The Ultimate Fighter 33 Cast Breakdown: Flyweight

Roybert Echeverria
Venezuela
29-years-old
10-2
70% finish rate (6 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions)
APFC flyweight champion
Combined opponents’ record: 44-51

Echeverria is arguably the most explosive and hardest-hitting fighter at 125 pounds in this lineup. The frustrating part is that he doesn’t always fight like it. While he has delivered some highlight-reel knockouts, they aren’t as frequent as they should be. He’s a tough fighter to get a read on—coming off two solid wins over strong prospects but previously dropping a decision to a 9-9 opponent.

Physically, he’s a gifted athlete, but his mindset seems to be holding him back. If he committed to throwing more extended combinations, he could elevate his game significantly. Instead, he relies too much on his raw power and explosiveness, often throwing single strikes rather than sustained attacks. He’s composed in the cage—perhaps too composed. He does a good job of cutting off the cage and using subtle feints, but he doesn’t capitalize on those setups nearly enough.

In his last fight, he showed what he’s capable of in the third round, putting together combinations and looking sharp. However, if he doesn’t find a knockout or a big moment in each round, he often ends up losing on the scorecards. It’s a shame because his power is undeniable—he can crack with his hands and dish out brutal leg kicks that have done serious damage in previous fights.

Given his usual approach, the two-round TUF format may not work in his favor. While I don’t expect him to win, I wouldn’t completely count him out—his stopping power makes him a threat in any fight.

“I’m looking at this opportunity to cement myself in history as a fighter, as an athlete, as a person,” Roybert said when asked about how he was approaching The Ultimate Fighter 33. “I’m going to have a message really clear that you guys can see on the show, of what this show is about and what you can do after if you do really good on the show.”