Jonathan Pearce (fighter)
Jonathan Mark Pearce | |
---|---|
Born | Jonathan Mark Pearce[1] May 1, 1992 Johnson City, Tennessee, United States |
Other names | JSP |
Nationality | American |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
Division | Lightweight Featherweight Bantamweight |
Reach | 71.0 in (180 cm)[2] |
Fighting out of | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States |
Team | Fight Ready MMA & Fitness |
Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] |
Years active | 2014–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 16 |
Wins | 12 |
By knockout | 8 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 2 |
Losses | 4 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 1 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Jonathan Mark Pearce[1] (born May 01, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background[]
Pearce was a state runner-up wrestler at Science Hill High School.[4]
In 2014, Pearce was blindsided by a disgruntled gym member, after the gym “bully” clocked him from behind after Pearce called out his ongoing rude behavior. Pearce went unconscious and had his head bashed by a heavy follow-up kick. The attack caused Pearce to suffer a broken neck, 19 broken teeth, a severed tongue, and had to undergo reconstructive jaw surgery. He still has two plates and eight screws in his face.[5][6]
Mixed martial arts career[]
Early career[]
In his MMA debut, he knocked out Noe Quintanilla in the third round. Pearce also defeated his next two opponents in Chris Wright and Anthony Morgan. Then at Valor Fights Apex Fights 10, he defeated Nickalas Marino via TKO in the second round.[7]
After going 4-0 to start his career, his fiancée called off their wedding and he would lose the next three bouts, two by first round submission. [5]Also after the third straight loss, in 2017, Pearce went to get medicals done for his next fight and doctors discovered he had a clay-shoveler fracture of two vertebrae in his neck, likely from the 2015 attack. A clay-shoveler fracture is an avulsion in which a small piece of bone tears away from the bigger piece.[6]
Pearce tapped out Damir Ferhatbegovic via rear-naked choke in round three at Bellator Monster Energy Fight Series: Bristol on August 19, 2017. He defeated Omar Johnson via TKO in the second round at Bellator Monster Energy Fight Series: Talladega on October 13, 2017. At Valor Fights Strikefest 2 Pearce faced Nick Baker and went on to defeat him via TKO in round two. He also defeated Dedrek Sanders at Warrior FC 140 via TKO.[7]
After 4 victories in a row, Pearce was invited to Dana White's Contender Series 19 on July 9, 2019. He took on Jacob Rosales and defeated him via TKO in the third round. The win also secured Pearce the seventh knockout victory of his professional career along with a UFC contract.[8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship[]
Pearce made his UFC debut against UFC vet Joe Lauzon, who was coming off a 18 month hiatus, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman.[9] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.[10]
Pearce was scheduled to face Sean Woodson on November 28, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark.[11] However, Woodson withdrew a week before the event due to unknown reasons and was replaced by Kai Kamaka III.[12] He won the bout via TKO in the second round.[13]
Pearce was scheduled to face Gabriel Benítez on May 1, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[14]At weigh ins, Benítez weighed in at 150.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the featherweight non-title limit. Pearce turned down the fight due to the weight miss and the bout was scrapped.[15]
Pearce faced Omar Morales on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266.[16] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round two.[17]
Pearce was scheduled to face Austin Lingo on February 19, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 201.[18] However, Lingo pulled out due to undisclosed reasons,[19] and was replaced by Christian Rodriguez.[20] Pearce won the fight via unanimous decision.[21]
Mixed martial arts record[]
Professional record breakdown | ||
16 matches | 12 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 8 | 1 |
By submission | 2 | 2 |
By decision | 2 | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 12–4 | Christian Rodriguez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill | February 19, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 11–4 | Omar Morales | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 266 | September 25, 2021 | 2 | 3:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 10–4 | Kai Kamaka III | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark | November 28, 2020 | 2 | 4:28 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
Loss | 9–4 | Joe Lauzon | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Weidman | October 18, 2019 | 1 | 1:33 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
Win | 9–3 | Jacob Rosales | TKO (punch) | Dana White's Contender Series 19 | July 9, 2019 | 3 | 1:50 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 8–3 | Dedrek Sanders | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Warrior FC 140 | September 21, 2018 | 2 | 5:00 | Asheville, North Carolina, United States | |
Win | 7–3 | Nick Baker | TKO (punches) | Strikefest 2 | December 16, 2017 | 2 | 1:12 | Gray, Tennessee, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
Win | 6–3 | Omar Johnson | TKO (punches) | Bellator Monster Energy Fight Series: Talladega | October 13, 2017 | 2 | 3:57 | Talladega, Alabama, United States | |
Win | 5–3 | Damir Ferhatbegović | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator Monster Energy Fight Series: Bristol | August 19, 2017 | 3 | 0:43 | Bristol, Tennessee, United States | Lightweight debut. |
Loss | 4–3 | Peter Petties | Decision (unanimous) | Shogun Fights 16 | April 8, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
Loss | 4–2 | Quinten Culpepper | Submission (toe hold) | Valor Fights 37 | August 27, 2016 | 1 | 3:27 | Cleveland, Tennessee, United States | |
Loss | 4–1 | Lance Lawrence | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Valor Fights 35 | June 25, 2016 | 1 | 0:24 | Gray, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Nickalas Martino | TKO (elbows) | APEX Fights 10 | March 19, 2016 | 2 | 2:52 | Kingsport, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | Chris Wright | TKO (punches) | Valor Fights 26 | September 12, 2015 | 1 | 4:26 | Blountville, Tennessee, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
Win | 2–0 | Anthony Morgan | Decision (unanimous) | Valor Fights 23 | June 6, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Noe Quintanilla | KO (knee) | Evolution Combat Sports Series 2 | November 8, 2014 | 3 | 0:22 | Elizabethton, Tennessee, United States | Featherweight debut. |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b "MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SHOW RESULTS" (PDF). Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
- ^ "Jonathan Pearce | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
- ^ jbirchfield@johnsoncitypress.com, Jeff Birchfield Sports Writer. "More opportunities likely for Pearce after big win". Johnson City Press. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ a b "Broken bones and a broken heart: DWCS 19's Jonathan Pearce already faced his toughest battle". MMA Junkie. 2019-07-08. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ a b "Jonathan Pearce found a new inspiration for chasing his UFC dream". ESPN.com. 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ a b "Across the Pond Profile: UFC fighter Jonathan Pearce | MMA UK". 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ "Johnson City native Jonathan Pearce gets UFC contract after win on ESPN+". WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ "Joe Lauzon returns from 18-month layoff, fights Jonathan Pearce at UFC on ESPN 6". MMA Junkie. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (2019-10-18). "UFC Boston Results: Joe Lauzon Stops Jonathan Pearce, Indecisive on Retirement". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- ^ Mike Heck (2020-10-13). "Sean Woodson vs. Jonathan Pearce targeted for UFC event on Nov. 28". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2020-11-21). "Kai Kamaka steps in for Sean Woodson, fights Jonathan Pearce at UFC on ESPN 18". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ McClory, Mike (2020-11-28). "UFC Vegas 15 Results: Jonathan Pearce Stops Kai Kamaka III". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2021-03-02). "Gabriel Benitez vs. Jonathan Pearce booked for UFC event on May 1". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ Staff (2021-04-30). "Jonathan Pearce says he said no to overweight Gabriel Benitez, UFC on ESPN 23 fight off". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-08-19). "Omar Morales vs. Jonathan Pearce Added To UFC 266". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
- ^ Evanoff, Josh (2021-09-25). "UFC 266 Results: Jonathan Pearce Submits Omar Morales". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
- ^ DNA, MMA (2021-10-16). "Austin Lingo vs. Jonathan Pearce toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 19 februari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
- ^ Staff and Nolan King (2022-02-08). "Julian Marquez, Austin Lingo out of UFC Fight Night 201 matchups". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
- ^ Meshew, Jed (2022-02-15). "Jonathan Pearce now meets Christian Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 48". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (2022-02-19). "UFC Vegas 48: Jonathan Pearce Takes Decision Against Game Christian Rodriguez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Jonathan Pearce". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
External links[]
- 1992 births
- Living people
- American male mixed martial artists
- Featherweight mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling
- Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
- American male sport wrestlers
- Amateur wrestlers
- People from Johnson City, Tennessee