UFC Hall of Famers Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier will return to the gym for a highly-anticipated clash later in 2025.
Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier never got to fight in their Octagon careers. But years after both UFC legends hung up the gloves, they’ll square off in a competitive setting in Las Vegas.
Cormier, who entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022 alongside his longtime teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov, has transitioned well from fighter to analyst since announcing his retirement. He retired following a trilogy loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 252.
Sonnen, one of the UFC’s all-time great self-promoters, hung up the gloves after falling to former UFC champion Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222. His first fight with then-UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva entered the UFC Hall of Fame’s ‘Fight Wing’ last year.
Cormier and Sonnen will coach some of the top MMA prospects as they fight for UFC contracts. As announced during the UFC 311 broadcast, Cormier and Sonnen will serve as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 33 later this year.
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Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen return to the gym for The Ultimate Fighter 33
The coaching matchup between Cormier and Sonnen is TUF’s first clash between two retired fighters. TUF 32 featured coaches Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko before the two flyweights squared off at UFC 306 in September.
This is Cormier’s second stint as a TUF coach after battling opposite Miocic on Season 27, featuring tournament winners Brad Katona and Michael Trizano. Cormier was brought in as a guest coach during several other TUF seasons during his fighting career.
Sonnen returns as TUF coach for the third time after coaching opposite Jon Jones and Wanderlei Silva. He coached Kelvin Gastelum to a TUF tournament championship win as he defeated Uriah Hall in the season finale.
Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen return to coaching on TUF 33
Sonnen will corner again after serving as a surprise cornerman for Colby Covington in the former welterweight title challenger’s last fight against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa last month. Covington lost by doctor’s stoppage after suffering a nasty laceration during the fight.
Cormier and Sonnen will take their television rivalry from the ESPN desk to the mats. The two UFC legends are co-hosts of Good Guy/Bad Guy, a hit combat sports show on the network.
Additional info on TUF 33, including the full fighter roster for the upcoming season, is expected to be released in the coming weeks.