This week`s installment of The Ultimate Fighter 33 saw Daniel Cormier`s team face defeat, leading to a display of frustration from the coach himself.
The third welterweight contest of the season featured Alex Sanchez from Team Cormier (Mexico) against Matt Dixon representing Team Sonnen (U.S.). Dixon secured the victory with a first-round knockout, applying constant pressure on Sanchez from the outset.
Dixon successfully kept Sanchez retreating, which visibly agitated Cormier. The former two-division UFC champion repeatedly shouted instructions for Sanchez to advance and attack, but Sanchez struggled to initiate his offense, primarily focusing on countering and circling. The fight concluded when Sanchez moved directly into a left hand from Dixon, sending him to the canvas. Dixon followed up with ground-and-pound to finish the fight.
Following the bout, a clearly frustrated Cormier delivered sharp criticism to Sanchez.
“Listen to me, Alex, you have to be the aggressor,” Cormier stated emphatically. “Your style requires you to move forward. Don`t back up! If you`re a fighter, you don`t back up! You go and you fight! Don`t back up! You can`t run. If you choose this path, you have to fight, do you hear me? Listen when we give you instructions.”
Dixon`s win helped Team Sonnen narrow the team score, which currently stands at 4-2 in favor of Team Cormier. Dixon is the first welterweight from Team Sonnen to reach the semifinals, joining Team Cormier`s Daniil Donchenko and Jeff Creighton.
Next week`s episode will feature the final flyweight quarterfinal of the season, pitting Roybert Echeverria of Team Sonnen (Venezuela) against Tumelo Manyamala of Team Cormier (South Africa).
This week also featured notable guest coaches. Daniel Cormier welcomed former TUF contestants who later became UFC champions, Rose Namajunas and Raquel Pennington. Chael Sonnen brought in veteran fighter Ed Herman to offer his team guidance.
The Ultimate Fighter 33 airs live every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Notably, unlike many past seasons, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will not face each other in a fight at the season`s conclusion, as both are long retired from competition.
The finalists in both the welterweight and flyweight tournaments will compete for a six-figure UFC contract in the live season finale bouts. The specific date for these fights has not yet been announced.
TUF 33 Rosters by Team
(Note: Specific fighter names were not included in the source for these sections)
Team Cormier
Flyweights
Welterweights
Team Sonnen
Flyweights
Welterweights
Quarterfinal Results So Far:
- 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)
Advancing to Semifinals:
Morales, Donchenko, Rodriguez, Creighton, Idiris, Dixon
Eliminated:
Henrique, Martins, Memon, Binder, Yokubov, Sanchez
