The Ultimate Fighter is one of the most popular UFC products of all time and they are preparing for Season 33 this coming May when Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier square off as the coaches.
The new season of The Ultimate Fighter debuts on May 27 and former UFC double champion, Daniel Cormier will face off against his friend and podcast co-host, Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen has coached on the reality TV series on two previous occasions, however this time, the renowned trash-talker will be against his friend in a light-hearted competition.
Chael Sonnen drafts in Colby Covington as TUF coach
Ahead of his third time as a coach on TUF, Sonnen has drafted the help of former UFC interim champion, Colby Covington.
‘Chaos’ Covington is one of the most controversial figures in the sport and following his last fight and loss against Joaquin Buckley, he has decided to take on a new challenge.
“The head coach will be Clayton Hires. Clayton Hires is my coach,” Sonnen began to reveal his coaching staff in an interview with MMAJunkie.
“He’s my mentor. He’s not my assistant, ever. He will be the boss. I will have on the Jersey: ‘Clayton’s Team.’ It will consist of me, it will consist of ‘Cowboy’ Steve. He’s going to do what generally Mike Dolce would do in terms of helping these guys with their weight, their nutrition, their strength and conditioning.
“I would never do an ‘Ultimate Fighter’ without bringing the greatest grappler, Vinny Magalhaes – the last man to beat Gordon Ryan I might add, and he beat Gordon easily.
“And Colby Covington – Colby is going to come in,” he continued.
Sonnen cornered Covington for his last fight against Buckley and moments before the doctor stopped the fight, Sonnen claimed that he was getting ready to throw in the towel.
Sonnen talks Covington’s impact as a coach
Although Covington doesn’t have any experience being a full-time coach, Sonnen believes he will add some much-needed experience to the group he has put together.
“Colby is such a wonderful mentor to people. This is what people don’t know about him. He does all of this on the side. He gives back, he goes to camps, he goes to college wrestling rooms, he goes to the training sessions, whatever it might be.
“He has mentored and coached many people. But Colby doesn’t want people knowing that he’s a nice guy, so I’m not going to ruin his gimmick. But he’s going to do a fantastic job,” Sonnen continued.
Covington continues to split the UFC fanbase with his controversial personality and it is unclear as of this moment where his career inside the cage will take him next.