All you need to know about the newest season of 'The Ultimate Fighter'
"The Ultimate Fighter" returns for its 33rd season this month, but with a unique twist. Instead of featuring active fighters coaching up UFC hopefuls, this season the coaches will be UFC Hall of Famers-turned-analysts, as former double champion Daniel Cormier will lead a team opposite former two-division title challenger Chael Sonnen.
TUF has been a major pipeline for UFC talent over the years, providing the promotion with a handful of champions and even more MMA stars. Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, TJ Dillashaw and Rose Namajunas have all won champions after appearing on the show.
In most of the previous seasons, the show has allowed fans to see what fighters must go through for the chance to earn a spot on the UFC roster, while also allowing them to see the tension build between the coaches ahead of a future matchup between them. With two coaches who have long been retired, that likely won't be the case this season.
This season's TUF competition, which will begin airing May 27 on ESPN2 and ESPN+, is at welterweight and men's flyweight. Results of this season can be found at the bottom of this story.
How to watch 'The Ultimate Fighter' on ESPN2/ESPN+Season 33 of "The Ultimate Fighter" debuts Tuesday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN 2 and ESPN+ and continues weekly. Rewatch episodes after they air and watch past seasons anytime on ESPN+.
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The coachesChael SonnenRecord: 30-18-1 Age: 48 From: Clackamas County, Oregon Notable:
Daniel CormierRecord: 22-3-0, 1 NC Age: 46 From: Lafayette, Louisiana Notable:
The fightersWelterweightsDiego BianchiniRecord: 9-1 Age: 28 Fighting out of: São Paulo, Brazil Notable:
Andreeas BinderRecord: 10-2 Age: 28 Fighting out of: Galway, Ireland Notable:
Five wins by knockout
Trains at SBG Charlestown -- the same gym as PFL fighter Leah McCourt
Former Level Fight League lightweight champion
Has not fought since July 2023
Record: 11-2-1 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Poway, California Notable:
Fought in LFA and Bellator
Trains at The Arena MMA, the same gym as former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche
Record: 11-1 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Tulsa, Oklahoma Notable:
Fought on "Dana White's Contender Series" in 2020
Has seven wins by knockout
Record: 11-2 Age: 23 Fighting out of: Ukraine Notable:
Trains at Tiger Muay Thai gym, the same gym as UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and former UFC men's bantamweight champion Petr Yan
Has seven wins by knockout
Record: 9-1 Age: 26 Fighting out of: Campinas, Sao Paolo, Brazil Notable:
Previously fought in LFA
Has finished seven of his last eight opponents
Record: 15-3 Age: 31 Fighting out of: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Notable:
Fought in LFA
Has not lost a fight since November 2020
Trains at Entram Gym, the same gym as UFC welterweight Michael Morales
Record: 8-1 Age: 28 Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Notable:
Has won each of last four fights by knockout
Trains at Nova União, the same gym as former UFC fighters Renan Barao and Matheus Nicolau
Record: 10-0 Age: Unknown Fighting out of: Aktau, Kazakhstan Notable:
Has four wins by knockout and four wins by decision
Trains at the same gym as former UFC fighter Sergey Morozov
Record: 10-2 Age: 29 Fighting out of: Miami, Florida Notable:
Eduardo HenriqueRecord: 13-2 Age: 29 Fighting out of: São Paulo, Brazil Notable:
Has fought in LFA since July 2022
Has six wins by knockout
Record: 6-1 Age: 26 Fighting out of: Cape Town, South Africa Notable:
Has finished his opponent in each of his six victories
Lone loss came via split decision
Record: 7-0 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Maharashtra, India Notable:
Has never had a professional fight reach the final bell
Knocked out each of his last four opponents
Record: 12-2 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Sacramento, California Notable:
Former A1 Combat flyweight champion
Had three fights in the UFC in 2017 and 2018
Trains at Team Alpha Male, a gym founded by UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber
Record: 5-0 Age: 25 Fighting out of: Mexico Notable:
Has fought in Fury FC and Combate Global
Has finished each of his opponents (four knockouts, one submission)
None of his professional fights has reached Round 3
Record: 14-4 Age: 30 Fighting out of: Uzbekistan
Fought in Karate Combat and LFA
Fought UFC fighter Vinicius Oliveira in UAE Warriors in November 2020, lost by first-round knockout
Has knocked out each of his last three opponents
Episode 1: Henrique vs. Morales The coaches evaluate the Season 33 talent and choose their respective teams. No. 1 picks Eduardo Henrique and Joseph Morales face off in the first flyweights fight of the season. Find out who wins on ESPN+.
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