“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
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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+.
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The coaches
Chael Sonnen
Record: 30-18-1
Age: 48
From: Clackamas County, Oregon
Notable:
Daniel Cormier
Record: 22-3-0, 1 NC
Age: 46
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Notable:
Team Sonnen welterweights
Diego Bianchini
Record: 9-1
Age: 28
Fighting out of: São Paulo, Brazil
Notable:
Andreeas Binder
Record: 10-2
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Galway, Ireland
Notable:
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Five wins by knockout
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Trains at SBG Charlestown — the same gym as PFL fighter Leah McCourt
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Former Level Fight League lightweight champion
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Has not fought since July 2023
Matt Dixon
Record: 11-1
Age: 29
Fighting out of: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Notable:
Richard Martins
Record: 9-1
Age: 26
Fighting out of: Campinas, Brazil
Notable:
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
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Has seven wins by knockout
Jeff Creighton
Record: 11-2-1
Age: 29
Fighting out of: Poway, California
Notable:
-
Fought in LFA and Bellator
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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:
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Fought in LFA
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Has not lost a fight since November 2020
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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:
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Has won each of last four fights by knockout
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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:
Arshiyan Memon
Record: 7-0
Age: 30
Fighting out of: Maharashtra, India
Notable:
Joseph Morales
Record: 12-2
Age: 30
Fighting out of: Sacramento, California
Notable:
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Former A1 Combat flyweight champion
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Had three fights in the UFC in 2017 and 2018
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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
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Fought in Karate Combat and LFA
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Fought UFC fighter Vinicius Oliveira in UAE Warriors in November 2020, lost by first-round knockout
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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:
Alibi Idiris
Record: 10-0
Age: Unknown
Fighting out of: Aktau, Kazakhstan
Notable:
Tumelo Manyamala
Record: 6-1
Age: 26
Fighting out of: Cape Town, South Africa
Notable:
Imanol Rodriguez
Record: 5-0
Age: 25
Fighting out of: Mexico
Notable:
-
Has fought in Fury FC and Combate Global
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Has finished each of his opponents (four knockouts, one submission)
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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 on ESPN+.
