Who’s ready for his close-up?

For one reason or another, it might not be Lyoto Machida, who unwittingly tossed his name into the hat for “The Ultimate Fighter” coaching duties after putting former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans to sleep last Saturday in the second round of their title tilt at UFC 98 in Las Vegas.

At the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White fielded a variety of questions on the impending season of the still-chugging Spike reality series, but said all would be answered on June 2, with an official announcement.

Thanks to some overzealous teammates, we already know Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has been offered one of the coaching gigs. It was rumored Evans was going to be named Jackson’s foil during the pay-per-view as well. Of course, that’s before Evans collided with Machida’s left fist.

So, should Machida be priming catchy retorts to the fork-tongued Jackson’s impending deluge? Not necessarily.

“I don’t think he’s going to be coaching [TUF],” Machida’s manager Ed Soares told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show Wednesday. “There’s a lot of things in the works to be honest with you and things are already set in stone.”

Soares wouldn’t elaborate further, though one doesn’t have to look much farther than Machida’s post-fight comments to know his English is a work in progress.

Which leaves Evans, who already volleyed verbal venom with Jackson to explosive effect after Rampage’s decision nod over Keith Jardine at UFC 96 in March.

Word is Evans could be interested, but hasn’t been approached for the job as of Wednesday.

If Evans does join Rampage in front of the TV cameras, the potentially combustible pair will be out of circulation until they square off in December if the usual schedule persists. Season ten could be angled as a “Road to the Champion” scenario, as the winner would have fair claim to the title shot.

In the interim, I’d hope the champ would be expected to defend his title. Machida’s camp is certainly hoping it.

“We’re definitely looking to fight again by the end of the year, for sure,” said Soares. “I think by October, November, [Machida] should be fighting.”

And what lucky ducky will get that seemingly insurmountable assignment?

Of the lineup offered by fellow scribe Tomas Rios, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is intriguing (Even during the dark days, I never lost hope that Shogun would return to Pride-demolition form.)

Wanderlei Silva is game for anything, if he gets past Rich Franklin in June. Unsinkable strategist Randy Couture said he’s “intrigued” by a Machida matchup as well, if all goes as planned against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in August.

And if neither Evans nor Machida is destined for reality TV stardom, I nominate Rua. Charming, respectful, and most importantly, the owner of a brutal technical knockout win over Jackson from Pride’s 2005 grand prix, Rua could be the UFC’s man.