Dana White was blown away by the newest battle on The Final Fighter 33.
It wasn’t a technical masterpiece by any stretch of the creativeness, however UFC flyweight hopefuls Imanol Rodriguez (Mexico) and Arshiyan Memon (India) definitely entertained the onlookers at UFC APEX, together with White, their potential boss. Ultimately, it was Rodriguez who got here out on high with a blistering standing TKO win within the first spherical.
Group Daniel Cormier’s Rodriguez (5-0) and Group Chael Sonnen’s Memon (7-0) each entered this week’s battle with undefeated data, and their uncooked expertise and inexperience had been on full show. Rodriguez regularly landed his proper hand on a retreating Memon, who appeared caught off guard by Rodriguez’s aggression. A Rodriguez physique kick had Memon wincing and Rodriguez pounced for the end, however by some means Memon managed to outlive and recuperate.
Rodriguez didn’t let up. Memon was firing wild after which made the error of telegraphing a takedown, which Rodriguez stuffed earlier than taking Memon’s again. He flattened Memon out, forcing Memon to show over and quit full mount. Once more, Memon by some means slipped out of a disadvantageous place.
His luck quickly ran out, although. Inexplicably bursting with confidence, Memon dropped his arms and prompted Rodriguez to convey it on, which Rodriguez did with a number of proper arms to the face. Rodriguez battered Memon in opposition to the cage, throwing bombs till referee Mark Smith jumped in for the save.
Afterwards, White praised each rivals for the hassle, telling Memon “that’s among the finest fights I’ve seen in a minute.”
Cormier is now up 2-1 on opposing coach Sonnen, with Rodriguez becoming a member of welterweight teammate Daniil Donchenko within the winner’s circle.
Additionally on this episode, Sonnen introduced in one other former TUF standout as a visitor coach, TUF 20 winner and inaugural UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza.
In subsequent week’s welterweight matchup, Group Cormier’s Jeff Creighton (USA) fights Group Sonnen’s Andreeas Binder (Eire).
The Final Fighter 33 airs stay each Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
In contrast to most editions of TUF, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen won’t battle on the conclusion of the season as each are lengthy retired.
The finalists of the TUF 33 welterweight and flyweight tournaments will compete for a six-figure UFC contract within the present’s stay finale fights. A date for these bouts is but to be introduced.
Listed below are the TUF 33 rosters divided by workforce:
Group Cormier
Flyweights
- Eduardo Henrique (13-2), Brazil
- Alibi Idiris (10-0), Kazakhstan
- Imanol Rodriguez (5-0), Mexico
- Tumelo Manyamala (6-1), South Africa
Welterweights
- Rodrigo Sezinando (8-1), Brazil
- Daniil Donchenko (11-2), Ukraine
- Jeff Creighton (11-3-1), USA
- Alex Sanchez (15-3), Mexico
Group Sonnen
Flyweights
- Joseph Morales (12-2), USA
- Furkatbek Yokubov (13-4), Uzbekistan
- Roybert Echeverria (10-2), Venezuela
- Arshiyan Memon (7-0), India
Welterweights
- Diego Bianchini (9-1), Brazil
- Matt Dixon (11-1), USA
- Richard Martins (9-1), Brazil
- Andreeas Binder (10-1, 1 NC), Eire
Listed below are the quarterfinal outcomes thus far:
Joseph Morales def. Eduardo Henrique through first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Daniil Donchenko def. Richard Martins through choice
Imanol Rodriguez def. Arshiyan Memon through first-round TKO (strikes)
Advancing to semifinals: Morales, Donchenko, Rodriguez
Eradicated: Henrique, Martins, Memon
