MACAU, CHINA — Zhang Tiequan and Jon Tuck put on a stellar performance this past weekend at UFC Macao: Franklin vs. Le, with the two fighters going back and forth for majority of their 15 minute bout. Most people in the arena considered it as the unofficial Fight of the Night, and while both men gained a lot of respect from the local Chinese fans, it looks like it will take a while before they can see their hometown hero back in the cage.
On Sunday, MMAFighting.com has learned from Zhang himself that he had sustained an injury to his left hand during the bout against Tuck. The Chinese star showed his heavily wrapped and bandaged hand, stating through a translator that it was his left thumb that was broken.
Although there has been no official word yet on a timetable for his return, the 34-year-old fighter will likely be out of commission for months.
The decision loss to Tuck marks his 3rd in a row, and drops his overall record to 15-4. Prior to heading to the UFC, the China Top Team product joined the WEC in 2010 and has gone 2-4 under the Zuffa banner, with submission wins over Pablo Garza and Jason Reinhardt.