Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen propose intriguing assistant coaches fight to conclude ‘TUF 33’

February 12, 2025 8:20 pm ET

LAS VEGAS – Aside from a few exceptions (Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler comes to mind), it’s long been tradition that opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter” fight each other at the end of their season.

With retired UFC Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen filling those roles on “TUF 33” this year, it’ll be another season of the show that doesn’t culminate with a coaches fight. But Cormier and Sonnen believe they’ve figured out an alternative that might intrigue fight fans.

“So Chael and I are talking, and we’re going, I have Michael Chiesa on my coaching staff. Chael has Colby Covington on his coaching staff. Why don’t they just fight and then Chael and I coach them?” Cormier told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s “TUF 33” media day before filming begins. “That’s about as close as we would both get to going back into the octagon. Why don’t those dudes just fight each other?”

It’s not a bad idea.

Covington and Chiesa have exchanged words with each other before. Last August, Chiesa expressed his desire to fight Covington to determine the UFC’s “best welterweight in the Pacific Northwest.” Covington grew up in Oregon; Chiesa in Washington.

Come to think of it, the idea seems almost too perfect.

“I can’t believe nobody is suggesting that,” Sonnen said. “That’s the obvious pick. I don’t think Colby and Chiesa are gonna get through this process without finding each other.”

Chiesa and Covington most recently competed this past December. At UFC 310, Chiesa, 37, submitted Max Griffin to win his second fight in a row. One week later, Covington, 36, was beaten up badly by Joaquin Buckley and lost the UFC on ESPN 63 main event by third-round injury TKO for his second consecutive defeat. Covington is 2-4 in his past six bouts dating back to December 2019.

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