“The Mongolian Wolf” Tiequan Zhang took on Jon Tuck in what became a fun scrap. The fight featured everything a MMA fan could want, with grappling exchanges mixed in with some striking flurries. In the end, Tuck’s grappling was too much for Zhang to overcome, and Tuck was awarded the unanimous decision.
What We Will Remember From This Fight
There wasn’t one particular moment that took our breath away during the fight, but it did feature some nice grappling exchanges, as well as exchanges on the feet. Zhang went for it on the feet after being out-grappled early in the fight and rocked Tuck in the third.
Fans will most likely remember Tuck struggling to secure the rear naked choke and Zhang making a comeback in the later round.
What We Learned From Tiequan Zhang
It was the third loss in a row for Zhang, and he could very well be handed his walking papers. The one saving grace for Zhang, however, is that this fight was contested at lightweight, while his other UFC bouts were competed in the featherweight division.
I don’t believe Zhang is UFC material at this point in his career, but it’s evident that he has some raw talent. Zhang is like a microcosm of MMA in China: lots of potential, but just not ready yet.
What We Learned From Jon Tuck
Tuck has competed for years in promotions in Guam and the Philippines and officially made his UFC debut against Zhang. Tuck displayed his grappling talents in the first and second rounds but slowed as the fight wore on in the third.
One thing I didn’t like from Tuck’s game was his struggle to do damage with the dominant positions he gained. Tuck secured mount, side control and back mount numerous times but was unable to secure a finish.
If he wants to make a run in the UFC, Tuck will need to finish the lower-tier fighters when he secures a dominant position.
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