UFC president Dana White recently announced the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter television show, which will be titled “TUF Nations: Australia versus Canada”.
The show will feature former TUF contestants as coaches, with Australia’s Kyle Noke leading the charge against Canadian Patrick Cote. The show will feature welterweight contestants.
Noke was a contestant on “TUF: Team Liddell versus Team Ortiz” in 2010. He reached the quarter finals and has since amassed a 4-2 record in the UFC.
Noke, who originally hails from Dubbo, NSW, recently spoke with The Roar regarding the upcoming show and other matters, including his opinion on Canadians, who he’ll fight next, and his experiences working as Steve Irwin’s bodyguard.
Jason Tulio: You were supposed to fight last December at the Gold Coast for UFC on FX 6: Sotiropoulos versus Pearson but you were forced to pull out due to a shoulder injury. Has that healed up now?
Kyle Noke: Yeah, it has. I’m lucky now that it’s at 100% so the shoulder is all healed up.
What are your thoughts on the UFC’s rising popularity in Australia?
I think it’s awesome. It’s the world’s fastest growing sport and Australia is no exception. It’s a very entertaining sport and there are a lot of aspects where people can get involved. I think it’s great that it keeps growing in Australia so much.
Do you think we’ll see more fighters like you, Sotiropoulos etc. in the UFC in the near future?
Absolutely. I think with the Ultimate Fighter going there for a second season just goes to show that there’s a lot of talent in Australia and the UFC recognises that. I think we’re definitely going to see a lot of fighters coming out of Australia now.
Out of all the Aussie fighters that we’ve seen over the years, who would you say has been the best so far?
It’s hard to say who is the best. I really like James Te Huna right now. He’s a good, strong fighter so I’d say it’s probably him.
Do you think it’s a good move on the UFC’s part to go global?
Absolutely, I think it’s a great idea. Like I said, it is growing and it is such an exciting sport. Since they’ve done so much for me, I’m sure they can do a lot for young kids that don’t have much. I think it’s a great sport to be involved with.
How did this TUF coaching opportunity arise?
The UFC just called me up and asked me if I’d like to do it. I started off saying I wanted to do it but I didn’t know if they would choose me or not. Lucky enough they picked me and I’m happy to do it.
What do you hope to find from your team of Aussie fighters – the next Anderson Silva or just a win for Australia in general?
I’m just looking to get a win. Basically, just to help some young Australian fighters follow their dreams. That’s basically what The Ultimate Fighter is about – giving these kids a chance to fight on the big stage.
Do you plan to bring in Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn to coach?
Yeah, I do. I’m going to have a lot of help from a lot of different guys so I plan on bringing in Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn.
What are your thoughts on Patrick Cote?
I think he’s a good fighter. I’ve seen a bit of footage and I’ve seen him fight over the years. He’s a strong fighter and he’s won good fights. He’s never been knocked out so I think he’s a great athlete and I’m looking forward to fighting him
What are your thoughts on Canadians in general? Are they really that polite?
(Laughs) I’ve never had any problems with Canadian fans. I’ve fought there a couple of times actually and I like it up there. There’s no bad blood between Canada and Australia, no animosity. I think it’s going to be a great season where we can actually focus on the fighters and on the show instead of worrying about what the coaches are duelling about. It makes for a better show.
How would you describe your own experiences in the TUF house?
I loved every minute of it. It was realising my dream of being in the UFC so I liked it and it was a great experience, taught me a lot. I’m quite thankful I went through that process.
What was it like to witness the Chuck-Tito rivalry up close and personal? Was it really that heated?
It was kind of funny, the guys never saw that much of each other on the show. We didn’t get to see that much of their rivalry. Once in a while we saw them get into an argument around the cage but besides that there really wasn’t much to see.
How did you find Chuck Liddell as a coach?
I thought he was a great coach. He brought in a great coaching staff.
Any word if you and Cote will go at it after the season is over?
Absolutely, [Patrick and I] will fight each other. I’m looking forward to that fight.
Where do you see Australian MMA headed in the future?
I think it’s going to get stronger and stronger. It’s proven to be up there with the rest of the world like Brazil and America. I think it’s going to keep growing and get better and better.
What are your thoughts on Robert Whittaker (Australian winner of “TUF: The Smashes”)?
I think he’s a great fighter. Great kid, a lot of potential. I think the show was good for him and I think we’re going to see a lot more of Robbie.
Robert Whittaker told the press after his TUF win that he would try to develop the sport more in Australia. Do you see this coaching job as a means of doing that as well?
I think it does a lot. The media coverage we’ll get in Australia will expose [the sport] to a lot more fans. I think it’s going to be great for the sport and great for Australia.
What was it like working as Steve Irwin’s bodyguard?
It was some of the best times of my life. The things I got to do with Steve and the experiences I’ll never ever get the chance again so I feel very lucky and blessed to have worked with him.
Is it true he was a big MMA fan?
Yeah, he was a huge MMA fan. He used to train with us every morning for his fitness. He loved the sport and he loved everything about it. He loved to grapple and train jiu-jitsu.
Did he ever try any of the moves on the animals?
(Laughs) Not that I know of. I think everyone knows Steve’s love for animals so I don’t think he did any takedowns.
Any final words for Aussie fans?
Anyone who wants to try out for the show, try-outs are in September and everybody should watch it next year.
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