The latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter 33 delivered an action-packed fight that left UFC President Dana White highly impressed.
While it may not have been a display of refined technical skill, flyweight hopefuls Imanol Rodriguez from Mexico and Arshiyan Memon representing India certainly brought excitement to the UFC APEX, captivating viewers and potential boss White alike. Ultimately, it was Rodriguez who emerged victorious, securing a powerful standing TKO win in the opening round.
Episode 3 Featured Bout: Rodriguez vs. Memon
Both Team Daniel Cormier`s Rodriguez (5-0) and Team Chael Sonnen`s Memon (7-0) came into this week`s fight with unblemished professional records, and their youthful aggression and relative inexperience were clearly on display. Rodriguez consistently found a home for his right hand against a retreating Memon, who seemed taken aback by Rodriguez`s forward pressure. A body kick from Rodriguez caused Memon to wince, and Rodriguez immediately swarmed looking for the finish. Remarkably, Memon managed to survive the initial onslaught and recover.
Rodriguez didn`t let up his attack. Memon threw some wild strikes before making the critical error of clearly signaling a takedown attempt. Rodriguez easily stuffed the shot, transitioning to take Memon`s back. He then flattened Memon out, forcing him to turn and give up full mount. Yet again, Memon somehow managed to escape the dangerous position.
However, Memon`s luck didn`t last much longer. Appearing inexplicably confident, Memon dropped his hands and openly dared Rodriguez to attack. Rodriguez obliged, landing several clean right hands to the face. He continued to batter Memon against the cage with heavy shots until referee Mark Smith stepped in to halt the contest.
Following the bout, Dana White commended both competitors for their effort. He specifically told Memon, “that’s one of the best fights I’ve seen in a minute.”
Team Standings and Other Highlights
With Rodriguez`s victory, Coach Daniel Cormier`s team now holds a 2-1 lead over Coach Chael Sonnen`s squad. Rodriguez joins welterweight teammate Daniil Donchenko, who also secured a win earlier in the season.
In other segments of the episode, Sonnen brought in a notable former *TUF* participant as a guest coach: *The Ultimate Fighter 20* winner and first-ever UFC strawweight champion, Carla Esparza.
The preview for the upcoming episode teased the next welterweight matchup, featuring Jeff Creighton (USA) from Team Cormier taking on Andreeas Binder (Ireland) of Team Sonnen.
Show Information
The Ultimate Fighter 33 airs live every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
In a departure from many past seasons, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will not face each other in a fight at the conclusion of the season, as both legendary competitors are long retired from active competition.
The winners of the *TUF 33* welterweight and flyweight tournaments will earn a coveted six-figure UFC contract in the show`s live finale fights. The exact date for these final bouts has not yet been announced.
Current TUF 33 Rosters by Team
Team Cormier
Flyweights
[Team Cormier Flyweights listed here]
Welterweights
[Team Cormier Welterweights listed here]
Team Sonnen
Flyweights
[Team Sonnen Flyweights listed here]
Welterweights
[Team Sonnen Welterweights listed here]
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)
Advancing to semifinals: Joseph Morales, Daniil Donchenko, Imanol Rodriguez
Eliminated: Eduardo Henrique, Richard Martins, Arshiyan Memon
