Daniel Cormier can now boast of having a duo of competitors in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 33.
That scenario was predetermined regardless of the outcome of the most recent episode, as this week’s showdown pitted two athletes from Team Cormier against each other: Rodrigo Sezinando (representing Brazil) and Jeff Creighton (representing the USA). After three rounds of intense combat, Sezinando leveraged a wrestling-centric approach to largely contain Creighton and secure a victory via split decision.
As a result of this triumph, Sezinando has secured his place as the inaugural welterweight finalist for TUF 33. He now awaits the victor of the forthcoming semifinal clash between his teammate Daniil Donchenko (representing Ukraine) and Matt Dixon (representing the USA) from Team Chael Sonnen.
Sezinando and Creighton exhibited considerable mutual respect in the days leading up to their fight, a sentiment that extended into the octagon, where they exchanged a brief embrace before engaging in combat. Although Sezinando initiated the exchanges with a powerful right hand, he promptly revealed his game plan by attempting a takedown. Creighton displayed resilient wrestling defense, yet the relentless Sezinando managed to ground him on multiple occasions.
On the canvas, Sezinando demonstrated assertiveness in his efforts to enhance his positioning, particularly in the initial rounds. He launched an arm-triangle choke attempt in the first round and gained mount position in the second, but Creighton’s defensive maneuvers largely prevented Sezinando from inflicting significant damage.
Creighton’s striking came to life in the third round, prompting Sezinando to shrewdly close the distance and eventually return the fight to the ground. The contest concluded with Creighton on his feet, unleashing a flurry of strikes, but his efforts proved insufficient, arriving too late in the bout.
In the upcoming episode, the final lineup will be determined as Imanol Rodriguez (representing Mexico) from Team Cormier faces off against Joseph Morales (representing the USA) from Team Sonnen, with the winner slated to compete against Alibi Idris (representing Kazakhstan) in the finale.
The Ultimate Fighter 33 is broadcast live every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Unlike most seasons of TUF, coaches Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will not engage in a fight at the conclusion of the season, as both individuals are retired from active competition.
The finalists from the TUF 33 welterweight and flyweight divisions will vie for a lucrative six-figure UFC contract during the show’s live finale matches. The exact date for these encounters remains to be announced.
Here are the TUF 33 team compositions:
Team 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 (11-2-1), USA
- Alex Sanchez (15-3), Mexico
Team 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), Ireland
Here are the semifinal outcomes and scheduled matchups:
Flyweight
Alibi Idris defeated Roybert Echeverria via TKO (strikes) in the first round.
Imanol Rodriguez versus Joseph Morales
Welterweight
Daniil Donchenko versus Matt Dixon
Rodrigo Sezinando defeated Jeff Creighton via split decision
Here are the results from the quarterfinal stage:
Joseph Morales defeated Eduardo Henrique via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round.
Daniil Donchenko defeated Richard Martins via decision
Imanol Rodriguez defeated Arshiyan Memon via TKO (strikes) in the first round.
Jeff Creighton defeated Andreeas Binder via decision
Alibi Idiris defeated Furkatbek Yokubov via decision
Matt Dixon defeated Alex Sanchez via TKO (strikes) in the first round.
Roybert Echeverria defeated Tumelo Manyamala via submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round.
Rodrigo Sezinando defeated Diego Bianchini via decision
