Cigano and Minotauro / Photo by Josh Hedges
After months of speculation, the coaches for the thirteenth season of the “The Ultimate Fighter” reality have been announced. And the chosen two are former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number-one contender Junior “Cigano” dos Santos.
Next in line for a title fight, Cigano would have had to wait months for current champion Cain Velasquez to recover from injury. Now he will face Brock, who lost his belt to Cain in his last appearance. The fight between coaches will not be for the interim title, as rumors suggested.
The show will air March 30 on Spike TV. According to White the all-coach fight could happen at UFC 131. The winner will have the next shot at the title.
Brock in photo by Josh Hedges
With the announcement, another rumor falls by the wayside: the one saying Brock Lesnar may abandon the UFC for a pro-wrestling return. Lesnar lost the heavyweight belt to Velasquez in a lopsided affair at UFC 121 and is dying for another chance. It’s worth remembering that he managed to come back for a win on his second attempt before, against Frank Mir. After taking an early kneebar in their first match, Lesnar won the second by a convincing TKO.
On a seven-fight win streak (six before the final bell), Cigano too is eying the belt, and the fight with Lesnar is a colossal hurdle in getting his shot at Cain.
Who do you have your money on, dear reader?