TUF Nations coach Kyle Noke was inspired by Steve Irwin to pursue UFC dream

Australian welterweight Kyle Noke (20-6-1) is set to face Patrick Côté (20-8) in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night on April 16 in Quebec City. But The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Nations coach's journey to the octagon began in Beerwah, Queensland, at the Australian Zoo.

Through his coach Dan Higgins, Noke was hired in 2003 by zoo owner Steve Irwin as a personal body guard.  An avid MMA fan, Irwin had Higgins train him and his wife in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and would use Noke as a sparring partner.

[Photo courtesy of www.crocodilehunter.com]

"I think he picked me more so that he had somebody to train with than for an actual bodyguard... He was a big dude. He could handle himself. He didn't need a bodyguard," Noke told the Las Vegas Sun in 2010. "He had strength from wrestling crocs all his life. You could never let him get on top of you, because he'd just hold you down."

Following Irwin's death in 2006, Noke moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico three years later to train full-time with Greg Jackson, trainer of many notable MMA fighters such as Jon Jones, Clay Guida and Carlos Condit. 

Noke was a participant on TUF season 11, and went on to win his first three fights in the UFC.