Author: Matt Erickson [matt-erickson]

The return of “The Ultimate Fighter” to Brazil officially has its coaches set.

As previously reported, Brazilian veterans Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum will serve as coaches on the second season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” UFC

UFC officials on Tuesday announced the two fighters will square off as coaches on the reality show before squaring off in the octagon following the season.

Negotiations to keep Eddie Alvarez in Bellator resumed nearly the moment he stepped out of the cage following a knockout of Patricky “Pitbull” Freire.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney now has advanced the timeline on Alvarez’s decision, telling MMAjunkie.com that he’ll waive a standard 90-day matching period if the ex-champ doesn’t initially take a new contract offer.

“Based on our relationship with Ed, there’s no reason to hold him to a series of months of not having the opportunity to look at those offers,” Rebney said.

An injury has sidelined T.J. Dillashaw, forcing him out of the next UFC on FOX event.

But a Washington native has stepped up to fill the gap at UFC on FOX 5 in Seattle. Bryan Caraway will fill in for Dillashaw against Mike Easton, UFC officials on Tuesday announced.

UFC on FOX 5 takes place Dec. 8 at KeyArena in Seattle. The Caraway-Easton bantamweight fight will be part of the FUEL TV-broadcast preliminary card prior to the main card on FOX.

Jerry Shapiro feels a little bit of pressure, but he knows that’s something he better get used to.

The Las Vegas-based bantamweight makes his pro MMA debut at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 4, which takes place Friday at Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas.

The main card of RFA 4 airs live on AXS TV. Shapiro meets Cory Galloway on the prelims.

Marius Zaromskis’ manager says the Lithuanian fighter’s ego is more damaged than his brain following a TKO loss to Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 78.

“He got hit behind the ear, so he was just dazed,” Mike Kogan on Monday told MMAjunkie.com.

Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato said Zaromskis received a 30-day suspension following the fight, which was part of the MTV2-televised main card of the event at Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio.

FUEL TV next month will unveil a new special going in-depth at a UFC event.

“UFC Unrestricted” premieres Nov. 10 and will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at “UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II,” which took place this past July.

“UFC Unrestricted” airs at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 10, immediately following the FUEL TV post-fight show for “UFC on FUEL TV: Franklin vs. Le,” which takes place in Macau.