Jon Tuck
Quick Facts
Biography
Jonathan Cruz Tuck (born August 28, 1984) also known as Super Saiyan is a Chamorro American professional mixed martial artist. Tuck is the first Chamorro native from Guam to be signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and competes Lightweight division.
Background
Tuck grew up with a love of martial arts, which he attributes to being from the culture of warriors, the Chamorros. Tuck began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA with his cousin, about six years before coming to the UFC. Tuck attended college at the University of Guam and was studying physical education before dropping out because of his career in fighting. However, he does plan on finishing his college education in the near future. Before becoming a professional MMA fighter, Tuck also worked as a power plant operator.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Tuck made his professional debut in 2007, earning his first win over Joe Nauta via rear-naked choke early in the first round. His second fight was against John Salas, winning via TKO (doctor stoppage).
On November 17, 2007 Tuck made his debut in Pacific Xtreme Combat against Giovanni Sablan. He shows his grappling skills by defeating Sablan via rear-naked choke. After a year layoff he returned to fighting. He defeated Thomas Calvo via Rear-Naked-Choke in the first round.
On November 21, 2009 he made his debut in Gorilla Warfare, in a Superfight against his toughest opponent yet, URCC Welterweight Champion, Martial Combat Champion, ONE FC Lightweight Champion Eduard Folayang. He defeated Folayang via KO in just eight seconds.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Career
Tuck competed in the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup. He won the gold medal in the finals against Mohammed Naser in the Open Light division. Despite having a knee injury, Tuck competed in the -78 kg division placing second, which secured him the silver medal.
Comeback in MMA
After competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments all over the world, Tuck finally returned to MMA, defeating former Strikeforce fighter Tristan Arenal. Tuck got hit with some solid punches, stayed calm and composed. Tuck got a takedown, then knocked Arenal unconscious with ground and pound punches.
The Ultimate Fighter
In February 2012, Tuck was announced as a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter 15. In his first fight, Tuck lost via unanimous decision to eventual finalist Al Iaquinta in the elimination round to get into the house. Tuck dislocated a toe during the fight.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Tuck made his official promotional when he faced Zhang Tiequan on November 10, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 6. Tuck won the fight via unanimous decision.
Tuck was expected to face Norman Parke on April 20, 2013 at UFC on Fox 7. However, the bout was scrapped during the week leading up to the event as Tuck was forced out of the bout with an injury.
The rescheduled bout with Parke eventually took place on October 26, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 30. Tuck lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Tuck was expected to face Yosdenis Cedeno on June 7, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 42. However, Cedeno pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Jake Lindsey. He won the fight via submission in the third round due to heel strikes to the body.
Tuck faced Kevin Lee on September 27, 2014 at UFC 178. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Tuck faced Tae Hyun Bang on May 16, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 66. Tuck won the fight via submission in the first round, which also produced a Performance of the Night bonus.
Tuck was expected to face Nick Hein on May 8, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87. However, just days before the event, Hein pulled out citing injury. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Josh Emmett. Tuck lost the back and forth fight via split decision.
Tuck was scheduled to face Mehdi Baghdad on October 15, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 97. However, Baghdad pulled out of the fight in mid-September citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Volkanovski. In turn, the promotion announced on October 6 that they had cancelled the event entirely.
Tuck was quickly rescheduled, and is expected to face Damien Brown on November 27, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 101. Though the Ultimate Fighting Championships fight statistics had Tuck winning the fight, the judges awarded a split decision victory to Brown.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
13 matches | 9 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 3 | 0 |
By submission | 5 | 0 |
By decision | 1 | 4 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 9–4 | Damien Brown | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson | November 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
Loss | 9–3 | Josh Emmett | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski | May 8, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
Win | 9–2 | Tae Hyun Bang | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber | May 16, 2015 | 1 | 3:56 | Pasay, Philippines | Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 8–2 | Kevin Lee | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 178 | September 27, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Tuck was deducted one point for a groin kick in round two. |
Win | 8–1 | Jake Lindsey | Submission (heel kicks to the body) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov | June 7, 2014 | 3 | 2:47 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
Loss | 7–1 | Norman Parke | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Munoz | October 26, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Manchester, England | |
Win | 7–0 | Zhang Tiequan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. Le | November 10, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Macau, SAR, China | |
Win | 6–0 | Tristan Arenal | KO (punches) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 28 | November 26, 2011 | 1 | 3:47 | Pasig, Philippines | |
Win | 5–0 | Eduard Folayang | KO (punch) | GW 3 | November 21, 2009 | 1 | 0:08 | Saipan, Guam | |
Win | 4–0 | Thomas Calvo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 17 | March 27, 2009 | 1 | 1:58 | Mangilao, Guam | |
Win | 3–0 | Giovanni Sablan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 13 | November 17, 2007 | 1 | 4:41 | Mangilao, Guam | |
Win | 2–0 | John Salas | TKO (doctor stoppage) | GHBW 2 | May 28, 2007 | 1 | 5:00 | Hagåtña, Guam | |
Win | 1–0 | Joe Neuta | Submission (rear-naked choke) | GHBW 1 | Feb 9, 2007 | 1 | 2:13 | Agana, Guam |
Mixed Martial Arts exhibition record
Exhibition record breakdown | ||
1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
By knockout | 0 | 0 |
By submission | 0 | 0 |
By decision | 0 | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Al Iaquinta | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Live | March 9, 2012 | 1 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | One-round TUF entry fight. |