Chael Sonnen is coaching `The Ultimate Fighter` for the third time. This new role comes alongside his position as commentator and analyst for Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle.
Unlike previous seasons where he coached against rivals such as Jon Jones and Wanderlei Silva, this latest season of `TUF` sees him pitted against his friend and co-host, Daniel Cormier.
Fans got their first look at the dynamic of the season in the debut episode. It showed Sonnen’s team, which includes Colby Covington as a coach, getting down to work.
They secured their initial victory when Joseph Morales achieved an upset win over Team Cormier’s Eduardo Henrique, providing a strong start for Sonnen`s side.
However, in this first episode, it was seemingly the pre-fight behavior of his fellow coach that elicited the strongest reaction from Sonnen.
Sonnen Unexpectedly Sees Cormier`s Competitive Side on `TUF`
In an exclusive interview, Chael Sonnen discussed whether he observed a different aspect of Daniel Cormier during their time on `The Ultimate Fighter`.
Sonnen stated, “Yes, and I must tell you, I respected it. I just wasn’t ready for it. I didn’t know that it existed when we got to those events, whether it was the way some of the stuff that they showed on camera, some of the stuff that didn’t make it past the edit, I was not ready for Daniel to behave like that.”
The two former competitors regularly co-host ESPN’s ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ show, often engaging in lighthearted banter. However, `TUF` has placed them in a highly competitive setting.
This shift was clear in the debut episode, where Cormier and his team chanted “uh vai morrer” to support their Brazilian teammate. This phrase translates to “you’re going to die”.
Following an intense weigh-in, Sonnen praised Joseph Morales for remaining unfazed by the pre-fight antics before he went on to secure the submission victory.
Sonnen remarked that while he respected his fellow coach adopting this approach to the show, he wished he had foreseen it so he could have responded in kind.
He explained, “You know, Daniel’s one of the boys. He’s still in the room. He’s still getting his workouts in. He’s got little Daniel he’s raising up. I mean, he’s going to be in in that rooms for another 20 years and generally speaking, when you’re one of the boys, you act like one of the boys.
“Then he got put in a coaching role, which is a more responsible realm. So whatever a sportsman I thought Daniel was, I thought he’d be more of a sportsman in this situation and that part did throw me off. I was not ready for him. I enjoyed it. I wish I would have known so that I could have fired back but if I’m being, it caught me off guard.”
What to Expect in Future `The Ultimate Fighter` Season 33 Episodes
The second episode is scheduled to air on June 3. It will feature Team Cormier’s #2 welterweight pick, Danil Donchenko, competing against Team Sonnen’s #3 pick, Richard Martins.
Martins, hailing from Brazil, has secured 4 consecutive victories in LFA and boasts 8 finishes among his 9 professional wins.
Donchenko, from Ukraine, holds a professional record of 11-2 at the age of just 23. Both fighters are known for their effective striking.
Based on previews of upcoming episodes, it appears that tensions between the two teams and some of the fighters are set to escalate throughout the season.
Furthermore, fans can look forward to guest appearances from several ‘TUF’ alumni, including Robert Whittaker and Rashad Evans, who will stop by to offer advice.
Jack Thornley