A flyweight fighter representing Team Daniel Cormier managed to advance in the latest installment of The Ultimate Fighter 33 tournament, overcoming a significant foul during his bout.
This week`s featured contest pitted Kazakhstan`s Alibi Idiris, an undefeated fighter from Team Cormier, against Uzbekistan`s Furkatbek Yokubov from Team Chael Sonnen. Idiris relied heavily on his grappling prowess to secure a decision victory.
Idiris` performance encountered some difficulties. Yokubov initially appeared to hold an advantage in the striking exchanges, landing effective body kicks and timing sharp counter punches. However, following a brief halt in the action after Yokubov accidentally delivered a low blow, Idiris successfully closed the distance and initiated his wrestling game to take the fight to the mat.
Despite receiving a warning from referee Jason Herzog for grabbing the fence, Idiris powered through to complete the takedown and began inflicting damage with ground-and-pound strikes. The fight continued into Round 2, which saw a rapid striking exchange during which Idiris unintentionally poked Yokubov in the eye. Referee Herzog acted decisively, deducting one point from Idiris.
Ultimately, the point deduction proved inconsequential to the final result. Idiris continued his wrestling dominance throughout the second round, ultimately winning the two-round bout by decision.
Team Cormier now boasts its second flyweight participant in the tournament semifinals, with Idiris joining fellow teammate Imanol Rodriguez. The current sole flyweight semi-finalist from Team Sonnen is Joseph Morales. Overall, Team Cormier has extended its series lead to 4-1, also seeing their welterweights, Daniil Donchenko and Jeff Creighton, advance to the next round.
This week`s episode included two notable special guests brought in by Coach Cormier to speak with his team: Brandon Moreno, a former contestant on TUF 24 and a two-time UFC flyweight champion, and Super Bowl winner Ryan Clark. Moreno shared insights into the value of the TUF journey, explaining how he lost his only fight on the show but used that experience to eventually become a UFC champion.
Clark, who is also Cormier`s fellow ESPN analyst, provided a motivational talk to Idiris and the yellow team before the fight commenced.
Looking ahead to next week, the focus shifts to the welterweight division, featuring a matchup between Alex Sanchez (Mexico) representing Team Cormier and Matt Dixon (USA) from Team Sonnen.
The Ultimate Fighter 33 is broadcast live every Tuesday evening at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN+.
In contrast to many previous seasons of TUF, the coaches, Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, will not compete against each other at the conclusion of the season, as both have long retired from professional fighting.
The finalists from the TUF 33 welterweight and flyweight tournaments will compete for a significant six-figure UFC contract during the show`s live finale events. A specific date for these final matches has yet to be announced.
The Ultimate Fighter 33 Rosters
Below is a breakdown of the TUF 33 competitors divided by team:
Team Cormier
Flyweights
Welterweights
Team Sonnen
Flyweights
Welterweights
Quarterfinal Results To Date
Here are the quarterfinal results reported thus 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
Advancing to Semifinals:
- Morales
- Donchenko
- Rodriguez
- Creighton
- Idiris
Eliminated:
- Henrique
- Martins
- Memon
- Binder
- Yokubov
