“The Final Fighter” returns for its thirty third season this month, however with a singular twist. As a substitute of that includes lively fighters teaching up UFC hopefuls, this season the coaches might be UFC Corridor of Famers-turned-analysts, as former double champion Daniel Cormier will lead a workforce reverse former two-division title challenger Chael Sonnen.
TUF has been a significant pipeline for UFC expertise over time, offering the promotion with a handful of champions and much more MMA stars. Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, TJ Dillashaw and Rose Namajunas have all received champions after showing on the present.
In a lot of the earlier seasons, the present has allowed followers to see what fighters should undergo for the prospect to earn a spot on the UFC roster, whereas additionally permitting them to see the stress construct between the coaches forward of a future matchup between them. With two coaches who’ve lengthy been retired, that possible will not be the case this season.
This season’s TUF competitors, which is able to start airing Could 27 on ESPN2 and ESPN+, is at welterweight and males’s flyweight. Outcomes of this season could be discovered on the backside of this story.
The right way to watch ‘The Final Fighter’ on ESPN2/ESPN+
Season 33 of “The Final Fighter” debuts Tuesday, Could 27, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN 2 and ESPN+ and continues weekly. Rewatch episodes after they air and watch previous seasons anytime on ESPN+.
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The coaches
Chael Sonnen
Document: 30-18-1
Age: 48
From: Clackamas County, Oregon
Notable:
Daniel Cormier
Document: 22-3-0, 1 NC
Age: 46
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Notable:
The fighters
Welterweights
Diego Bianchini
Document: 9-1
Age: 28
Combating out of: São Paulo, Brazil
Notable:
Andreeas Binder
Document: 10-2
Age: 28
Combating out of: Galway, Eire
Notable:
5 wins by knockout
Trains at SBG Charlestown — the identical fitness center as PFL fighter Leah McCourt
Former Degree Combat League light-weight champion
Has not fought since July 2023
Jeff Creighton
Document: 11-2-1
Age: 29
Combating out of: Poway, California
Notable:
Fought in LFA and Bellator
Trains at The Area MMA, the identical fitness center as former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche
Matt Dixon
Document: 11-1
Age: 29
Combating out of: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Notable:
Daniel Donchenko
Document: 11-2
Age: 23
Combating out of: Ukraine
Notable:
Trains at Tiger Muay Thai fitness center, the identical fitness center as UFC ladies’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and former UFC males’s bantamweight champion Petr Yan
Has seven wins by knockout
Richard Martins
Document: 9-1
Age: 23
Combating out of: Campinas, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Notable:
Alex Sanchez
Document: 15-3
Age: 31
Combating out of: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Notable:
Fought in LFA
Has not misplaced a battle since November 2020
Trains at Entram Gymnasium, the identical fitness center as UFC welterweight Michael Morales
Rodrigo Sezinando
Document: 8-1
Age: 28
Combating out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Notable:
Has received every of final 4 fights by knockout
Trains at Nova União, the identical fitness center as former UFC fighters Renan Barao and Matheus Nicolau
Flyweights
Idiris Alibi
Document: 10-0
Age: Unknown
Combating out of: Aktau, Kazakhstan
Notable:
Roybert Echeverria
Document: 10-2
Age: 29
Combating out of: Miami, Florida
Notable:
Eduardo Henrique
Document: 13-2
Age: 29
Combating out of: São Paulo, Brazil
Notable:
Tumelo Manyamala
Document: 6-1
Age: 26
Combating out of: Cape City, South Africa
Notable:
Arshiyan Memon
Document: 7-0
Age: 30
Combating out of: Maharashtra, India
Notable:
Joseph Morales
Document: 12-2
Age: 30
Combating out of: Sacramento, California
Notable:
Former A1 Fight flyweight champion
Had three fights within the UFC in 2017 and 2018
Trains at Group Alpha Male, a fitness center based by UFC Corridor of Famer Urijah Faber
Imanol Rodriguez
Document: 5-0
Age: 25
Combating out of: Mexico
Notable:
Has fought in Fury FC and Combate World
Has completed every of his opponents (4 knockouts, one submission)
None of his skilled fights has reached Spherical 3
Furkatbek Yokubov
Document: 14-4
Age: 30
Combating out of: Uzbekistan
Fought in Karate Fight and LFA
Fought UFC fighter Vinicius Oliveira in UAE Warriors in November 2020, misplaced by first-round knockout
Has knocked out every of his final three opponents
