The Ultimate Fighter’s 33rd season aired its second episode on ESPN+ with welterweight contestants taking center stage as Daniil Donchenko and Richard Martins looked to advance in the competition.
The next day, Chael Sonnen began his team training session with a special guest trainer T.J. Dillashaw, with UFC President Dana White announcing other alumni will be featured in future episodes throughout the season. “So since this is the 20th anniversary of The Ultimate Fighter, throughout the season, we’re gonna be bringing in TUF alumni who went on to become world champions,” Dana White said.
Despite losing in the TUF 14 finale to John Dodson, Dillashaw is a former two-time UFC bantamweight champion and arguably the most accomplished fighter in the division’s history. He was also a former coach on season 25 against former teammate, Cody Garbrandt, who Dillashaw beat twice.
“Being a villain paid the bills for me that’s for sure. I kinda got forced into being it, but look I am a very strong personality,” Dillashaw said.
The California native beat Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217 to win the UFC bantamweight championship for a second time, the first being against Renan Barao at UFC 173. Dillashaw is one of only two fighters to hold the undisputed bantamweight title twice, the other being his former training partner Dominick Cruz.
During the training session, contestant Matt Dixon described it as “absolutely amazing”, highlighting Dillashaw’s dynamic footwork and movement. “He's just an absolute genius when it comes to mixing it all up and in this game of MMA,” Dixon said.
Back at the house, Ukraine’s Daniil Donchencko talks about the impact the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine had on him. Donchenko notes how eleven boys from his class are serving in the war, while three have already lost their lives. Growing up in Korosten, a small town of 70,000 people, he describes the hardships of growing up in a country at war as an influence in turning him into a fighter.
“In my town, you should defend yourself, and then one month later, I fall in love with MMA,” Donchenko says. Looking to fight at the professional level, the Ukrainian went to Thailand with 800 dollars in his pocket to begin training at Tiger Muay Thai.
On the other hand, Martins discussed how he wanted to keep the fight standing, using wrestling as his plan b. “I believe that the path to victory will be to neutralize his kicks and make him walk backward. I always tire my opponents out, I make them feel pain and then I can finish” Martins said.
Martins described the hardest part about being on the show as the inability to communicate with his wife in Brazil. “My wife is the one who gives me strength. She’s able to help in my day to day, so I fight for her and for me.” Martins said.
With Donchenko (171) and Martins making weight (169.5), the welterweights are expected to have the best fight of the season. “Maybe I will bleed too, but I don’t care. I want to feel his blood.” Donchenko said. “He will need a gun to stop me inside the octagon”.
As the fight began, Donchenko landed a thunderous overhand right thirty seconds into the first round that hurt Martins. With the pressure mounting, Martins clinched the Ukrainian against the cage and recovered. After the two separated, Daniel Cormier urged his fighter to slow down and stop loading up his shots.
With both fighters having their moments, Donchenko seemed to win the first round after landing powerful punches and maintaining pressure. As both fighters went back to their corner after the round, Sonnen told his fighter to “push him up against the fence” and to be more active on the feet, as he was most successful with his clinch work.
With round two beginning, Martins took his coach's advice as he threw more combinations to start. Halfway through the second, Donchenko began to throw more body shots that bothered Martins and shifted the round in his favor. Despite a brief attempt to take the fight to the ground, the second round consisted mostly of bodywork and head movement by Donchenko as he won the fight by decision.
While Martins had his moments in the fight, Donchenko’s ability to take charge and hurt his opponent early on gave him the victory.
With the first welterweight bout in the books, the next flyweight contest is set to take place with Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez going against Team Sonnen’s Arshiyan Memon. Both fighters come into the bout undefeated and with all of their wins ending in a finish. Mexico’s Rodriguez has a 5-0 record with four knockouts and one submission, while India’s Memon has five knockouts and two submissions.
