The Australian teams start in the TUF Nations reality show was not a successfully one as Brendan O’Reilly went down to Canadian opponent Kajan Johnson in the opening episode of the season.
The show started with both teams being introduced to the training facility in Quebec, Canada with the Australian team only recently arriving with some of the fighters being delayed on international flights. The coaches briefly spoke about how important of an opportunity this is to the fighters before a coin-flip decided who would have first pickings on the fight. Team Canada won the toss and would decide the fight later in the episode.
Both teams arrived at the lodge style cabin, complete with air hockey table and a giant moose head on the wall. The accommodation is a pleasant change to the normal ‘Las Vegas’ style mansion that we are used to seeing.
The fighters met back at the training facility as UFC president Dana White gave his usual “Do you want to be a fighter?” speech minus the expletives this time. Or was that edited out?
Cote announces the first fight as Tristar gym member Kajan Johnson who is one of the lightest welterweights in the house was picked to face Australian Brendan O’Reilly. The Aussie is the lightest in the house having contested his recent fights at lightweight.
The teams immediately got into training mode with both Cote and Noke being hands on with their teams in helping them prepare. Back at the house, talk from the Canadian team about the inexperience of the Aussie team has the Australians fired up. In particular Brendan O’Reilly who promises the Australians will bring it in the cage. Seems with thin walls and no doors, privacy and secrets are going to be harder to find in the house.
When the fight began, it wasn’t long before O’Reilly was cut open over the right eye as Johnson connected with a step-up knee. O’Reilly aggressively looked for the takedown and ends up getting it. Anxious to through big shots from the top, O’Reilly gave his opponent room to move and Johnson attacked with a knee-bar. The submission looked tight however O’Reilly refused to tap and wriggled his way free. From there though Johnson took control, and was ultimately able to take the back and secure the tap. (Watch Full Fight)
With the win Johnson also pocketed $5,000 and a pair of headphones from a sponsor. After coming into the fight with an injury, Johnson came out reasonably unscathed and therefore should be good to go in the next round. The good news for O’Reilly was that the post-fight doctor let him know that they were not going to suspend him despite the stitches above the right eye which leaves the opportunity for the Aussie fighter to return if another fighter has to pull-out.
The next match-up is announced as TP Fight Team gym member and BJJ Brown Belt Zein Saliba meets model slash fighter Elias Theodurou on next weeks episode.
The Ultimate Fighter – Australia vs Canada is televised on FX Australia. Check out episode 2 next Thursday at 4:3pm AEDT.
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