UFC Hall of Famers Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier will return to the gym for a highly anticipated clash later in 2025.
Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier have never feuded during their Octagon careers. But years after both UFC legends hung up the gloves, they will face off against each other in a competitive setting in Las Vegas.
Cormier, who entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022 alongside his longtime teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov, has made a good transition from fighter to analyst since announcing his retirement. He retired after a trilogy loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 252.
Sonnen, one of the UFC's greatest self-promoters of all time, hung up the gloves after falling to former UFC champion Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222. His first fight against then-UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva ended up in the 'Fight Wing' of the UFC Hall of Fame. last year.
Cormier and Sonnen will coach some of MMA's top prospects as they fight for UFC contracts. As announced during the UFC 311 broadcast, Cormier and Sonnen will serve as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 33 later this year.
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Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen return to the gym for The Ultimate Fighter 33
The coaching match between Cormier and Sonnen is TUF's first matchup between two retired fighters. TUF 32 featured coaches Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko before the two flyweights faced off at UFC 306 in September.
This is Cormier's second stint as TUF coach after battling Miocic in Season 27, which featured tournament winners Brad Katona and Michael Trizano. Cormier was brought in as a guest coach during several other TUF seasons during his fighting career.
Sonnen returns as TUF coach for the third time after coaching opposite Jon Jones and Wanderlei Silva. He coached Kelvin Gastelum to a TUF tournament championship when he defeated Uriah Hall in the season finale.
Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen return to coaching on TUF 33
Sonnen will return to the corner after serving as a surprise cornerman for Colby Covington in the former welterweight title challenger's final fight against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa last month. Covington lost by doctor's stoppage after suffering a nasty tear during the fight.
Cormier and Sonnen will take their television rivalry from the ESPN bureau to the mats. The two UFC legends are co-hosts of Good Guy/Bad Guy, a popular martial arts show on the network.
Additional information about TUF 33, including the full roster of fighters for the upcoming season, is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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