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‘Team Good Guy, Team Bad Guy’ – Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Announced As Coaches For Season 33 Of The Ultimate Fighter

Quickly following the announcement that the producer of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Craig Piligian, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, the next set of coaches for TUF were announced on the UFC 311 broadcast. A fourth man appeared in the commentary booth as Jon Anik revealed that Daniel […]

Quickly following the announcement that the producer of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Craig Piligian, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, the next set of coaches for TUF were announced on the UFC 311 broadcast.

A fourth man appeared in the commentary booth as Jon Anik revealed that Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen will go toe-to-toe on the upcoming season.

Unlike most instalments of the show, season 33 will not build to a fight between the coaches when everything wraps up. What you are guaranteed is plenty of hi-jinx between the two men who often co-host ESPN’s Good Guy/Bad Guy show, where they comment on the biggest talking points in the sport.

The two men briefly went back and forth on the broadcast, setting the stage for what is sure to be an entertaining series between two of the biggest personalities in the sport. Further details including the weight classes that will feature on the series are yet to be revealed.

Both Cormier and Sonnen have been team captains in the past, with Sonnen coaching against Jon Jones back in 2013 and Cormier going up against Stipe Miocic in 2018.

This will be the fifth consecutive year of TUF following the three-year hiatus between 2018 and 2021.

Chael Sonnen Unleashes a Fiery Verdict on Mackenzie Dern After Ribas Victory

Chael Sonnen Unleashes a Fiery Verdict on Mackenzie Dern After Ribas Victory Chael Sonnen really wants to see Mackenzie Dern succeed, though he has no idea why. Nearly six years removed…

Chael Sonnen really wants to see Mackenzie Dern succeed, though he has no idea why.

Nearly six years removed from their first-ever meeting inside the Octagon, Dern evened the series against strawweight rival Amanda Ribas, scoring a third-round submission victory via armbar to move her UFC record to 10-5.

Over the years, Dern has emerged as a favorite among fight fans. Unfortunately, the BJJ sensation has done little to capitalize on her popularity — something Sonnen says goes back to before her move into mixed martial arts.

“I could not go back over Mackenzie’s career and hand her one compliment on anything she’s done from an entertainment aspect,” Sonnen said on Good Guy/Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier. “I couldn’t tell you one time she had a microphone in her hand and turned it into a pipe bomb. I could not tell you one opportunity that she pushed everybody else aside and came and got it for herself.

“I could tell you before she made her UFC debut, a guy named Chael Sonnen called her to do a pure grappling match, straight up jiu-jitsu against somebody called Miesha Tate, who was one of the biggest names in the whole sport, and there was no amount of money to get Mackenzie on the airplane to do the match. Her reasoning? She wants to focus on MMA. So, I’m attempting to explain to her that if you want to break into MMA, this is Miesha Tate, come get your money, and she never did it” (h/t MMA Junkie).

Chael Sonnen insists Mackenzie Dern is ‘Unaware of the sport’

With an impressive showing against Ribas and four Fight Night headliners in her rearview, Dern had an opportunity to get on the mic and shoot her shot. Instead, Dern remained humble and stressed that she was in no rush to challenge for a world title.

In Sonnen’s eyes, it was a massively missed opportunity and further evidence that Dern is simply “unaware of the sport.”

“She decides she needs to get better at jiu-jitsu, she leaves her father, Wellington ‘Megaton,’ one of the biggest stars there is, goes out with Jason Parillo in California and starts hitting mitts which got her nowhere than missing punches and blocking shots with her face,” Sonnen added. “I’ve never seen Mackenzie get it right. Everyone likes her, myself included, everyone seems to be rooting for her for reasons I really can’t explain to you, myself included.

“She looks like she does really care about this sport. She talks about some of her hardships and things outside the ring which do compel you very much to her, but as far as understanding what makes dollars has got to make sense, she doesn’t know what any of those words mean. I’ve never seen a second-generation athlete so unaware of the sport that’s going on around them.”

Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Hold Back In Criticism Of Mackenzie Dern: ‘So Unaware Of The Sport…’

Chael Sonnen often finds it frustrating when fighters do not capitalize on the moment by making the most out of their time in the spotlight. As one of the greatest talkers in the history of the sport, “The Bad Guy” was recently critical of one athlete in particular for this side of their personality and […]

Mackenzie Dern came out on top in the first UFC main event of 2025 when she avenged her loss to Amanda Ribas this past weekend. It was an important win for the #6-ranked contender who, with an armbar in the third round, became the first person to submit Brazil’s Ribas in her pro career.

When she was handed the floor in her post-fight interview, Dern spoke about wanting to add to her submission record as she shared the cage with her young daughter. When the conversation turned to what target she is pursuing next, the 31-year old said that her main focus is on building momentum by getting another win under her belt and whilst she would prefer to fight an opponent that is ranked higher than her, she admitted that this might not be possible because she has faced many of the top names in the division in the past.

On a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy/Bad Guy alongside Daniel Cormier, Sonnen was fairly negative towards the submission specialist for not placing more emphasis on the entertainment side of the sport by being more assertive.

“I could not go back over Mackenzie’s career and hand her one compliment on anything she’s done from an entertainment aspect,” Sonnen said. “I couldn’t tell you one time she had a microphone in her hand and turned it into a pipe bomb. I could not tell you one opportunity that she pushed everybody else aside and came and got it for herself.”

Sonnen believes that whilst she does appear to win fans over, Dern doesn’t do anything intentionally to drive her own stock which he finds baffling.

“I’ve never seen Mackenzie get it right. Everyone likes her, myself included, everyone seems to be rooting for her for reasons I really can’t explain to you, myself included.

“She looks like she does really care about this sport. She talks about some of her hardships and things outside the ring which do compel you very much to her, but as far as understanding what makes dollars has got to make sense, she doesn’t know what any of those words mean. I’ve never seen a second-generation athlete so unaware of the sport that’s going on around them.”

Khamzat Chimaev Should Face Bo Nickal Rather Than Fighting For a Title Explains UFC Veteran

Khamzat Chimaev really should face Bo Nickal rather than fighting for the UFC middleweight title, at least according to…

Khamzat Chimaev really should face Bo Nickal rather than fighting for the UFC middleweight title, at least according to one former UFC contender. Chael Sonnen, UFC veteran and current MMA analyst, has sparked debate by advocating for a blockbuster matchup between rising star Bo Nickal and UFC middleweight juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev. While Sonnen’s enthusiasm for the fight is palpable, many fans and analysts believe that Nickal is still far behind Chimaev in terms of experience and skill.

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Bo Nickal

“Bo Nickal versus Khamzat Chimaev,” Sonnen said in a recent interview. “There is nothing I enjoy speaking about more than what would happen with Bo and Khamzat. And I don’t just want to talk about the fight or three rounds versus five rounds.”

“I want the specifics,” Sonnen continued, “Who’s going to go for the takedown, and who’s going to get the other one. Are they going to go for a double leg? Is it going to be over-under? I like that entire argument. Which one is going to get tired first? Which one is going to try the takedown first? Everything about Bo versus Khamzat is exciting for me. Somebody’s ‘O’ has got to go—that line never stopped working in sports.”

The matchup, as Sonnen frames it, would pit two undefeated middleweights with elite wrestling pedigrees against each other in a highly technical grappling battle. However, critics point out that Nickal, who transitioned to MMA in 2022, is still developing his overall skillset. Despite his rapid ascent and top ranking in the UFC middleweight division, Nickal’s level of opposition has not approached the caliber of Chimaev’s. Although, the US-born athlete does come from a storied collegiate wrestling career.

Khamzat Chimaev has built a reputation as one of the most dominant and well-rounded fighters in the division. He is widely seen as next in line for a middleweight title shot. The UFC’s middleweight championship picture will likely become clearer once reigning champion Dricus du Plessis defends his belt against former titleholder Sean Strickland in an anticipated clash later this year.

While Sonnen’s excitement over the hypothetical fight is contagious, many in the MMA community argue that the timing isn’t right. With Chimaev already on the cusp of title contention, pitting him against the still-rising Nickal could stall the momentum of one of the UFC’s most marketable stars.

For now, Sonnen’s proposed showdown remains a tantalizing “what if” scenario. But as both fighters continue to climb the ranks of the middleweight division, the possibility of a future clash may not be as far-fetched as it seems.

Chael Sonnen Exposes Floyd Mayweather’s Payday Claims as ‘One of the Great Lies in Sports’

Retired UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has made waves by challenging the widely publicized claims about Floyd Mayweather’s fight earnings,…

Retired UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has made waves by challenging the widely publicized claims about Floyd Mayweather’s fight earnings, including the staggering payouts reported for his 2017 bout against Conor McGregor.

Chael Sonnen Calls Floyd Mayweather a Liar

Chael Sonnen, known for his ability to stir the pot, labeled Floyd Mayweather’s reported figures as exaggerated and untrue.

“So, I’m just sharing one of the great lies in sport that got told, repeated, and repeated again on ESPN and Sports Illustrated,” Sonnen said in a recent interview. “One of the great lies was the alleged payouts of Floyd Mayweather—none of which were true. That includes the fight with Conor McGregor, where they both supposedly got $125 million. That’s not true.”

Floyd Mayweather is often referred to as “Money” for his incredible financial success. He is widely recognized as one of the most lucrative athletes in history. Over the course of his undefeated boxing career, he reportedly earned more than $1.1 billion, with his two highest-profile fights, against Manny Pacquiao in 2015 and McGregor in 2017, touted as his most profitable. Mayweather reportedly earned approximately $250 million for the Pacquiao fight and $300 million for the McGregor showdown.

However, Chael Sonnen’s comments suggest that those figures may be inflated. At the same time, Sonnen did not provide evidence to substantiate his claims. His assertion is particularly bold given Mayweather’s status as an iconic figure in boxing, with a reputation built not just on his impeccable 50-0 record but also on his ability to generate unparalleled revenue from pay-per-view sales and ticket gates. Mayweather has consistently defended his earning claims, portraying himself as a financial mastermind who capitalized on his drawing power and savvy promotional tactics.

As for Sonnen, the former UFC contender has never shied away from voicing controversial opinions. Though he retired from professional fighting in 2019, Sonnen remains a prominent figure in the MMA community as a pundit and podcast host. Mayweather has yet to respond to Sonnen’s claims, but given his history of addressing criticisms, it wouldn’t be surprising if he weighs in soon. Whether Sonnen’s remarks hold weight or are simply another example of his trademark provocations, they have reignited discussions about the accuracy of reported fighter pay and the myths that often surround combat sports legends.

Chael Sonnen Exposes Floyd Mayweather’s Payday Claims as ‘One of the Great Lies in Sports’

Retired UFC veteran Chael Sonnen has made waves by challenging the widely publicized claims about Floyd Mayweather’s fight earnings,…

Chael Sonnen Calls Floyd Mayweather a Liar

Chael Sonnen, known for his ability to stir the pot, labeled Floyd Mayweather’s reported figures as exaggerated and untrue.