Welcome, everybody, to the ninth version of The TUF Stuff!
Every week, I’ll be guiding you thru a recap of this season’s version of The Final Fighter, offering updates on what occurs in every episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the appears to be like into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down contained in the cage.
This season celebrates the twentieth anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to affect many future MMA followers, media members, and fighters (yours really included). And now, two extra fighters this summer season will get the chance to name themselves TUF champions when it’s all mentioned and accomplished.
Final week noticed the ultimate first-round matchup of the season, a highly-anticipated grudge match between Staff Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando and Staff Sonnen’s Diego Bianchini. Sezinando scored a powerful victory from a dominant second spherical to safe the ultimate welterweight semifinal spot.
Recap of The Final Fighter Season 33 – Episode 9
The semifinals start tonight with a flyweight conflict between Alibi Idiris of Staff Cormier and Roybert Echerverria of Staff Sonnen. One among these two will safe the primary spot within the TUF Finale fights, held in the course of the prelims for UFC 319 subsequent month!
Additionally, Cormier and Sonnen play pickleball tonight on this season’s Coaches’ Problem!
Let’s get into episode 9 of The Final Fighter!
Coaches Problem
$10,000 on the road for the coaches and $1,500 for the fighters as Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen play pickleball. And after a suggestion from Joseph Morales on Staff Sonnen to make it $20,000 for the coaches (in recognition for 20 years of TUF), White decides the fighters will earn $2,500 every.
It’s the best-of-3 match with the primary to 11 factors successful a recreation.
Recreation 1 is all about studying the principles, together with Cormier calling himself “The John McEnroe of Pickleball,” stepping into it with the refs as he commits foot fouls. Cormier wins the sport 11-6.
Recreation 2 sees Cormier commit foot foul after foot foul…however Sonnen simply doesn’t have it, even regardless of a late rally. Cormier wins once more 11-6, and he takes the match.
Alibi Idiris Battle Prep
Cormier feels Idiris is a favourite on Staff Cormier and that his fashion shall be excellent to beat Echerverria. Idiris says he respects Echerverria however feels he is aware of Echerverria’s fashion of massive blows. Idiris says he must create stress and strike extra, making use of his elbows, knees, and normal offensive manufacturing.
Cormier agrees that Idiris has to stress and can’t let Echerverria get comfy. Cormier provides reward for Idiris’ cardio.
Staff Sonnen Coaching Session
Colby Covington says he sees members of the crew not taking coaching severely, evaluating to the sprints he saws throughout Staff Cormier’s observe. Covington tries to fireplace up the blokes — “We’re not right here to decorate. We’re right here to win championships!” and to get them “comfy with the uncomfortable.”
Sonnen praises Covington’s management, particularly as he sees a newfound power from the crew the remainder of observe.
Roybert Echerverria Name Residence
Identical to earlier seasons, semifinalists are allowed to name dwelling.
Echerverria says he knew he wanted the telephone name however didn’t know the way a lot it did. “It gave me further energy, further every part.”
Echerverria admits that he appears like he’s going to return out of TUF a special particular person than he was getting into the season.
Alibi Idiris Telephone Name Residence (…Or does he?)
Idiris discusses his large household, who Idiris says he misses very a lot, however he has declined White’s provide to the TUF semifinalists.
“I don’t wish to be impacted by my feelings,” Idiris says. “I perceive that I must work tougher; they’re relying on my victory.”
Staff Sonnen Coaching Session – Julianna Pena Joins
Former UFC girls’s bantamweight champion, and winner of The Final Fighter season 18 — in addition to a TUF 30 coach — Julianna Pena, joins Staff Sonnen for a coaching session.
Pena says successful TUF and happening to win a UFC title modified her life. Pena says the blokes won’t ever get one other alternative to only concentrate on themselves as a fighter, so they need to benefit from it.
Matt Dixon describes Julianna Pena as a “lady of confidence.” Pena tells Echerverria he must focus and make this second, including that she desires one other Venezuelan TUF champion to go onto UFC success.
Roybert Echerverria Battle Prep
Sonnen says Echerverria has accomplished every part proper, with the right angle.
Echerverria says he’s going to stroll Idiris down and Idiris will attempt to shoot simply to neutralize him. Sonnen, who says he has a worry of Idiris, tells Echerverria to remain disciplined and stick along with his gameplan.
Sonnen says Echerverria’s keys to victory shall be his conditioning and his high-level grappling.
“He’s bought the psychological toughness, he’s bought a drive, and he’s bought a motive to combat,” Sonnen mentioned.
Echerverria says he’ll look to stress Idiris and make him gasoline out.
The Battle: Alibi Idiris vs. Roybert Echerverria
—–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———
Idiris weighs in at 125.5. Echerverria weighs in at 126. The combat is on!
Tumelo Manyamala says Idiris has the cardio and is “subsequent degree” as a fighter. He feels Idiris will be capable of stress Echerverria.
Joseph Morales says Echerverria is a well-rounded fighter with nice grappling, who will most likely stress and submit Idiris.
Alibi Idiris vs. Roybert Echerverria
Spherical 1
Low kick from Idiris. Spherical kick to the physique by Echerverria. Idiris with a proper hand. Idiris misses on a mixture, and Cormier tells him to settle. Cormier tells him to be affected person. Entrance kick by Echerverria is blocked. Echerverria with some stable side-stepping. Echerverria avoids the stress and lands a mixture. Spherical kick from Idiris. Idiris with a proper hand as Cormier tells him to maintain the stress.
Physique punch by Echerverria. Proper hand from Idiris. Idiris pressures Echerverria to the fence, however Echerverria lands a mixture. Idiris appears to be like for a takedown, however Echerverria will get away. It occurs a second time. Idiris misses a leaping punch assault. Spherical kick by Idiris. Idiris with some spinning assaults. Idiris with a proper hand once more.
Sturdy physique punch by Echerverria. Idiris goes for one more takedown, however Echerverria avoids it. Cormier tells him to stress once more and to make use of his kicks. Echerverria lands to the physique, and Sonnen tells him to proceed. Proper hand by Echerverria as Idiris begins pressuring once more. Physique kick by Idiris. Echerverria goes in, however Idiris prevents it. Idiris pressures Echerverria into the fence, and after some battle, he’s in a position to get Echerverria down.
Echerverria goes for a sudden triangle choke, however Idiris escapes it rapidly! Idiris lands a flying knee to Echerverria! A few follow-up photographs, and regardless of some protest from Echerverria, the combat ends within the closing seconds of the primary spherical!
Winner: Alibi Idiris through first-round TKO
Conclusion
Cormier says Echerverria is best than he thought, due to his robust strikes and takedown protection. Sonnen says Echerverria didn’t dwell as much as the gameplan, not altering elevation when Idiris got here after him. Cormier provides that Idiris used punches to finally safe the takedown.
White says that when Echerverria scrambled to his toes, he left himself open, permitting for the knee to land.
Idiris is so blissful and provides due to Echerverria. Idiris tells White that he’s the following flyweight star, and that his title shall be remembered. Echerverria’s coaches inform him he did every part nice; he simply bought unfortunate due to Idiris’ excellent timing.
Subsequent week’s welterweight semifinal will see Staff Cormier’s Jeff Creighton and Rodrigo Sezinando sq. off in a teammate battle.
Additionally subsequent week, Sonnen takes his crew out in Las Vegas to see Criss Angel.
What is going to occur subsequent week? Be a part of alongside us then!
Thanks for becoming a member of me for one more version of The TUF Stuff!