Jackson, Evans to coach in ‘Ultimate Fighter’

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion, was offered an opportunity to regain his title. He opted instead to pursue a more personal goal.

Jackson will coach against another former champion, Rashad Evans, on the 10th season of the organization’s reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter.”

The two then will square off in December to determine the top contender to the belt that Evans lost to Lyoto Machida on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden.

According to UFC president Dana White, Jackson was offered the opportunity to take on Machida or coach on the show. Jackson said he would do whatever it took to fight Evans.

After Jackson’s win over Keith Jardine in March, Evans, who was then the champion, entered the cage and got nose to nose with Jackson in a verbal altercation.

“Dana told me I could fight whoever, and I had my mind set to fight Evans,” Jackson said Wednesday on a conference call. “I want Evans. He got in my face right after my fight. That’s the wrong time to get in my face, and it took a big man for me not to smack him right then and there. So that’s what I want. I want to whup his ass.”

Machida declined the chance to coach on the show because he wants to stay busy. White was not ready to announce an opponent for the new champion.