Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen are going head-to-head as coaches in The Final Fighter 33 flyweight finals.
Former UFC fighter Joseph Morales (USA) took one step nearer to a second likelihood with a slim cut up choice win over Imanol Rodriguez (Mexico) to advance to the TUF 33 finale, the place he’ll face Group Cormier’s Alibi Idris (Kazakhstan).
Morales, Group Sonnen’s No. 1 flyweight choose, wanted each ounce of his veteran expertise to carry off the hard-charging Rodriguez. He utilized his wrestling to neutralize Rodriguez within the opening spherical, however Rodriguez confirmed elevated takedown protection and aggression in a razor-close second spherical. Rodriguez’s boxing gave him the sting early in Spherical 2, solely to search out himself on the defensive as Morales got here on late within the interval with strikes of his personal.
The third spherical went Rodriguez’s method as he confirmed his personal grappling experience, tackling Morales to the bottom and staying heavy on his again for almost all of the ultimate 5 minutes. Rodriguez and Morales each secured one spherical, with the center interval being the decider.
Ultimately, Morales got here out on the profitable finish of the cut up name. Morales already has three UFC appearances beneath his belt, together with a bonus-winning submission of Roberto Sanchez in 2017. He parted methods with the promotion in 2018, didn’t struggle once more till 2021, and is at the moment on a three-fight win streak.
One struggle stays this season to find out who faces Rodrigo Sezinando (Brazil) within the welterweight ultimate. Subsequent week, Group Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko (Ukraine) fights Group Sonnen’s Matt Dixon (USA).
The Final Fighter 33 airs reside each Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Not like most editions of TUF, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen is not going to struggle on the conclusion of the season, as each are lengthy retired.
The finalists of the TUF 33 welterweight and flyweight tournaments will compete for a six-figure UFC contract within the present’s reside finale fights. A date for these bouts is but to be introduced.
Listed here are the TUF 33 rosters divided by crew:
- 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), Eire
Listed here are the semifinal outcomes and matchups:
Alibi Idris def. Roybert Echeverria through first-round TKO (strikes)
Joseph Morales def. Imanol Rodriguez through cut up choice
Daniil Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon
Rodrigo Sezinando def. Jeff Creighton through cut up choice
Listed here are the quarterfinal outcomes:
Joseph Morales def. Eduardo Henrique through first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Daniil Donchenko def. Richard Martins through choice
Imanol Rodriguez def. Arshiyan Memon through first-round TKO (strikes)
Jeff Creighton def. Andreeas Binder through choice
Alibi Idiris def. Furkatbek Yokubov through choice
Matt Dixon def. Alex Sanchez through first-round TKO (strikes)
Roybert Echeverria def. Tumelo Manyamala through second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Rodrigo Sezinando def. Diego Bianchini through choice
