Added to the cast were Marcus Jones (4-1), Matt Mitrione (0-0), Brendan Schaub (4-0) and Wes Shivers (0-1). A fifth former player, Rex Richards, was also reportedly tapped for the show, which began taping on Monday, but recently suffered a partial MCL tear that forced him to withdraw from the competition.

The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights, which features light heavyweight contenders Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans as coaches, will debut on September 16 following UFC Fight Night 19 on Spike TV.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest Ultimate Fighter news, as we’ll pass along more cast members and other news and notes as it becomes available.

[Pictured: Marcus Jones]

Jesse Taylor

The Ultimate Fighter 10 heavyweight hopeful Rex Richards tasted defeat for the second time in his professional MMA career on Saturday at Shark Fights 4, falling to Darill Schoonover via fourth-round TKO in the event’s headliner.

The event, which was held at the City Bank Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas, also featured victories by Don Frye and Jesse Taylor.

The official results for Shark Fights 4 were:

• Darill Schoonover def. Rex Richards via TKO (strikes) — Round 4
• Jesse Taylor def. Eric DaVila via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1
• Don Frye def. Rich Moss via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1
• Phil Cardella def. Johnny Flores via submission (armbar) — Round 1
• T.J. Wallburter def. Shannon Ritch via submission (armbar) — Round 1
• Rolando Scott def. Zach Haney via TKO (strikes) — Round 1
• Douglas Frey def. Louis Luna via KO (punch) — Round 1
• Jessica Miramontes def. Brandi Hainey via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Josh Shephard def. Aaron Garcia via TKO (strikes) – Round 1

Middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight fighters with professional experience were encouraged to attend the tryouts, which were observed by UFC President Dana White, executive producer Craig Piligian, co-executive producer Andrea Richter, and Spike TV’s senior vice president of sports and specials Brian Diamond.

Last year, 900 fighters tried out in Chicago for The Ultimate Fighter 9: US vs. UK.

Among those trying out for the tenth season were former NFL players Marcus Jones (4-2), Rex Richards (8-1), and Herbert Goodman (9-6).

Another potential cast member for The Ultimate Fighter 10 is former professional wrestler and heavyweight prospect Bobby Lashley (2-0), who announced last week on ESPN’s MMA Live that he’d be willing to compete on the show.

For the latest Ultimate Fighter news check out the MMAFrenzy.com Ultimate Fighter 10 category.

Jon Fitch

• Gray Maynard says he’d like to fight Diego Sanchez, Clay Guida, or Sean Sherk next. [MMA Junkie]
• Takanori Gomi will return to Shooto for the first time in almost six years to fight 154-pound champion Takashi Nakakura on May 10th at JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
• Tito Ortiz says he’ll pass on Affliction, instead attempting to sign with Strikeforce. [Youtube]
• Former EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons suffered a unanimous decision loss over the weekend in his return to boxing. [MMA Junkie]
• Former EliteXC middleweight title-holder Murilo “Ninja” Rua has signed with DREAM and will make his debut for the promotion at DREAM 8 on April 5th in Japan. [Gracie Mag]
• Former NFL player and heavyweight prospect Rex Richards (8-1) will tryout for the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. [MMA Junkie]
• Andrei Arlovski’s boxing debut has been postponed until May. [Sherdog]
• Gina Carano says her anticipated bout against Cris “Cyborg” Santos is likely to take place before the end of 2009. [MMA Weekly]
• Former WEC fighters Johny Hendricks and Danillo Villefort will be transferred to the UFC’s welterweight division. [Five Ounces of Pain and MMA Junkie]
• Bellator has announced the complete lineup for its April 3rd debut. [MMA Junkie]
• Kendall Grove is likely to fight at UFC 101 on August 8th in Philadelphia. [Five Ounces of Pain]
• Bellator’s third event will take place on April 17th in Norman, Oklahoma and will feature the first round of the promotion’s middleweight tournament, which includes notable Hector Lombard, with Brandon Vera’s wife Kerry Vera also slated to be in action in a non-tournament bout. [MMA Junkie]
• Jon Fitch has signed a five-fight contract extension with the UFC. [MMA Mania]
• Wilson Reis vs. Henry Martinez will headline Bellator’s second event on April 10th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. [MMA Junkie]
• Ultimate Fighter cast members Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver and Joe Scarola will fight for the welterweight and lightweight titles respectively at MMA Big Show’s June 10th “Conviction” event at the Belterra Casino in Belterra, Indiana.
• Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro vs. Keiichiro Yamamiya and Makoto Takimoto vs. Michael Costa have been added to the official lineup for Sengoku Eighth Battle on May 2nd in Tokyo.
• New Jersey has refused to sanction a planned boxing bout between former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and former boxing champion Ray Mercer, which was to headline Adrenaline MMA’s third show on May 30th in Atlantic City. This bout is now tentatively scheduled to take place in June at a location to-be-announced. [MMA Weekly]
• The Ultimate Fighter 7 teammates Matt Riddle and Dan Cramer are likely to square off at UFC 101. [Five Ounces of Pain]
• Welterweight bouts featuring Josh Koscheck against Chris Wilson at UFC 98 and Paul Taylor versus Peter Sobotta at UFC 99 have been officially announced.