'The Ultimate Fighter,' Season 33: Good Guy vs. Bad Guy - ESPN


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'The Ultimate Fighter,' Season 33: Good Guy vs. Bad Guy
MMA, UFC





"The Ultimate Fighter" returns for its 33rd season this month, but with a unique twist. Instead of featuring active fighters coaching up UFC hopefuls, this season the coaches will be UFC Hall of Famers-turned-analysts, as former double champion Daniel Cormier will lead a team opposite former two-division title challenger Chael Sonnen. TUF has been a major pipeline for UFC talent over the years, providing the promotion with a handful of champions and even more MMA stars. Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, TJ Dillashaw and Rose Namajunas have all won champions after appearing on the show. In most of the previous seasons, the show has allowed fans to see what fighters must go through for the chance to earn a spot on the UFC roster, while also allowing them to see the tension build between the coaches ahead of a future matchup between them. With two coaches who have long been retired, that likely won't be the case this season. This season's TUF competition is at welterweight and men's flyweight. Results from each episode and breakdown from the coaches can be found at the bottom of this story. Jump to episode recaps How to watch 'The Ultimate Fighter' on ESPN2/ESPN+ Season 33 of "The Ultimate Fighter" air every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN 2 and ESPN+. Rewatch episodes after they air and watch past seasons anytime on ESPN+. Get ESPN+ \| Download the ESPN App The coaches Chael Sonnen Record: 30-18-1 Age: 48 From: Clackamas County, Oregon Notable: Has coached on two previous seasons of "The Ultimate Fighter", Season 17 and TUF: Brazil 3 Former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight title challenger and former Bellator fighter Has wins over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Michael Bisping Daniel Cormier Record: 22-3-0, 1 NC Age: 46 From: Lafayette, Louisiana Notable: Coached on TUF Season 27 Former two-division UFC double champion (light heavyweight and heavyweight) Former collegiate wrestler at Oklahoma State University Has wins over Frank Mir, Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva and Stipe Miocic Team Sonnen welterweights Diego Bianchini Record: 9-1 Age: 28 Fighting out of: São Paulo, Brazil Notable: Fought in LFA in 2024 Trains at Fighting Nerds gym -- the same gym as UFC fighters Carlos Prates, Jean Silva, Mauricio Ruffy and Caio Borralho Andreeas Binder Record: 10-2 Age: 28 Fighting out of: Galway, Ireland Notable: Five wins by knockout Trains at SBG Charlestown -- the same gym as PFL fighter Leah McCourt Former Level Fight League lightweight champion Has not fought since July 2023 Matt Dixon Record: 11-1 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Tulsa, Oklahoma Notable: Fought on "Dana White's Contender Series" in 2020 Has seven wins by knockout Richard Martins Record: 9-1 Age: 26 Fighting out of: Campinas, Brazil Notable: Previously fought in LFA Has finished seven of his last eight opponents Team Cormier welterweights Daniil Donchenko Record: 11-2 Age: 23 Fighting out of: Kyiv, Ukraine Notable: Trains at Tiger Muay Thai gym, the same gym as UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and former UFC men's bantamweight champion Petr Yan Has seven wins by knockout Jeff Creighton Record: 11-2-1 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Poway, California Notable: Fought in LFA and Bellator Trains at The Arena MMA, the same gym as former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche Alex Sanchez Record: 15-3 Age: 31 Fighting out of: Guadalajara, Mexico Notable: Fought in LFA Has not lost a fight since November 2020 Trains at Entram Gym, the same gym as UFC welterweight Michael Morales Rodrigo Sezinando Record: 8-1 Age: 28 Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Notable: Has won each of last four fights by knockout Trains at Nova União, the same gym as former UFC fighters Renan Barao and Matheus Nicolau Team Sonnen flyweights Roybert Echeverria Record: 10-2 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Miami Notable: Fought on "Dana White's Contender Series" in September 2022 Trains at The Goat Shed, the same gym as UFC fighters Gillian Robertson, Ailin Perez and Dennis Buzukja Arshiyan Memon Record: 7-0 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Maharashtra, India Notable: Has never had a professional fight reach the final bell Knocked out each of his last four opponents Joseph Morales Record: 12-2 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Sacramento, California Notable: Former A1 Combat flyweight champion Had three fights in the UFC in 2017 and 2018 Trains at Team Alpha Male, a gym founded by UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber Furkatbek Yokubov Record: 14-4 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Uzbekistan Fought in Karate Combat and LFA Fought UFC fighter Vinicius Oliveira in UAE Warriors in November 2020, lost by first-round knockout Has knocked out each of his last three opponents Team Cormier flyweights Eduardo Henrique Record: 13-2 Age: 29 Fighting out of: São Paulo, Brazil Notable: Has fought in LFA since July 2022 Has six wins by knockout Alibi Idiris Record: 10-0 Age: Unknown Fighting out of: Aktau, Kazakhstan Notable: Has four wins by knockout and four wins by decision Trains at the same gym as former UFC fighter Sergey Morozov Tumelo Manyamala Record: 6-1 Age: 26 Fighting out of: Cape Town, South Africa Notable: Has finished his opponent in each of his six victories Lone loss came via split decision Imanol Rodriguez Record: 5-0 Age: 25 Fighting out of: Mexico Notable: Has fought in Fury FC and Combate Global Has finished each of his opponents (four knockouts, one submission) None of his professional fights has reached Round 3 Recaps Episode 1: "Into The Pressure Cooker" The coaches evaluate the Season 33 talent and choose their respective teams. No. 1 picks Eduardo Henrique and Joseph Morales face off in the first flyweights fight of the season. Find out who wins on ESPN+. Episode 2: "Nothing to Lose" Former UFC bantamweight champion and "TUF" Season 14 alumnus TJ Dillashaw guest coaches a Team Sonnen training session. Attention then turns to welterweight, as hard-hitting Ukrainian Daniil Donchenko goes up against Brazilian striker Richard Martins for a spot in the semifinals. Find out who wins. Episode 3: "Give Them A Show" The second flyweight quarterfinal features the first "TUF" fighter from India, Arshiyan Memon, against knockout specialist Imanol Rodriguez out of Mexico. And the first UFC women's strawweight champion ever, Season 20 winner Carla Esparza, stops by as guest coach. Find out who wins. Episode 4: "Blood and Business" Season 4 winner of "The Ultimate Fighter," Matt Serra, shares knowledge with competitors. Then welterweight challenger Andreas Binder runs into trouble in the leadup to his fight with American Jeff Creighton. Find out who wins. Episode 5: "Frenemies" Two-time UFC men's flyweight champion and former TUF Season 24 competitor Brandon Moreno stopped by Team Cormier's training session to teach the fighters some new techniques before flyweights Alibi Idiris and Furkatbek Yokubov square off. Find out who wins. Episode 6: "A Lesson in Brutality" Four Team Cormier fighters and one Team Sonnen prospect have clinched their spots in the semifinals thus far. American Matt Dixon looks to put the momentum back on Team Sonnon's side against Team Cormier's Alex Sanchez from Mexico. Find out who wins Tuesday at 10 p.m. on ESPN+.

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