TUF Nations Episode Four: Canada Handed First Loss
Chad Laprise (far left) enters TUF Episode 4 – Photo from TUF Nations Canada vs. Australia
The lead up was all about the experience, technical striking and elite conditioning of Taleb, against the big and brash, although naive 19-year old Australian Tyler Manawaroa. The Canadians spoke of the fight as a done deal, a win in the bag, even going so far as to say that Tyler just had no clue about the prowess he was about to face in Taleb.
“Tyler is going to get hurt,” Canadian coach Patrick Cote stated into the camera, and I will admit I was right there with them all in that line of thinking. I thought this fight was going to be another case of a more sophisticated athlete against a young, raw fighter where technical prowess and conditioning would rule the day. Taleb does mention on camera that he is feeling a bit of added pressure with the fight being at home.
Despite all the hype and reputation, the Aussies believed firmly in their young gun and Manawaroa had the right mindset going in.
“Everyone talks about Nordine being a weapon, but I’m not afraid of him. The team thinks I’m going to smash him and I think I’m going to smash him too.”
The first round played out much like people thought as Taleb came out with some leg kicks controlled the clinch, landed solid knees while in there and got the upper hand in most of the exchanges throughout the round. Manawaroa, although technically sloppy, fought hard and kept the round close. At the end of the first round, you could see a shift in the mentality of the two fighters and it was aptly captured on camera. They showed Manawaroa sitting on his stool and yelling across at Taleb to bring it on, while Taleb slouched in his corner and stared blankly down at his feet. Something seemed off as the fighters went out for round two.
In the second round Taleb comes out very hesitant and all but abandons his kicks, while Manawaroa seems to be losing gas by the second. Taleb can’t seem to take advantage though as every time he initiates, Tyler lands the better shots. Taleb is throwing more but Manawaroa is landing more in this round, but he is keeping his hands very low. Tyler definitely takes the second round and a third round is announced to decide the fight.
All appearances seem to point to Taleb being in better physical condition and all things being equal, that should take over in the final round.
On the contrary, Manawaroa comes out firing and is the much more active and crafty fighter in the first half of the round. He lands more and is just simply going after more until the final minute of the round when Taleb goes for and gets a take down. He ends up in side control in full advantage until the last thirty seconds of the fight when Manawaroa reverses position and finishes the fight on top. It is a very close and entertaining fight, although I can’t help but notice that Taleb’s performance seems off by his standards.
The judges announce and unanimous decision win for Manawaroa and the Australians go nuts as they storm into the cage. It is a good first win for them and the emotion of the celebration gets away from them a bit, as they dance around the cage with Taleb still in it. Act like you’ve been there before kids.
The post-fight comments quickly reveal that Taleb thinks he broke his foot in the first round and taking nothing away from a great win for Manawaroa that explains the dip in Taleb’s performance after the first round. The foot seems to be the focus and Taleb shows it to Tyler when he comes in the Canadians’ room to congratulate him on a good fight.
Taleb and Manawaroa definitely knocked off Laprise and Indich for fight of the season so far. The Aussies take control of the match ups and announce the next welterweight fight will be Richard Walsh against Matthew Desroches.
Laprise Watch
Coming off a great victory over Chris Indich in the last episode, it’s a fairly quiet week for the Chatham Kent fighter. Laprise starts this week at the house cutting a victory cheesecake. In typical Laprise fashion, he brings the first piece cut over to his opponent Indich and they sit and talk about the fight. This is what it is all about kids. These guys are competing to change their lives, but they are also making new friends in the process, and it is important to cherish both in the process.
The next time Laprise is shown he is minding his own business on what looks like a tablet device or book when the Aussies storm in the house at the conclusion of a snow ball fight. Manawaroa douses Laprise with snow but “The Disciple” just laughs and takes it all in stride.
Laprise is also shown helping Taleb out of the training center after the fight as he cannot put any weight on his injured foot. Always the great teammate, I look forward to watching Laprise’s behaviour next week and learning more about what it takes to be a professional in every sense of the word.