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By Patrick Lujan
All the sweat and injuries. The hours of training and pain. It’s now time to show the world what he’s got.
Guam’s Jon Tuck (6-0) is set to make history and enter the Octagon as the island’s first UFC fighter this Saturday night against China’s Zhang Tiequan (18-3) at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Hotel, Macau.
“I’m ready to go,” a calm Tuck said just days before departing from Guam to Macau. “I had a good training camp in San Diego with my stateside team (The Arena MMA) the last month to hone the skills. I’ve been excited since I first found out I was fighting in the UFC. Now it’s here.”
Like UFC ring announcer Michael Buffer would belch: “It’s time!”
Tuck leaves for Macau Tuesday morning for his fight Saturday night which will air live on Fuel TV 6 at 11 p.m. Chamorro Standard Time (9 p.m. Macau time).
“It’s a two-hour difference between Macau and here so it shouldn’t be too tough on the body adjusting to the time, but fighting that late at night will be different,” Tuck said as he makes his final preparations to leave.
Prior to his month-long intense training camp in San Diego, Tuck was given the privilege of being a guest of the UFC to attend the festivities of UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort on Sept 22. That experience helped Tuck get the feel for the big stage.
“Ya, hanging out with the UFC fighters and Dana White and seeing the behind-the-scenes of a big show like that opened my eyes to the enormity of the event. When I go into the Octagon on Saturday, I don’t have to worry about the show part, just concentrate on the fight part.”
It was his famous toe injuryin March and the time leading up to the filming of the Ultimate Fighter that showed UFC officials that Tuck had what it takes to fight in the highest level of mixed martial arts.
“I held my own against those guys during the show,” Tuck said. “It wasn’t the actual show that caught their eye. I trained with the guys on the show and I knew my skill level was at UFC quality.”
The injured toe drastically affected Tuck in the one-round live show where he eventually lost by decision to finalist Al Iaquinta. The abbreviated bout did not go against his professional record.
Last Few Pounds
Tuck has been training at a steady 165-lbs and is confident he will be stepping on the scales at Friday’s weigh-ins at the 155-lb. lightweight limit. (weigh-ins 7 p.m. Chamorro Standard Time – 5 p.m. Macau time)
“That’s always the toughest battle for any fighter – making weight,” Tuck said. “But that won’t be a problem at all. I’ve come this far and I’m too prepared mentally and physically to let that ruin my goal.
“This is just the start of my UFC journey and I’m determined to make it a long one.”
Note: GSPN is an accredited media for UFC Macau. Log on to www.guamsportsnetwork.com for exclusive photos of Jon Tuck in Macau…both Tuck and his Chinese opponent are brown belt jiu-jitsu practitioners.
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Main Card
Franklin vs Le
Silva vs Nedkov
Kim vs Thiago
Gomi vs Danzig
Caceres vs Tezuka
Zhang vs Tuck
Prelims
Urushitani vs Lineker
Fukuda vs DeBlass
Mizugaki vs Hougland
Mitchell vs Lim


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
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- FR
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Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
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6th
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7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
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8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
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9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
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10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
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13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
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ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
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14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
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IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
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Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
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ISA GIRLS SOCCER
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16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
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17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
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18th
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World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
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19th
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MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
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ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
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Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
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Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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