Daniel Cormier couldn’t hide his frustrations after watching his fighter get eliminated from the tournament.
Season 33 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ has produced some great contests as Daniel Cormier goes up against his ESPN co-host, Chael Sonnen.
Following his second time as a coach on the series, Cormier has recently revealed plans to explore this role further by starting his own team.
However, the season thus far hasn’t been one-way traffic for either team following some competitive matchups inside the UFC Apex.
Sonnen admitted that he saw a different side to Cormier during their time on the show and the competitiveness of the former UFC champ-champ certainly came out in the latest instalment.
Daniel Cormier scolds his fighter following a comeback victory for Chael Sonnen’s team
Episode 7 of the 33rd season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ saw the final opening round matchup in the flyweight division.
Chael Sonnen’s team may have been several wins down but they’ve started to close the gap on Daniel Cormier’s lead following back-to-back victories.
On July 8, Team Sonnen’s Roybert Echeverria submitted Team Cormier’s Tumelo Manyamala in the second round to advance to the semi-finals.
Manyamala started the fight well and took the opening round with his striking controlling the action through the first period.
In the second, Echeverria listened to his coaches and came out more aggressive before successfully implementing the game plan and securing a takedown on his third attempt.
Echeverria was able to produce the comeback victory by locking in a rear-naked choke which left Cormier visibly frustrated by his fighter’s approach to the second round.
“That’s trash, dude,” Cormier said from the corner in the immediate aftermath. “That’s so… That was an easy fight. That was an easy fight. That’s f—— trash.”
‘DC’ went on to echo a similar sentiment when speaking to his fighter in the back.
“It’s frustrating, because you should have won that fight,” Cormier told Manyamala. “Remember what you’re feeling right now and make sure it doesn’t happen to you again. Don’t waste this opportunity, you’re going to learn a lot now.”
Chael Sonnen can tie the score in the season’s most anticipated fight so far
Back to back wins for his team has led to Chael Sonnen reducing Daniel Cormier’s lead to just 4-3 with one opening round matchup left to go.
The final welterweight semi-final spot will be contested between both teams first picks at 170-pounds.
Brazilians Rodrigo Sezinando and Diego Bianchini have butted heads throughout the series but they’re set to finally let their actions do the talking next week.
If Team Sonnen’s Bianchini is able to produce a win, it will set both teams up perfectly for the semi-finals with four representatives on either side.