Dana White was blown away by the newest battle on The Final Fighter 33.
It wasn’t a technical masterpiece by any stretch of the creativeness, however UFC flyweight hopefuls Imanol Rodriguez (Mexico) and Arshiyan Memon (India) definitely entertained the onlookers at UFC APEX, together with White, their potential boss. In the long run, it was Rodriguez who got here out on prime with a blistering standing TKO win within the first spherical.
Group Daniel Cormier’s Rodriguez (5-0) and Group Chael Sonnen’s Memon (7-0) each entered this week’s battle with undefeated data, and their uncooked expertise and inexperience have been on full show. Rodriguez frequently landed his proper hand on a retreating Memon, who appeared caught off guard by Rodriguez’s aggression. A Rodriguez physique kick had Memon wincing and Rodriguez pounced for the end, however in some way Memon managed to outlive and recuperate.
Rodriguez didn’t let up. Memon was firing wild after which made the error of telegraphing a takedown, which Rodriguez stuffed earlier than taking Memon’s again. He flattened Memon out, forcing Memon to show over and quit full mount. Once more, Memon in some way slipped out of a disadvantageous place.
His luck quickly ran out, although. Inexplicably bursting with confidence, Memon dropped his arms and prompted Rodriguez to carry it on, which Rodriguez did with a number of proper arms to the face. Rodriguez battered Memon in opposition to the cage, throwing bombs till referee Mark Smith jumped in for the save.
Afterwards, White praised each rivals for the trouble, telling Memon “that’s probably the greatest fights I’ve seen in a minute.”
Cormier is now up 2-1 on opposing coach Sonnen, with Rodriguez becoming a member of welterweight teammate Daniil Donchenko within the winner’s circle.
Additionally on this episode, Sonnen introduced in one other former TUF standout as a visitor coach, TUF 20 winner and inaugural UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza.
In subsequent week’s welterweight matchup, Group Cormier’s Jeff Creighton (USA) fights Group Sonnen’s Andreeas Binder (Eire).
The Final Fighter 33 airs reside each Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
In contrast to most editions of TUF, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen is not going to battle 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:
Group Cormier
Flyweights
- Eduardo Henrique (13-2), Brazil
- Alibi Idiris (10-0), Kazakhstan
- Imanol Rodriguez (5-0), Mexico
- Tumelo Manyamala (6-1), South Africa
Welterweights
- Rodrigo Sezinando (8-1), Brazil
- Daniil Donchenko (11-2), Ukraine
- Jeff Creighton (11-3-1), USA
- Alex Sanchez (15-3), Mexico
Group Sonnen
Flyweights
- Joseph Morales (12-2), USA
- Furkatbek Yokubov (13-4), Uzbekistan
- Roybert Echeverria (10-2), Venezuela
- Arshiyan Memon (7-0), India
Welterweights
- 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 quarterfinal outcomes to this point:
Joseph Morales def. Eduardo Henrique through first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Daniil Donchenko def. Richard Martins through resolution
Imanol Rodriguez def. Arshiyan Memon through first-round TKO (strikes)
Advancing to semifinals: Morales, Donchenko, Rodriguez
Eradicated: Henrique, Martins, Memon
