MANILA, Philippines – A promising 3-round lightweight bout has been added to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s second live event in the Philippines on October 15 as Guam’s Jon Tuck squares off with French fighter Mehdi Baghdad.
Tuck, the first Chamorro native from Guam to be signed with the UFC, has won 3 of his 6 Octagon outings since making his promotional debut in 2012.
The 32-year-old Guamanian is no stranger to Filipino mixed martial arts fans as he had a brief stint in Pacific Xtreme Combat, scoring a highlight-reel victory over Filipino-American stalwart Tristan Arenal by way of first-round knockout in November 2011.
Tuck also infamously handed Team Lakay’s Eduard Folayang his first career loss with an 8-second blowout in November 2008 under the Gorilla Warfare banner.
Known by the moniker “Super Saiyan,” Tuck is looking to bounce back at the expense of Baghdad as he is coming off a split decision setback to Josh Emmett this past May.
In the other corner, Baghdad (11-5) seeks his first win in the UFC after dropping two-straight bouts at the hands of Chris Wade and John Makdessi this year.
Baghdad, 31, was a contestant in the 22nd season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality television show, where he reached the first round of eliminations before being booted out by Julian Erosa.
UFC Fight Night Manila 2, which takes place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, is headlined by a scheduled 5-round featherweight clash between BJ Penn and Ricardo Lamas. – Rappler.com