Episode No. 3 recap: ‘The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia’

Episode three of “The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia” opens with the fighters spending time at the house, but it’s not for long, as they quickly move on to training.

Highly respected strength and conditioning coach Jonathan Chaimberg visits the gym as a special guest coach for Team Australia. Chaimberg, who is Canadian, says he has trained several members of Team Canada in the past. That includes Chad Laprise, who fights Team Australia’s Chris Indich later in the episode.

At the next Team Canada training session, Laprise prepares for his upcoming bout and claims this will be the first time in his career where he’s been completely injury-free. The 27-year-old talks about his road in the sport up to “TUF,” and how his strong religious beliefs serve as motivation to succeed.

With Team Australia winless through the first two fights of the season, Indich says he feels the pressure to not only get the win for himself, but to get the first victory for his team and take control of fight selection.

With training behind them, both fighters hit the 170-pound welterweight mark at the weigh-in, making the second quarterfinal matchup of the season official.

TEAM CANADA’S CHAD LAPRISE (7-0) VS. TEAM AUSTRALIA’S CHRIS INDICH (5-1)

Round 1 – Both fighters with a lot of footwork to stark the fight. Laprise tags Indich with a number of stiff jabs. More strikes are thrown and Laprise lands a counter right hand. Laprise continues to mix up his punches and kicks with movement. Indich begins to find a home for his job, but his output rate is low. Laprise lands a hard leg kick and jab. Indich connects with a right hook. Laprise responds with a leg kick. Laprise nearly connects with a high kick but Indich just barely gets out of the way. Laprise continues to implement heavy foot movement and circling. Indich gets tagged with numerous strikes but continues to press forward. Both fighters exchanging a lot of strikes, many of which land to the body or head. Laprise lands a grazing head kick, but Indich shakes it off and the round is over.

Round 2 – Laprise opens the round with another stiff jab. Indich begins to show desperation with some wild punches and a lot of forward pressure. Indich attempts the first takedown of the fight, but is easily shrugged off by Laprise. More jabs from the Canadian. Indich catches a body kick and attempts a another takedown. Once again, he can’t get it. Indich’s corner encourages him to be more aggressive, and when he does the Australian is caught with several counter shots. Indich is noticeably slowing down and is taking more strikes than he’s giving. Laprise lands jabs in succession and Indich’s face is badly beat up. Indich gives his best attempt to get a knockout in the final moments, but he’s unsuccessful.

Chad Laprise def. Chris Indich via unanimous decision

Team Canada improves to 3-0 on the season and retains control of fight selection going into the next round.

Coach Cote wastes no time announcing the next fight. In the second middleweight bout of the season, Team Canada’s Nordine Taleb (8-2) will look to keep his team undefeated against Team Australia’s Tyler Manawaroa (10-0).

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FOX Sports 1. MMAjunkie recaps each episode of the reality series.