Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen are going head-to-head as coaches in The Ultimate Fighter 33 flyweight finals.
Former UFC fighter Joseph Morales (USA) took one step closer to a second chance with a narrow split decision win over Imanol Rodriguez (Mexico) to advance to the TUF 33 finale, where he’ll face Team Cormier’s Alibi Idris (Kazakhstan).
Morales, Team Sonnen’s No. 1 flyweight pick, needed every ounce of his veteran experience to hold off the hard-charging Rodriguez. He utilized his wrestling to neutralize Rodriguez in the opening round, but Rodriguez showed increased takedown defense and aggression in a razor-close second round. Rodriguez’s boxing gave him the edge early in Round 2, only to find himself on the defensive as Morales came on late in the period with strikes of his own.
The third round went Rodriguez’s way as he showed his own grappling expertise, tackling Morales to the ground and staying heavy on his back for the majority of the final five minutes. Rodriguez and Morales both secured one round, with the middle period being the decider.
In the end, Morales came out on the winning end of the split call. Morales already has three UFC appearances under his belt, including a bonus-winning submission of Roberto Sanchez in 2017. He parted ways with the promotion in 2018, didn’t fight again until 2021, and is currently on a three-fight win streak.
One fight remains this season to determine who faces Rodrigo Sezinando (Brazil) in the welterweight final. Next week, Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko (Ukraine) fights Team Sonnen’s Matt Dixon (USA).
The Ultimate Fighter 33 airs live every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Unlike most editions of TUF, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will not fight at the conclusion of the season, as both are long retired.
The finalists of the TUF 33 welterweight and flyweight tournaments will compete for a six-figure UFC contract in the show’s live finale fights. A date for those bouts is yet to be announced.
Here are the TUF 33 rosters divided by team:
- Eduardo Henrique (13-2), Brazil
- Alibi Idiris (10-0), Kazakhstan
- Imanol Rodriguez (5-0), Mexico
- Tumelo Manyamala (6-1), South Africa
- Rodrigo Sezinando (8-1), Brazil
- Daniil Donchenko (11-2), Ukraine
- Jeff Creighton (11-2-1), USA
- Alex Sanchez (15-3), Mexico
- Joseph Morales (12-2), USA
- Furkatbek Yokubov (13-4), Uzbekistan
- Roybert Echeverria (10-2), Venezuela
- Arshiyan Memon (7-0), India
- Diego Bianchini (9-1), Brazil
- Matt Dixon (11-1), USA
- Richard Martins (9-1), Brazil
- Andreeas Binder (10-1, 1 NC), Ireland
Here are the semifinal results and matchups:
Alibi Idris def. Roybert Echeverria via first-round TKO (strikes)
Joseph Morales def. Imanol Rodriguez via split decision
Daniil Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon
Rodrigo Sezinando def. Jeff Creighton via split decision
Here are the quarterfinal results:
Joseph Morales def. Eduardo Henrique via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Daniil Donchenko def. Richard Martins via decision
Imanol Rodriguez def. Arshiyan Memon via first-round TKO (strikes)
Jeff Creighton def. Andreeas Binder via decision
Alibi Idiris def. Furkatbek Yokubov via decision
Matt Dixon def. Alex Sanchez via first-round TKO (strikes)
Roybert Echeverria def. Tumelo Manyamala via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Rodrigo Sezinando def. Diego Bianchini via decision
