The 11th episode of The Ultimate Fighter TUF Season 33 saw the semi final portion of the flyweight bracket come to an end after a stellar back-and-forth chess match between a talented young prospect and a grizzled veteran.
The flyweights prepared themselves while a past TUF champion visited the house
Gearing up for their opportunity to compete in the live finale later this year, the last remaining 125-lb competitors on the show, Imanol Rodriguez and Joseph Morales, honed in on their shot at entering the UFC.
Crossing paths with touted undefeated Indian fighter Arshiyan Memon on the third episode of the season, Rodriguez logged an incredible showing in his first high-profile mixed martial arts appearance. Stunning Memon by a first round knockout, the Mexican slugger immediately made himself a top flyweight tournament hopeful.
Producing his own swift finish, Morales came to blows against Team Cormier’s number one pick, Eduardo Henrique, dominating the current LFA champion with an incredible rear naked choke in just two minutes. Long-time fans of the sport will remember Morales during his first stint in the UFC, where “Bopo” amassed a 1-2 company record before being released.
Before the flyweights could square off, however, The Ultimate Fighter house was graced with an esteemed visitor, a man who had won the competition the previous year, Mairon Santos. Fighting on season 32, the Brazilian upstart plowed his way through the show, eventually capturing the featherweight trophy as well as a UFC contract. Although his debut ended in controversy after a close split decision victory over Francis Marshall, “The Legend” erased all doubt about his abilities after besting Sodiq Yusuff at lightweight by unanimous decision this past May.
The flyweight semi finals end by the narrowest of margins
Showcasing his blistering hand speed early on, Rodriguez repeatedly tagged Morales to the face and body, leaving the more seasoned athlete unable to effectively counter them. With the stand up department being controlled thoroughly by the Mexican, Morales opted to take Rodriguez down, gaining control of his back and keeping himself there for nearly three minutes, netting him the first round.
Despite having his opponent latched to his back while being pelted by punches, Rodriguez appeared to still be fresh heading into the second, as he managed to land quite a few quick strikes on his experienced foe. However, Morales started to gain a little ground on the feet as well, backing up Rodriguez to the cage on several occasions. Both men had their moments, but the second round ultimately ended as a toss up.
Demonstrating his skills as a complete martial artist, Rodriguez decided to utilize his own Jiu-Jitsu prowess, bringing Morales down to the canvas in the third. Racking up his own staggering amount of control time, the Mexican flyweight dominated the once UFC competitor for almost the whole round, sweeping the last frame of the bout on all three judges’ scorecards.
