Latest news with #TheUltimateFighter33
USA Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA
UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA Brad Tavares explains why there's still a place for TUF despite Contender Series' massive success. "The Ultimate Fighter" likely saved the UFC from bankruptcy and maybe even the entire sport of mixed martial arts. The success of the UFC's reality series, which launched in 2004 under Spike TV, has been evident through the years. From creating a generation of MMA fans to multiple UFC champions, TUF has been an important part of UFC history, especially in its early days when it was still fighting for public approval. Fast-forward 20 years and 32 seasons later, and "TUF" doesn't the same cache it did back in the day. With the success of Dana White's Contender Series in recent years, which has appeared to overshadow "TUF," many have questioned if the show has run its course. Brad Tavares, a cast-member of Season 11 of "TUF," thinks there's a place for both series and believes "TUF" can still serve an important purpose. "I think there's a lane for both of them," Tavares told MMA Junkie. "What I see in the Contender Series, granted they do make it younger up-and-coming fighters, but I do notice about those guys fighting that they have some experience. They might not have a bunch of fights, but they have that experience, and they might've had a couple of big fights in LFA or Tuff N Uff or whatever feeder shows they have. When I think of 'TUF,' I think of myself. I had four fights. I was 22 years old. I was a baby. I spent my life, a big portion of my life, in the UFC. My fighting career, I grew up in the UFC. I feel like that's better for those younger guys, like it's kind of stages. I'd say for the younger green guys, where you can see the talent there, but they still have to evolve and form into a more complete fighter, I think 'TUF' is great for them. With the guys that are already kind of past that, I think Contender Series." "The Ultimate Fighter 33" premiered Tuesday, celebrating 20 years of the show's history. Tavares, who is now on the tail end of his UFC career, is thankful for the show's existence. He strongly believes his appearance has significantly influenced his career for the better. "I've been in the UFC for 15 years now, and I literally wouldn't be here without 'TUF,'" Tavares said. "That was my foot in the door. I feel like I would've eventually gotten to the UFC. It was always a goal I was chasing. But to get in at such an early age, and to have that platform to show the nation who I was, just this kid from a little island in the Pacific Ocean, not a lot of people knew who I was. ... It paved the way for me and for so many fighters."
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'The Ultimate Fighter 33': Cormier vs. Sonnen, Episode 1: UFC alum vs. LFA champ ends quickly
'The Ultimate Fighter 33': Cormier vs. Sonnen, Episode 1: UFC alum vs. LFA champ ends quickly Twenty years after it initially premiered, "The Ultimate Fighter" is back for Season 33. "TUF 33" streamed its first episode Tuesday during which coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen evaluated talent, picked teams and faced off vicariously through their first head-to-head matchup. The season features two weight classes as eight welterweights and eight flyweights work their way through a bracket with the hope of punching a ticket to the final – and then earning a six-figure UFC deal. Here are the official teams for "TUF 33," selected by the coaches: Team Cormier Flyweights: Eduardo Henrique (1), Alibi Idiris (3), Imanol Rodriguez (5), Tumelo Manyamala (7) Welterweights: Rodrigo Sezinando (1), Daniil Donchenko (3), Jeff Creighton (5), Alex Sanchez (7) Team Sonnen Flyweights: Joseph Morales (2), Furkatbek Yokubov (4), Roybert Echeverria (6), Arshiyan Memon (8) Welterweights: Diego Bianchini (2), Matt Dixon (4), Richard Martins (6), Andreeas Binder (8) Fight 1: Eduardo Henrique (CS) vs. Joseph Morales (DC) The first fight of the season took place between the top two flyweight selections. Former UFC fighter and Team Alpha Male member Joseph Morales (12-2) said he was surprised Cormier took LFA flyweight champ Eduardo Henrique (13-2) – and he showed why. In less than half a round, Morales dragged Henrique to the canvas and tapped him out with a rear-naked choke. Morales was all sorts of fired up as he tauntingly screamed, "Uh vai morrer," at the downed Brazilian. "I feel like some of the weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I'm ready to move onto the next fight honestly," Morales said." Next week's matchup On Episode 2, the first two welterweights will square off as Team Cormier's Daniil Donchenko (11-2) battles Team Sonnen's Richard Martins (9-1). "TUF 33" airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET and can be watched on ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen defend Sean Strickland from 'crazy' backlash after UFC 312
LAS VEGAS – While many people in the MMA community trip over each other to get a negative word in about Sean Strickland following his title-fight loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312, two prominent voices in the space are going the other way. During their media session ahead of filming 'The Ultimate Fighter 33' reality series, UFC Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen came to the defense of Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) amid a ruthless stream of backlash from fans, fighters, analysts and more. 'People are kind of piling on this guy,' Cormier told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday. 'It's kind of crazy how much people are piling on, when, sure, he lost. But sometimes you get beat. You know what's crazy? I get it. Someone people can say, 'I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that.' Dude, sometimes it just doesn't f*cking work. Your intention is to go out there and die, then some guy kicks your butt to the point you're like, 'F*ck, man, I might actually have to die fighting this dude.' And you're like, 'I don't want to do that.' You have the right to pivot and turn.' Sonnen agreed with Cormier's line of thinking. He understands an annoyance that Strickland did not live of to his pre-fight promises in his one-sided unanimous decision defeat in which he was bloodied for the second half of the fight over a broken nose. 'Yeah, why (so much hate)? Did he do bad? I was proud of his effort,' Sonnen said. 'Having your nose broken, it hurts really bad. Breaking a finger or breaking a nose? Two small things, but I'll just tell you, the pain is really immense, and to watch Sean reset it and stay in that fight – the math was already against him with the nose broke. He was not going to win that fight. He did not have the power, he was not going to find the guy and the math was against him. So he can stay out there for another 12 minutes taking an ass-whooping because it was honorable, or he could quit. He chose to stay in there and take an ass-whooping.' Among those who have gone after Strickland for failing to take the belt back that he lost to Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January 2024, were former UFC champ Luke Rockhold, ESPN analyst Din Thomas, his own Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick, and plenty more. Sonnen doesn't think it needs to be that harsh, and said Du Plessis deserves some praise for his performance. 'These people keep saying didn't put out an effort, it's not what I saw,' Sonnen said. 'It was a fair adjudication, it turns out DDP is better. It turns out he's better at this game of the unified rules than Sean was, and he walked away. That's how it works. You shake hands, you walk away.'
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'TUF 33' rosters revealed for Daniel Cormier vs. Chael Sonnen season
Eight flyweights and eight welterweights will compete on 'The Ultimate Fighter 33' with the same goal in mind: to join the UFC roster. Wednesday, the promotion revealed the names of the 16 fighters who will compete on the season, which is coached by Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen. The cast has an international flair with 10 countries represented. 'TUF 33' filming is currently underway with a season premiere date set for May 27 on ESPN2, ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. From LFA titleholders to UFC vets seeking a second chance to DWCS alumni, the cast features a handful of names notable to weekly followers of UFC programming. Scroll below to check out the full list of names.
