Manny Rodriguez chalks up third win for Team Australia
Cronulla welterweight, Manny Rodriguez, has snatched Team Australia’s third win of The Smashes™, defeating Team UK’s Bola Omoyele with an inspiring come-from-behind submission.
Dominant early, Bola forced Manny to the mat with a cracking outside-leg kick but he failed to capitalise with his ground game. Manny defended well off his back and eventually took an opportunity to burst to his feet and reverse control with a powerful takedown. Bola’s tap was forced soon after, with Manny locking in a ‘north south choke’ in the last minute of round one.
The victorious twenty-seven year old, Manny Rodriguez, was reflective post-fight, saying: “I’ve given up a lot of things, a lot of sacrifices. Time away from family, time away from my kids - that’s definitely the hardest part. I obviously miss them a lot, but the desire to succeed is a lot stronger at the moment so I want to keep that in my head and good things will happen.”
Team UK’s Bola Omoyele was disappointed at his lapse in concentration, which in his opinion cost him the fight: “You blink and you miss - I let him off the hook for a split second and he capitalised... I didn’t do what I had to do.”
The result sees the Aussie welterweights continue to dominate the division and Team UK yet to pick a winning fight.
Pre-fight, Team UK welterweight Luke Newman shocked his coach and teammates with the news he was hoping to leave the competition and return home, with a medical suspension keeping him sidelined for the remainder of the series. Ross Pearson, coach of Team UK, sympathised with Luke but encouraged him to stay on the show and make the most of this opportunity with the UFC.
Tension between the teams intensified inside the TUF™ house, as Team UK tried to elevate boredom with a fiery food fight, leaving the Aussies less than impressed.
The series resumes next Wednesday, October 24, at 7.30p.m. AEST on FX (FOXTEL channel 123). In episode six – True Warrior – Team Australia coach George Sotiropoulos must choose between his two remaining lightweight competitors, and one fighter’s future is left shattered with UFC President, Dana White, brought in to decide his fate. In the TUF™ house, Colin ‘The Freak Show’ Fletcher entertains everyone when he becomes an honorary Aussie.
