The Ultimate Fighter: Team Cormier vs. Team Sonnen

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Cormier vs. Team Sonnen
Starring	Dana White
Hosted by	Dana White
Coaches	Dana White Daniel Cormier Chael Sonnen
Location	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
No. of episodes	12
Release
Original network	ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Original release	May 27, 2025 (2025-05-27)
Additional information
Filming dates	November 2024 (2024-11)
Season chronology
← Previous The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Cormier vs. Team Sonnen (also known as The Ultimate Fighter 33 and TUF 33) is a 2025 installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. This season will mark the 20th anniversary of Ultimate Fighter. This season will feature male flyweights and welterweights. The casting call for the season started from November 4, 2024, to December 13, 2024, and the show will air every Tuesday from May 27, 2025. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Former UFC Heavyweight and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier and former UFC Light Heavyweight and UFC Middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen are expected to serve as coaches for the season. ^[6]

Cast

Coaches

Team Cormier: [7] Daniel Cormier, Head Coach Tiago Beowulf Rosendo Sanchez Bob Cook John Wood Michael Chiesa Julius Creed

Team Sonnen: [8] Chael Sonnen, Head Coach Clayton Hires Stephen Smith Jamie Huey Colby Covington Mason Fowler [9]

Fighters

• Team Cormier
  • Flyweights: Alibi Idiris, Eduardo Henrique, Imanol Rodriguez, and Tumelo Manyamala.
  • Welterweights: Alex Sanchez, Daniil Donchenko, Jeff Creighton, and Rodrigo Sezinando.
• Team Sonnen
  • Flyweights: Roybert Echerverria, Furkatbek Yokubov, Arshiyan Memon, and Joseph Morales.
  • Welterweights: Matt Dixon, Richard Martins, Diego Bianchini, and Andreeas Binder.

Coach	1st Pick	2nd Pick	3rd Pick	4th Pick	5th Pick	6th Pick	7th Pick	8th Pick
Cormier	Eduardo Henrique (FLW)	Rodrigo Sezinando (WW)	Alibi Idiris (FLW)	Daniil Donchenko (WW)	Imanol Rodriguez (FLW)	Jeff Creighton (WW)	Tumelo Manyamala (FLW)	Alex Sanchez (WW)
Sonnen	Joseph Morales (FLW)	Diego Bianchini (WW)	Furkatbek Yokubov (FLW)	Matt Dixon (WW)	Roybert Echerverria (FLW)	Richard Martins (WW)	Arshiyan Memon (FLW)	Andreeas Binder (WW)

Tournament bracket

Welterweight bracket

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Jefferson Creighton	UD
	Andreeas Binder	2
					Jefferson Creighton	3
					Rodrigo Sezinando	SD
	Rodrigo Sezinando	UD
	Diego Bianchini	2
									Daniil Donchenko	TKO
									Rodrigo Sezinando	1
	Daniil Donchenko	UD
	Richard Martins	2
					Daniil Donchenko	TKO
					Matt Dixon	1
	Alejandro Sanchez	1
	Matt Dixon	TKO

Flyweight bracket

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Eduardo Henrique	1
	Joseph Morales	SUB
					Joseph Morales	SD
					Imanol Rodriguez	3
	Imanol Rodriguez	TKO
	Arshiyan Memon	1
									Joseph Morales	SUB
									Alibi Idiris	2
	Alibi Idiris	UD
	Furkatbek Yokubov	2
					Alibi Idiris	TKO
					Roybert Echeverria	1
	Tumelo Manyamala	2
	Roybert Echeverria	SUB

		Team Cormier
		Team Sonnen
UD		Unanimous Decision
MD		Majority Decision
SD		Split Decision
SUB		Submission
(T)KO		(Technical) Knock Out

See also

• The Ultimate Fighter
• List of UFC events
• 2025 in UFC
• List of current UFC fighters

References

1. Lee, Alexander K. (2024-11-01). "The Ultimate Fighter 33 announced featuring welterweights and flyweights". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
2. Holland, Jesse (2024-11-01). "How to become a UFC fighter: TUF 33 open casting call, weight classes and application details". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
3. Anderson, Jay (2024-11-01). "The Ultimate Fighter 33 Announced, Casting Starts Nov. 4". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
4. Timothy, Wheaton (2024-11-02). "Want To Be A UFC Fighter? TUF 33 Opens Casting For Flyweights And Welterweights". www.lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
5. Simon Head (2025-01-31). "UFC News: Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen To Coach 'The Ultimate Fighter'". newsweek.com. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
6. Jay Anderson (2025-01-18). "Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen Announced as The Ultimate Fighter 33 Coaches". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
7. Damon Martin (February 11, 2025). Daniel Cormier brings in current WWE superstar to join coaching staff for TUF 33. mmafighting.com.
8. MMA Junkie (January 31, 2025). Chael Sonnen Rips Daniel Cormier Before 'TUF 33,' Talks Islam Makhachev, Bryce Mitchell, GFL Offer – via YouTube.
9. Williams, Jackson. "Chael Sonnen Brings In Mason Fowler As Coach For The Ultimate Fighter 33". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 7 March 2025.