TUF 33 rosters revealed for Daniel Cormier vs. Chael Sonnen season

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 10-0
Age: 30
Country: Kazakhstan

Alibi Idiris has only trained MMA full-time for five years, but that’s all he’s needed to compile a perfect 10-0 record. All of his professional appearances have come under the Naiza FC banner with four knockouts, one submission, and five decisions. Idiris is a three-time pankration champion in Kazakhstan.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 7-0
Age: 29
Country: India

The UFC has only had three India-born fighters in its history, but Arshiyan Memon looks to be the fourth. Undefeated on the Indian regional circuit, Memon looks to go international with his “TUF 33” appearance and build on a resume that includes five knockouts and two submissions.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 13-2
Age: 29
Country: United States

Any LFA flyweight championship unification bout will have to wait. The promotion’s interim titleholder, Eduardo Chapolin, is headed to “TUF 33” with more momentum than ever. He won the interim strap with a TKO of Cody Davis, then defended it with an 86-second knockout of Igor Siqueira. Chapolin aims to add another prospect or two to his hit list on the UFC’s long-running reality series.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 15-4
Age: 30
Country: Uzbekistan

A well-seasoned combat sports veteran with boxing and Karate Combat experience to his name, Furkatbek Yokubov aims to reach the highest levels of MMA notoriety. He enters “TUF 33” on a four-fight winning streak, including a wheel kick knockout in his LFA debut in his most recent outing. In 19 pro MMA bouts, Yokubov has only gone the distance three times.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 5-0
Age: 25
Country: Mexico

Imanol Rodriguez packs a mean punch and he hopes to prove it on “TUF 33.” All five of his pro wins have been by knockout, including back-to-back first-round finishes under the Fury FC banner in his most recent two outings. Rodriguez is a teammate of UFC stars Alexa Grasso and Diego Lopes, a black belt in judo, and a two-time Pan-American sambo champion.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 12-2
Age: 30
Country: United States

The lone cast member with UFC experience, Joseph Morales looks to earn a rare second UFC stint. A member of Team Alpha Male, Morales went 1-2 in the promotion from August 2017 to November 2018. As the UFC began to purge the flyweight division with the intention of potentially nixing the division all together, Morales was released. Since then, he’s only competed three times – but has gone 3-0 including a Urijah Faber’s A1 combat title win.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 10-2
Age: 29
Country: Venezuela

Training at The Goat Shed under coach Asim Zaidi, Roybert Echeverria looks to make the most of his second UFC glance. In 2022, he competed on Dana White’s Contender Series and was knocked out by Jafel Filho. Since then, he’s gone 3-1 with wins over Pololu Nakanelua, Eimar Hernandez, and most recently Cody Linne, against whom he earned Anthony Pettis FC gold.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 6-1
Age: 26
Country: South Africa

Born in a strict Christian family, Tumelo Manyamala was a self-proclaimed “black sheep” growing up as he was always getting into trouble – and fights. Eventually, he concentrated those abilities in a positive way, as he embarked on the pursuit of MMA greatness. Outside of a split decision loss to Mark Climaco in UAE Warriors, Manyamala has largely dominated his competitive career, mainly for South African-based promotion EFC. He has a 100 percent finishing rate in wins, including five knockouts and one submission.

Weight class: 15-3
Record: Welterweight
Age: 31
Country: Mexico

A member of the UFC Performance Institute Mexico City’s inaugural athlete class, Alex Sanchez has been around the block a time or two as he patiently awaited some sort of UFC opportunity. He rides a seven-fight winning streak into “TUF 33,” including a Combate Global tournament win and a Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat lightweight title victory.

Weight class: Flyweight
Record: 10-2
Age: 28
Country: Ireland/Romania

Fighting out of SBG Charlestown, the Romania-born Andreeas Binder brings judo prowess into the cage with each fight. A resident of Ireland since age seven, Idiris was bullied for his weight and not speaking English. Combat sports helped build confidence. Now 12 fights into his pro career, Binder rides a five-fight winning streak, including a Levels Fight League championship victory into his “TUF 33” mission.

Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 11-2
Age: 23
Country: Ukraine

Daniil Donchenko trains out of Tiger Muay Thai Gym and is the current Naiza FC lightweight champion. While he’s found success recently, Donchenko’s beginnings were rooted in adversity. At 18, he moved to Thailand with $900 to his name – and took the chance on a dream. As a pro, he has nine finishes and currently rides a three-fight winning streak.

Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 9-1
Age: 28
Country: Brazil

The next member of The Fighting Nerds, Diego Bianchini, hopes to continue his team’s success. Nicknamed “The Brazilian Bad Boy,” Bianchini thrives in the trash talk and drama – but he walks the walk, too. Outside of a split decision loss in 2023, Bianchini has passed every test in his way. In March, he pulled off a slick armbar at LFA 178. It was the sixth submission of his career.

Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 11-2-1
Age: 29
Country: United States

The Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat and Melee Combat Championships welterweight champion, Jeff Creighton has carved out a nice spot for himself atop the regional rankings. A strong grappler, Creighton initially made himself known on the international stage when he pulled of a massive upset as an intended B-side fighter against Bellator blue chip wrestling prospect Joey Davis. Creighton defeated Davis by split decision. The victory was the second in a current six-fight winning streak.

Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 9-1
Age: 26
Country: Brazil

A marital artist since nine, Richard Martins has the experience of 30 muay Thai bouts in addition to his 10 pro MMA bouts. Eight of his nine wins have come inside the distance, including seven knockouts and one submission. His most recent four outings have come for LFA, where he’s defeated opponents with 6-0, 6-1, 9-2, and 7-1 records in succession.

Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 8-1
Age: 27
Country: Brazil

A Brazilian dominating in the Great White North? Yep, that’s Rodrigo Sezinando for you. After a 4-1 stint on the Brazilian pro circuit, Sezinando headed to Canada. He’s since 4-0 with four finishes, including title wins for BFL and Samourai MMA. An exciting fighter through and through, Sezinando could rack up some highlight reel finishes as a “TUF 33” cast member.

Weight class: Welterweight
Record: 11-1
Age: 29
Country: United States

Matt Dixon’s journey through MMA has had its ups and downs. Once touted as arguably the best North American prospect, Dixon had a chance to prove it during a Dana White’s Contender Series opportunity in 2020. However, he came up short and was finished by Orion Cosce. Following a three-year absence thereafter, Dixon returned in April 2023 and has since gone 2-0 in MMA and 1-0 in kickboxing with TKO finishes in all three fights.