There has never been a Canadian winner of The Ultimate Fighter and Elias Theodorou wants nothing more than to be the first.
The Mississauga, Ont., native was able to grind out a win over Zein Saliba in the quarterfinals and Sportsnet’s resident TUF Nations blogger needed to get past Team Australia’s “Wild Thing” Tyler Manawaroa in the semifinals.
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Both Theodorou and Manawaroa are unbeaten as professionals, but with a spot in the finale on the line, that had to change.
“I don’t know how to lose,” Theodorou said before the fight. “Being undefeated, I don’t know how to lose. Neither does Tyler. That’s a dangerous thing.”
THE FIGHT
Theodorou looked to push the pace early, as he does in all of his fights. Theodorou stuck to Manawaroa like glue and pressured him against the cage, while also repeatedly slamming him to the ground, in an attempt to fatigue his opponent. At one point Manawaroa was able to get Theodorou down and briefly took his back, however Theodorou hit a quick reversal and finished the round in a dominant position.
The second round began exactly how the majority of the first round unfolded. Midway through the frame, Manawaroa landed a big knee — his best strike of the fight — but Theodorou didn’t seem fazed and eventually secured another slam takedown and finished the round on top in Manawaroa’s guard.
Had this been a quarterfinal bout, Theodorou would have been awarded a two-round, unanimous decision, but since it was the semifinals it went to a third round.
The final frame saw Theodorou continue to physically manhandle Manawaroa. Although the Australian attempted several submissions, he couldn’t muster much offence and the Canadian was awarded the unanimous decision win.
Theodorou credited the victory to a smart game plan.
“A lot of fighters lose when they don’t stick to a game plan,” Theodorou said. “I knew I was going to be the better wrestler and I’m just really good at staying [with] what makes me win fights.”
The loss was the first of Manawaroa’s career.
“I went in there thinking, ‘I’m going to win; this is gonna be an easy fight.’ I just didn’t click into the zone that I was fighting,” a disappointed Manawaroa said. “I was upset I let my coaches down, people that are looking up to me, people like my parents. I was just real upset that I lost the fight for not doing what I could have done.”
Team Canada coach Patrick Cote was impressed with the control Theodorou was able to display.
“He was a little bit too much for Tyler on the ground, especially the strength and the wrestling skills,” Cote said. “Elias doesn’t stop. It’s really hard to fight this guy.”
Team Australia coach Kyle Noke wasn’t impressed with either fighter.
“Tyler didn’t do much on the feet to make it exciting and Elias just grapple-humped him,” Noke said. “Tyler just never got out of first gear.”
Theodorou will fight the winner of Sheldon Westcott versus Vik Grujic at the live finale on April 16 in Quebec City.
“Elias I think is the most improved fighter here,” Cote added. “He has a really, really nice attitude. He’s improved so much since the beginning and for me, right now for the middleweight division, I think he’s the favourite [to win the show].”
Outside the Octagon
Team Canada recruits a former UFC champ
Former UFC middleweight champion Murilo Bustamante made a cameo, as Patrick Cote brought the Brazilian in to help Elias and Team Canada during training.
On the next episode
Coaches Noke and Cote compete in a challenge that will see them try their hands at a lumberjack obstacle course.
Then, Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Richard Walsh fight to see which welterweight will meet Chad Laprise in the final.
