Daniel Cormier’s flyweight fighter overcame a pricey foul to advance in The Final Fighter 33 event.
Representing Staff Cormier this week was Kazakhstan’s Alibi Idiris. The undefeated fighter took on Chael Sonnen’s Furkatbek Yokubov (Uzbekistan) and relied closely on his wrestling to earn a call win.
Idiris’ efficiency wasn’t with out its hiccups. Yokubov appeared to have the benefit on the ft early within the combat, catching Idiris with physique kicks and well timed counter punches. Nonetheless, after a quick pause within the motion when Yokubov unintentionally linked with a low blow, Idiris closed the space and labored to take Yokubov to the mat.
With referee Jason Herzog warning Yokubov about grabbing the fence, Idiris powered by way of to pull Yokubov down after which began doing injury with ground-and-pound. Yokubov made it to Spherical 2, which led to a frantic hanging change by which Idiris poked Yokubov within the eye. Herzog acted decisively, docking Idiris some extent.
Ultimately, the penalty didn’t matter, as Yokubov dominated the spherical along with his wrestling once more en path to successful the two-round combat.
Staff Cormier now has its second flyweight within the semifinals, with Yokubov becoming a member of teammate Imanol Rodriguez. The opposite flyweight within the bracket to date is Staff Sonnen’s Joseph Morales. Total, Cormier now holds a 4-1 lead within the sequence along with his welterweights Daniil Donchenko and Jeff Creighton additionally advancing.
This week’s episode noticed Cormier usher in two particular company to talk to his group: TUF 24 solid member Brandon Moreno and Tremendous Bowl champion Ryan Clark. Moreno drove house the worth of the TUF expertise to Cormier’s group, explaining how he misplaced his first and solely combat on the present and later went on to turn into a two-time UFC flyweight champion.
Clark, Cormier’s fellow ESPN analyst, gave Idiris and the yellow group a pep speak earlier than it was time to combat.
In subsequent week’s welterweight matchup, Staff Cormier’s Alex Sanchez (Mexico) fights Staff 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 won’t combat 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 below are the TUF 33 rosters divided by group:
Staff 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 (11-2-1), USA
- Alex Sanchez (15-3), Mexico
Staff 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 below are the quarterfinal outcomes to date:
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
Advancing to semifinals: Morales, Donchenko, Rodriguez, Creighton, Idiris
Eradicated: Henrique, Martins, Memon, Binder, Yokubov
