparks fly.

I’ll say my peace on Randy Couture, and after today, I’ll never mention him again. The bottom-line is this: when that whole thing went down with Randy years ago, we weren’t on the best of terms. Now, before that happened, Randy Couture was on the Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell deal. He was getting a salary, he was in with the company, he was one of those guys. Then he tries to do all this stuff, pull all this bullshit with Affliction, loses and comes back. So, it took me a long time to warm up to him.

His lawyer, who I can’t stand, calling our lawyer every day, saying, ‘We want to come back, we want that job again, we want to work for the UFC,’ and all this stuff. Finally, I just say, ‘yes,’ and give him the FOX deal. He doesn’t even finish his contract, he’s got one more fight left, and he bails on the contract to go do this.

Randy Couture has this ‘Captain America’ image and stuff like that, but he is not a good guy. He has never been a good guy. And I’m actually, and I mean this, I couldn’t mean it anymore: I am happy that he went there. I’m happy he is there. I never have to deal with Randy Couture ever again. Talk to 99-percent of the people who know him and you’ll see.

So, it appears as if we have seen the last of Couture. One has to wonder if this will have any impact on his son, Ryan, or if White will treat him like any other fighter?

Couture is expected to be part of the upcoming Bellator reality series, along with other projects for Spike TV and the MMA promotion.

Former UFC champion Randy Couture has never failed to follow his own path despite being a member of the UFC’s Hall of Fame.

Sports Illustrated confirmed in a report on Tuesday that Couture has signed a deal to be part of the upcoming Bellator MMA reality series on Spike TV. The series begins shooting next month and airs later in 2013, with Couture likely serving as a coach.

Couture and members of Viacom, which owns and operates Spike TV, will be holding a conference call next Tuesday to make the deal official. The report stated that “The Natural” signed with the television network in late December.

The 49-year-old Couture retired in 2011 following a loss to Lyoto Machida. He held both the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight titles, amassing an overall record of 19-11.

However, Couture has never been one to avoid controversy within the UFC. He left the promotion in 2007 after failing to come to an agreement as champion, only to return the next year.