'TUF Nations' fighter Tyler Manawaroa won't get UFC contract due to racist Instagram post

Regardless of how he fares on “The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia” reality series, Tyler Manawaroa won’t get a UFC contract.

After Canadian welterweight Kajan Johnson recently pointed out Manawaroa’s racist Instagram post from 2012 (see a screenshot), the Team Australia fighter was told he won’t be offered a contract, regardless of how he finishes on the FOX Sports 1-televised series.

Manawaroa, a part of the Team Australian squad headed by coach/fighter Kyle Noke, recently advanced to the semifinal round of the tournament with a decision victory over Nordine Taleb. However, even if he continues winning the exhibition fights in the pre-taped eight-man tourney, he won’t join the UFC’s official roster once the show concludes in April.

In a statement sent to MMAjunkie and other media outlets on Monday, UFC officials said a pre-show background check didn’t detect the Instagram post, which Manawaroa has since deleted.

According to the UFC:

The UFC organization had hired an investigation company in Australia to conduct thorough background investigations on potential contestants for ‘The Ultimate Fighter Nations’ television series. Unfortunately, the background checks did not uncover all of the social media history by contestant Tyler Manawaroa. The UFC is committed to having an environment that is free from discrimination. Consequently, UFC has notified Manawaroa that regardless of how far he advances in the completed television series, the organization will not be offering him a contract to compete in the UFC.

In a series of posts on Twitter on Monday, Manawaroa said “racism isn’t funny” and that his Instagram post “was a joke.”

Manawaroa, who turned pro in 2011 as a 16-year-old, was one of the show’s more promising prospects. The 19-year-old, who was born in New Zealand but currently resides in Australia, entered “TUF Nations” with a 10-0 record and nine stoppages. He advanced to the semifinal round during the show’s Feb. 5 episode.

“TUF Nations” concludes with a live finale on April 16. Since the tournament finals count as official UFC bouts and air live on FOX Sports 1, it’s unlikely Manawaroa would be permitted to compete even if he advances to the tourney’s final round.

For more on the TUF Nations Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.