Episode 3 Recap | The Ultimate Fighter Season 33

TRAINING SESSION | TEAM SONNEN

Colby Covington talks with Bianchini about competing in Brazil, how much he enjoyed it. Bianchini says he used to train with Demian Maia, who Covington dominated in Sao Paulo. “Chaos” says he likes to thank Maia and the Brazilian fans because without that fight, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

TUF EPISODE RECAPS: Episode 1 | Episode 2

Covington tells Bianchini that “people want to be entertained,” encouraging him to “talk a little smack” and to give people a show “inside and outside of the cage.” The Brazilian welterweight is receptive and acknowledges that Covington has done well for himself, and that there is a lot he could learn from the former interim champion.

TUF HOUSE

Bianchini strolls around the house wearing Fighting Nerds glasses, chirping to no one in particular. Donchenko says in an interstitial that it’s clear Bianchini is trying to showcase a persona, but he doesn’t care “because this guy is not the dangerous guy in this house.”

Bianchini says he trains with the Fighting Nerds, and the friendly environment is over; “now it’s war time.” Sezinando laughs at Bianchini dismissively, adding little squirts of fuel to the simmering tensions between the compatriots.

Jeff Creighton acknowledges in an interstitial that they don’t like each other, but that he finds them arguing with one another — in English — is endlessly amusing to him.

TRAINING SESSION | TEAM CORMIER

Alex Sanchez arrives for practice wearing a luchador mask, explaining in an interstitial that you grow up with wrestling in Mexico, and it serves as the starting point for believing in the fighting spirit for many youngsters.

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Cormier explains what the team is doing for their training session, putting everyone through a fight simulation circuit built around the Airdyne bike and activities like battle ropes, push-ups, sit-ups, swing knees, etc. that make you feel like you’ve been through the rigors of a fight. It’s a really cool insight into his prep and the way you think about a fight — bursts and beats, rather than constantly pushing — and everyone on the team seems to recognize how valuable it was.

Cormier laughs about Michael Chiesa and Jacob Casper — WWE wrestler Julius Creed — being forehead-to-forehead with the guys on the bikes, cheering them on and pushing them through the grueling workout.

TRAINING SESSION | TEAM SONNEN

Sonnen introduces former two-time strawweight champion — and TUF 20 winner — Carla Esparza as the team’s latest guest coach.

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Dana White leads a quick retrospective of Esparza’s season on The Ultimate Fighter, where she was the top pick of Anthony Pettis, and the No. 1 seed in the 16-person tournament to crown the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion. She defeated Angela Hill, Tecia Torres, and Jessica Penne to arrive at the finale, where she submitted Rose Namajunas to claim the title.

She expresses how much the competitors need to leave everything in the Octagon, but also in training, before putting them through a training session, where she focuses on wrestling entries and finishing takedowns. The now-retired competitor says she’s happy with the totality of her career as she looks back, and is appreciative of her time on TUF.

TUF HOUSE

Rodriguez looks at pictures of himself as child and begins tearing up, saying in an interstitial that he’s “not going to let any of this time go to waste,” as he never thought he would make it this far in life. He tells the picture of himself, “You’ll be proud of me” before his home video from Ensenada Baja California, Mexico rolls.

The 25-year-old calls his hometown paradise and a place to rest, while he’s shown running through the hills, and visiting with his dad’s side of the family, including his paternal grandfather. He visits the family taqueria, and then explains he started with judo as a child before finding his way to MMA.

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He trains with the Blackxicans MMA & Jiu Jitsu team and does his training camps at Brazilian Warriors in Puebla, Mexico, with recent featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes.

TUF HOUSE

Hanging out in the backyard, Memon tries to pronounce and remember Tumelo Manyamala’s name, missing the pronunciation a little each time. He goes around everyone else sitting outside, saying how their names are easy, calling Morales “Joshua” initially before the flyweight semifinalist corrects him.

In an interstitial, Memon says that everyone calls him “the funniest fighter” and that they love spending time with him, as a clip of him making everyone laugh about different little interactions they had runs.

ARSHIYAN MEMON FIGHT PREP

The Team Sonnen fighter enters the gym and explains in a voiceover that he has 60-70 kickboxing bouts under this belt, which is where he developed his strong striking. Highlights from his fights roll as he explains that he added grappling to his repertoire from there.

His win over Govind Singh at Matrix Fight Night 15 is shown, with Memon explaining that he’s 7-0 for his career.

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He speaks with Sonnen about the strategy, with Sonnen suggesting that if Memon gets taken down, he needs to work back up straight away, but could do well to work from top position if he can get the fight there, as they don’t see Rodriguez as a threat off his back. The plan seems to be to clinch and slow him down, neutralizing his striking.

Memon goes through a mitt session with coach Jamie Huey, with Sonnen suggesting that he’s someone that just needs to hear positive reinforcement and encouragement, which seems like something he’s been missing. They want Memon to throw punches in bunches if and when he mixes it up with Rodriguez.

The Indian flyweight calls it, rightfully, the biggest fight of his life. Sonnen says Memon’s physical strength is his biggest strength, forecasting it will help him get the victory in this fight.

TUF HOUSE

Sitting in their bedroom, Memon invites Morales to Mumbai, noting that if he comes, they will walk around with empty pockets, prompting Morales to admit he might not want to go. The 29-year-old flyweight introduces himself in an interstitial and his home video begins in the crowded and difficult streets of Mumbai.

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Memon lives in a small area of Mumbai, where he helps his father in his grocery shop. He’s shown training and explains he’s became a national kickboxing champion before transitioning to MMA. Now he has his own academy with 60-70 students, who are inspired by him while inspiring him all the same.

Memon praises at the mosque, speaking about his faith before more training footage is shown.

“Inshah’Allah I will make all the Indians proud and show the world what Indian MMA can do.”

IMANOL RODRIGUEZ FIGHT PREP

Cormier speaks to Rodriguez about how to approach the fight, with coach Rosendo Sanchez translating. They believe Rodriguez is the superior fighter, and talk through ways for him to have success, especially right away.

The former two-division champion calls his charge a “psychopath” with a complete skill set. “We know where Arshiyan can be hurt, and it’s to the body — he’s big,” he says, adding that he’s excited to see Rodriguez compete.

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The Mexican flyweight’s highlight reel runs, with Rodriguez explaining that he’s 5-0 with four knockouts and one submission, as a string of his finishes are shown before he’s back in the gym working with Sanchez. He calls his approach to this fight with Memon “easy,” saying he’ll be scoring points, closing the distance, and looking to hurt him to the body, quoting the great Julio Cesar Chavez: “When you hit the body, the head falls on its own.”

FLYWEIGHT WEIGH-INS

Rodriguez is up first on the scale, making 125 pounds even. Memon follows, coming in at 126 pounds, making the fight official.

White says he’s really looking forward to the fight, eager to see how things shake out between the undefeated flyweights.

FIGHT DAY

Memon and Rodriguez arrive at the UFC APEX, load into their dressing room, and get ready to go to battle. Both express the confidence they have heading into the contest and how much this bout means to them.

They get wrapped, get loose, and now it’s time to throw down.

Arshiyan Memon vs Imanol Rodriguez

Imanol Rodriguez is through to the semifinals after a frantic first-round stoppage win over Arshiyan Memon.

The 25-year-old Mexican was the quicker of the two from the outset, landing big shots early before hurting Memon with a thudding body shot. Rodriguez took him down and searched for a finish, but couldn't find it, only to batter Memon with a series of punishing blows as the Indian competitor engaged with his hands down.

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White told Rodriguez it was one of the most entertaining fights in some time, while Sonnen expressed his concerns about Memon keeping his chin in the air as they exchanged, anxious that one of those shots would eventually find a home.

Cormier talks about Rodriguez struggling early to get inside and land the body shots, but he then hurt Memon with a kick to the midsection. Sonnen praises his charge’s willingness to choose to stay in the fight despite being given a couple different chances to take an exit, with Cormier seconding that opinion.

Ultimately, the Team Cormier fighter was just too much.