We reported a few days ago that former UFC champion and UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture had inked a multi-year deal with Spike TV. A press conference was held today to officially announce a part of the deal, and below are details on Couture’s role within the partnership.
The upcoming greenlit projects include:
Fight Master: Bellator MMA – Couture joins some of the biggest names in the sport of mixed martial arts as coaches and trainers for the new reality series, premiering this summer. Couture, Greg Jackson, Frank Shamrock, and Joe Warren will helm four separate fight camps for 32 up-and-coming fighters looking to fight their way into the Bellator tournament and a $100,000 cash prize. Spike will telecast 10 one-hour episodes of “Fight Master: Bellator MMA.” Two of television’s most acclaimed producers, eight-time Emmy® Award winner Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri of Profiles Television Productions, the visionaries behind “The Amazing Race,” serve as Executive Producers.
MMA Rescue – Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Consequently, MMA gyms are opening up all over looking to tap into the surge in popularity. MMA legend Couture uses his years of expertise in the business of mixed martial arts to help turn struggling gyms into thriving enterprises. Couture currently owns a successful chain of gyms, Xtreme Couture MMA, and has the know-how and track record to help take a failing gym on the ropes and turn it into a champion. Spike will pilot the series with three one-hour episodes, with the opportunity to do more. Production details and airdates will be announced at a later time. The show is produced by Kinetic Content with Chris Coelen, Couture and Samuel Spira as Executive Producers.
There are other unscripted opportunities for Couture that will be worked out at a later date. Couture first appeared on Spike TV in 2005 as a coach on the inaugural season of the popular reality show “The Ultimate Fighter”. Couture (19-11) officially retired for the second time after a KO loss to former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in April 2011. Couture has a successful gym, clothing line, and has appeared in several successful films to date.
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