The flyweight semifinals wrapped up on the penultimate episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Cormier vs. Team Sonnen.
Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez was paired up with Team Sonnen’s top pick Joseph Morales to see who will face Team Cormier’s Alibi Idiris in the 125-pound tournament finale.
Rodriguez earned his spot in the semifinals with a technical knockout win over Team Sonnen’s Arshiyan Memon, while Morales defeated Team Cormier’s top pick Eduardo Chapolin with a first-round rear-naked choke in the opening bout of the tournament.
Mexico’s Rodriguez, 25, with a 5-0 pro record, had some choice words for Morales when the fighters had a stare down during the semifinal matchup announcement.
Morales, 30, was the only UFC veteran among the cast and looking to earn his way back into the organization after being released in 2018 following a 1-2 stint that included a loss to eventual two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
Spoilers below for TUF 33, Episode 11:
There wasn’t much preamble. Both fighters successfully made weight and prepared for what was expected to be a closely contested matchup.
The pair began by boxing early, but Morales, just like he did in the quarterfinals, was able to get an early takedown, take his opponent’s back and quickly lock in a body triangle to trap Rodriguez. After several minutes of control, Rodriguez was able to spin into Morales’s guard before standing up and they finished the round trading punches.
Rodriguez showed off his hand speed early in Round 2 and was able to defend a takedown attempt, but slowed his pace as the round went on. Morales found his footing in the back half of the round and timed a takedown, but this time he couldn’t secure back control, however, he did begin landing stiff punches towards the end.
Rodriguez’s corner implored him to be aggressive in the final round and suggested it’s possible he’d need a finish to win the fight. The younger fighter switched up his strategy in Round 3 and he took Morales down and took the back. He worked for a choke but Morales defended until the final horn.
With Round 1 going to Morales and Round 3 a clear Rodriguez round, the bout came down to who the judges thought won Round 2. Morales escaped with a split decision victory, with two judges giving him the second round and the other judge scoring the fight for Rodriguez.
Morales will now face Idiris in the finale at a yet-to-be-announced date.
Next up, the season finale will feature the welterweight semifinals, concluding when Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko faces Team Sonnen’s Matt Dixon, with the winner moving on to meet Rodrigo Sezinando in the 170-pound tournament championship bout.
