Vicente Luque found himself in some early trouble, but he was able to gather himself up and battle back to drop and submit Kelvin Gastelum during the UFC 327 prelims.
Gastelum came out on the front foot early, trying to pressure Luque with single shots. Gastelum brought Luque to the fence and pinned him there before scoring the takedown. Gastelum troubled Luque, holding him for a while and attempting a choke.
Luque, however, was able to work his way out of Gastelum’s grasp. Despite Gastelum’s strong chin, Luque landed a strong right uppercut that dropped him. Luque then held Gastelum down on the ground for a bit before locking in a D’Arce choke to score the submission.
The UFC Rio lineup has reportedly undergone some adjustments.
The MMA promotion is slated to return to the “Cidade Maravilhosa” this year with a Fight Night event named UFC Rio, scheduled for October 11 at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to a recent report from an MMA journalist Alvaro Colmenero, the welterweight clash between seasoned contenders Vicente Luque and Santiago Ponzinibbio has fallen through after the “Argentine Dagger” was forced out of UFC Rio with an injury.
Luque, however, won’t be left without an opponent, as he is now reportedly set to face Joel Alvarez, who will be making his debut in the 170-pound division.
🚨BREAKING NEWS: Joel Álvarez vs Vicente Luque is in the works for UFC Rio on October 11 in Brazil.
Santiago Ponzinibbio is out and will be replaced by El Fenómeno on short notice, per sources.
“The Silent Assassin” last competed at UFC 316 in June, where he was submitted by Kevin Holland in the second round. Luque’s recent run has been a tough one, with just two wins in his last six outings. The 33-year-old Brazilian holds a 16-7 UFC record, with 14 of those victories coming by way of finish.
Meanwhile, Alvarez has been out of action since December 2024, when he scored a first-round knockout over Drakkar Klose at UFC Tampa. Riding a three-fight win streak, “El Fenomeno” carries a flawless finishing rate across his 22-3 professional record and has gone 7-2 under the UFC banner.
The UFC Rio card was originally set to be headlined by a lightweight clash between former champion Charles Oliveira and Rafael Fiziev. However, Fiziev had to step away from the fight due to injury, and the promotion is now working to secure a replacement opponent for “Do Bronx”.
The UFC has lost its lightweight main event between Charles Oliveira and Rafael Fiziev on Oct. 11 after Fiziev has been forced to withdraw due to injury, sources confirmed to @bokamotoESPN.
Octagon Update was first to report the news of Fiziev's injury. The UFC has not commented…
Kevin Holland may very well find himself back in the welterweight rankings after UFC 316, scoring a second-round submission victory over Vicente Luque in the pay-per-view’s opening bout.
Luque looked for an early takedown before Holland’s strikes forced Luque to abandon it. Holland appeared to wobble Luque during the first couple of minutes with an elbow. Luque responded well, but it resulted in a hematoma behind Luque’s left ear. Both men had their moments during this frame, but Holland’s physical advantages helped give him the edge.
Holland managed to catch a kick of Luque’s early in the second round, putting him to the mat. It was there where Holland put Luque away by securing a D’Arce choke and scoring the submission.
Kevin Holland Submits Vicente Luque At UFC 316
Kevin Holland tapping Vicente Luque wasn't on my bingo card.
Great performance. He threw the kitchen sink at Luque until he found his opening.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 8, 2025
Holland has now won two straight and three of his last five. This was Holland’s second fight back at 170 after scoring a decision win over Gunnar Nelson at UFC London.
Luque is now 2-2 in his last four and has now lost four of his last six.
Following a crucial victory at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, UFC welterweight Vicente Luque’s eyes are on those above him at 170 pounds — unless…
Luque made the walk at UFC 310 off the back of a 2-3 run across his previous five fights and a difficult knockout loss at the hands of Joaquin Buckley earlier this year. With that, his place in the divisional top 15 was at stake.
But while Themba Gorimbo entered his short-notice opportunity to rise the ranks with momentum from four straight wins, “The Silent Assassin” showed that he has plenty left in the tank by putting on an emphatic and dominant performance.
During his post-fight press conference, Luque reflected on his return to the win column inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena and looked ahead to what could await him in the new year.
After reiterating his title aspirations, the 33-year-old unsurprisingly outlined his intention to face a name high up the welterweight ladder in 2025. But Luque would entertain one name who is far from being in the championship conversation.
“2025 is that run for the title, and I want that Miami card. I want top 10, but I have an exception,” Luque said. “If Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him.
“I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war,” Luque continued. “I know that the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”
Masvidal hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Gilbert Burns at the Miami-held UFC 287 PPV in April 2023. The result, which marked a fourth straight loss for “Gamebred,” was quickly followed by a retirement announcement that many in the community supported.
It remains to be seen who that MMA comeback will come against, but Luque evidently fancies his chances in what would no doubt be one of the more high-profile bouts in his career.
Themba Gorimbo appears to be in good spirits following the second loss of his UFC career this past weekend in Las Vegas. After Nick Diaz withdrew from his fight with Vicente Luque at UFC 310, the Brazilian needed a new opponent for his second fight of 2024.
Gorimbo stepped up and looked to earn the biggest win of his career whilst extending his current winning streak inside the Octagon to five. Instead, the welterweight staple was able to produce the fastest finish on the card where after dropping his opponent, Luque locked up an anaconda choke to get the submission victory inside the opening minute of their prelim bout.
The 33-year old contender from Zimbabwe has since posted his reaction to the fight on social media where he has been able to take the positives from this latest setback. Alongside a video on Instagram, he wrote the following caption:
“My little dream story, it’s crazy life sometimes you the nail man. 2024 was and a good year for my career 3-1 in ufc in 10 months that was something to be thankful for. Busiest year of my career. Learn and grow from this.”
In the video, Gorimbo details what the experience was like of being choked out and waking up inside the Octagon with no recollection of what had just happened.
“One of the craziest things that happen in my career was Yesterday man. Woke up from like a little dream land, boom, open my eyes, see a black guy and a white guy. I’m like, ‘Damn! Where am I?’ and they were like, ‘The fight is over Themba’, the black guy said. The white guy said ‘Stay down’, I guess he was the doctor. I’m like, ‘Hold up, let me up, where am I?’ and then I’m like ‘Oh coach, is the fight done? Damn!’. Yeah man, one of the craziest moments of my career. It’s funny what happened, it happens man. Honestly like, I worked hard. My entire career I’ve always worked hard. For this fight camp, I worked hard. There’s things that I can fix, there’s things definitely that needs to be adjusted. Some healing need to be done… No excuse. Luque caught me with a good one. That was so cool man, still in dream land now.”
Those who were counting Vicente Luque out were sorely mistaken.
The longtime welterweight contender returned to the win column in impactful fashion with a quick victory over Themba Gorimbo as part of the UFC 310 preliminary card Saturday night.
“The Silent Assassin” dropped Gorimbo with a short right hand just seconds into the fight. The Brazilian then jumped immediately for the Zimbabwean’s neck, looking for the submission.
And after he managed to lock in a D’arce choke, Gorimbo went unconscious seconds later, giving the Kill Cliff FC standout a memorable submission.
Vicente Luque Scores Sub-Minute Submission Of Themba Gorimbo At UFC 310
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque is turning the page on his attempts to do battle with Nick Diaz.
Diaz was initially scheduled to face Vicente Luque at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi this August, but the bout was scrapped due to travel issues on the Stockton native’s end. The matchup was later rebooked for UFC 310 on Dec. 7, marking what would have been Diaz’s first fight in over three years.
However, the fight was canceled as Diaz withdrew once again after a concerning video emerged that appeared to show him attempting to light grass on fire in the street. In his place, Luque is now set to face Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310.
The last time Diaz competed was at UFC 266 in September 2021, where he suffered a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler. Luque, meanwhile, has been struggling to regain his momentum in the Octagon. He holds a 1-3 record in his last four fights and is coming off a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in March.
Reflecting on the scrapped matchup during media day on Wednesday, Luque expressed doubts about ever facing Diaz in the future.
“At this point, I don’t think it will happen again,” Luque said. “Maybe – who knows. But I’m up the division. I’m looking to get past Themba. That’s the first mission to be accomplished, and after that, I’m looking up. I think that the Nick fight is past.”
At UFC 310 this weekend, welterweight staple Vicente Luque will look to return to the win column by halting the winning streak of Themba Gorimbo. For the 33-fight veteran, defending his position in the rankings isn’t something that he’s used to but he was forced into this role in his last fight.
In Atlantic City this past March, Luque came up against Joaquin Buckley who was looking to build on his back-to-back wins by earning his biggest victory to date. “New Mansa” did exactly that by stopping the Brazilian in the second round for the first of three breakout wins for him in 2024.
During a recent interview with UFC.com ahead of his return in Las Vegas, Luque spoke about what he was able to learn and take from this fight and how that will benefit him against Gorimbo who has won his last four since losing his UFC debut.
“Against Buckley, that was the first time I was in that position, and it was a fight for me to understand that it’s different. It was good for me to face Buckley and live that before I fight Themba because now I know what kind of energy I have to have in there.”
He believes that unlike some of his recent matchups against the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Geoff Neal and Belal Muhammad, he needed to bring a different mentality with him into the Buckley fight. In his opinion, in order to beat the rising and hungry contenders in his division, he needs to match the fire that they bring into the Octagon.
“Now when we’re fighting up-and-comers, I remember all the tenacity I brought into fights, and I’ve got to bring that back. Buckley woke me up to that.
“I’ve got to go in there and really want it more than them; not just come in here and think my technique and my experience is gonna be enough.”
When it comes to achieving his ongoing goals in the UFC, welterweight Vicente Luque believes he’s in line to be better placed following the withdrawal of Nick Diaz.
Luque, a veteran contender who has slipped to #14 in the rankings following three losses in his last four fights, will make his return on the preliminary card of this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view.
The Brazilian was originally slated to appear opposite Diaz, marking their second attempt at sharing the cage in 2024. The pair previously had a clash at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi this past August called off, with visa issues on the side of the Stockton native being branded the reason.
While fans and fighters alike express worry over Diaz’s status, Luque has a new foe in his sights. And although his new matchup isn’t quite as prominent following his high-profile opponent pulling out, “The Silent Assassin” sees a silver lining.
“Nick brought a lot of that hype from the fans,” Luque said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “When I look to the UFC, there are a lot of things that can push you over. Maybe the biggest of all is hype, and I think the Nick fight brought that. Now, when I look at this fight, from a sportive side, it makes way more sense.
“It’s a challenge, a good guy who is coming hungry for the victory, and he wants to enter the rankings,” Luque continued. “I’m here to defend my position and at the same time show I’m still going for the top, gunning to become champion. This fight brings that.”
Luque will now look to make the most of his opportunity to stall the rise of an in-form prospect and prove that he’s still got plenty to give toward the top of the standings at 170 pounds.
🚨NEW: A video of Nick Diaz, by himself, shirtless in public, trying to light a random piece of grass on fire has surfaced online ahead of his MMA return against Vicente Luque on Dec. 7. 👀
Thoughts on this video surfacing shortly after his fight with Luque got announced? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/lVZZuZoFb8
People’s fears were realized when the bout’s cancellation was confirmed, with rising prospect Themba Gorimbo taking Diaz’s place to face Luque inside T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 7.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, “The Silent Assassin” reacted to losing his planned opponent again, this time expressing more concern given the apparent circumstances.
“I don’t know exactly why (it was canceled),” Luque said, before commenting on the apparent video of Diaz. “I saw that video of him in the streets, and he didn’t look OK. And more than anything, I hope his family and he’s taking care of himself. I hope he recovers and goes back to his best state possible. … I didn’t know if it was a recent video or not, but I kept thinking, if it’s recent, I hope he really seeks help to get out of the situation he’s in because Nick is a fighter I follow since before I was in the UFC. He has inspired me a lot in the past. … You see his accomplishments, and see his state at 40 years of age, that’s not how I want to see any fighter.
“This sport is very tough and we dedicate so many years to be able to make a living off this, and to see him in that situation, at his age… We don’t know what he’s going to do from now on, if he’s going to recover, if he’s going to be able to fight again, maybe open a gym and teach, whatever, but we hope for the best,” Luque continued. “It’s very sad to see him at that stage, because I don’t want that for anyone, much less a man that has inspired so many.”
While fight fans wish the best for Diaz, a big opportunity has opened up for Gorimbo.
The Zimbabwean gained prominence when his inspirational story was noticed by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who subsequently bought the fighter a house in Miami.
That came after Gorimbo’s first UFC win, and “The Answer” has since had his hand raised in three straight fights this year to put him on the brink of a number next to his name at 170 pounds.
For the first time since his 2021 return, Nick Diaz will be back in the Octagon once again, taking on Vicente Luque as part of the main card for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.
Following the announcement of that rescheduled contest, Diaz posted a teaser to his Instagram page, showcasing footage of a training session to the tune of Limp Bizkit’s “My Way.”
Diaz and Luque were originally scheduled to face off at UFC Abu Dhabi early last month before the fight was postponed due to travel issues on the side of the Stockton native.
Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage Ahead Of UFC 310 Return
Diaz last fought in the Octagon at UFC 266, losing a rematch with old foe Robbie Lawler by way of TKO.
That fight was Diaz’s first since his infamous UFC 183 main event bout with Anderson Silva — a fight in which Diaz failed a drug test and was nearly banned for life by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Diaz’s last UFC win came against BJ Penn at UFC 137 well over a decade ago.
Luque, meanwhile, has suffered defeat in three of his last four, most recently losing to Joaquin Buckley in Atlantic City back in March.
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz will likely make his next Octagon appearance before the year is out.
Diaz — a former Strikeforce and WEC champion — hasn’t competed since UFC 266 in September of 2021, where he was stopped by Robbie Lawler. That outing marked his first in six years and left many calling for his retirement.
Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that matchup has been kept together and is now targeted to take place at the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this coming December.
🚨Breaking🚨
Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque is in the works to be rebooked for UFC 310 in Las Vegas.https://t.co/F0KQsx1pVB
Prior to his unsuccessful return three years ago, Diaz’s previous outing saw him share the cage with Anderson Silva in 2015. The Brazilian had his unanimous decision win overturned to a no contest after testing positive for drostanolone and androsterone.
Diaz, meanwhile, tested positive for elevated marijuana metabolites, leading to a controversial suspension and lengthy layoff on the sidelines for the fan favorite.
He’ll now look to return to his form of old in his second bout back at the expense of Luque, a longtime figure in the welterweight top 15 who has lost three of his last four.
Those who were hoping to see another Nick Diaz appearance in the Octagon really soon will be disappointed.
Per the broadcast of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, a “travel issue” has left Diaz unable to compete in his scheduled co-main event bout with Vicente Luque on Aug. 3, when the promotion holds a UFC Fight Night card at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
It was announced that undefeated middleweight prospect Sharabutdin “Bullet” Magomedov will now be featured in the new co-main event, taking on Michal Oleksiejczuk.
Diaz’s last UFC appearance came at UFC 266 in September 2021, losing to Robbie Lawler. That marked the Stockton star’s first MMA fight since his January 2015 clash with Anderson Silva.
Luque, meanwhile, has lost three of his last four, most recently being stopped by Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night Atlantic City.
The UFC is expected to reschedule Luque vs. Diaz for an event at a late date.
Luque & Diaz Out, Magomedov In For UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi
Magomedov competed just last month at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia, scoring a third-round finish of Antonio Trócoli. He made his Octagon debut in Abu Dhabi last year, defeating Bruno Silva at UFC 294.
Oleksiejczuk, on the other hand, has lost three of his last four, most recently being submitted by Kevin Holland at UFC 302 last month in Newark.
UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi on August 3 will be headlined by Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov. It is the first of two events to take place in Abu Dhabi this year, with UFC 308 to be held in the same location on October 26.
His last outing against Robbie Lawler three years ago also came as a shock, but given the way that fight ended and the lack of movement since then, many would have assumed that we wouldn’t see Diaz back inside the Octagon.
However, Diaz’s former coach has some worrying comments about the fight that aren’t going to go down well with fans who are excited to see him back…
Cesar Gracie Expresses Concern Over Nick Diaz’s Return Against Vicente Luque
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Cesar Gracie gave his thoughts on the Octagon return of Diaz.
He made it clear throughout that he isn’t involved in this fight, so while he is still in constant communication with Diaz, he doesn’t know much about it.
Nevertheless, Gracie doesn’t think that coming back against a top 15 competitor in Abu Dhabi is the right move for his former fighter considering where he is at in his career.
“I’m really not that involved in that fight, gonna be perfectly honest with you. That wasn’t my idea, it wouldn’t have been the fight that I would’ve — like, if I was advising Nick, I wouldn’t have advised him to do that fight.
“It’s in Abu Dhabi, I wouldn’t advise to go fight overseas at this point. Luque is a very tough guy, Nick is a tough guy but it just doesn’t make that much sense for me. Where Nick is at in his career and I don’t know, it’s not the fight that I would’ve made.”
At 40 years old, Diaz hasn’t had his hand raised inside the cage since his win over BJ Penn at UFC 137, a staggering 13 years ago.
Gracie also expressed some concerns over whether this fight actually happens, stating once again that everything is a little bit up in the air right now, at least on his end.
“I don’t even know what’s going on with that fight, to be honest with you. I spoke to Nick today and, yeah, I don’t have any plans for that fight to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going to happen with that one at all.”
Vicente Luque recently expressed confidence that his past encounters with three seasoned UFC veterans have equipped him to manage the pressure in his upcoming fight against Nick Diaz.
Luque’s recent career has experienced significant ups and downs. Since April 2022, “The Silent Assassin”, known for his formidable and versatile fighting abilities, has managed to secure only one victory. That triumph came when he defeated Rafael Dos Anjos via unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 74 last August.
Before his victory, Luque endured consecutive defeats to Belal Muhammad and Geoff Neal. The loss to “Handz of Steel” was particularly significant as it marked the first knockout loss of his career and led to an injury that kept him out of action for almost a year.
Drawing on his past victories over several notable opponents, Luque believes that his experience and resilience will be key factors in his bout against the former Strikeforce welterweight champion…
Luque Trusts Experience To Overcome Diaz Challenge
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, “The Silent Assassin” was queried about his strategy for facing a high-profile opponent like Diaz.
Luque acknowledged that the intensity Diaz brings to fights is exceptionally different from that of other opponents. However, he expressed confidence that his victories over veterans like Tyron Woodley, Dos Anjos, and Bryan Barberena will provide him with the edge he needs on August 3.
“I think he’s a big name. I fought Woodley, I fought RDA, and these guys were big champions. They have big names, but I feel like the energy that Nick brings is different.”
“I think it’s a little bit different, and I don’t know if I would mix the experience that I have from fighting Woodley and RDA with the fight I had with Barberena. It’s kind of that, you know, throw all those into a blender, and you come out with something like Nick, a guy with big, a legend, but he’ll stand there in front of you and try to pressure you.”
The Brazilian also noted that the five-round matchup will work to his advantage against Diaz, who has been out of the octagon for an extended period of time.
“It’s gonna be five rounds, not gonna be three rounds. So it’s gonna be nice. I mean, if he can, what I’m gonna bring, and I think he can and I can take what he’s gonna bring, then we’re gonna put on a show for everyone.”
Diaz returned to active competition after a six-year hiatus, facing off against his former rival Robbie Lawler in a rematch at UFC 266 in September 2021. The 40-year-old Stockton native unexpectedly dropped to the canvas in the third round and chose not to continue, leading the referee to stop the fight.
With his 10-0 record and fast ascension up the UFC ladder, the anticipation for Chimaev’s fifth walk to the Octagon is high. And while fans are now looking forward to that appearance next month, it turns out if alternate plans had come to fruition, we’d be discussing another concluded Chimaev fight this week.
This past weekend, MMA’s premier promotion returned to the UK for the first time since 2019. Thanks to memorable victories for Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Ilia Topuria, and Paul Craig, the event will undoubtedly go down as one of the best of 2022.
But according to the #4-ranked Vicente Luque, fans could have seen a crucial welterweight bout go down towards the top of the card.
During a recent interview with The AllStar, the Brazilian claimed to have accepted an offer from the UFC to share the Octagon with Chimaev in London. While he’s unsure the reasoning for the matchup ultimately not coming together, Luque assured that he was more than willing to scrap with the Chechen-born Swede inside the O2.
“I did get offered to fight Chimaev in London,” Luque revealed. “And I told the UFC that I was ready for that. I think Belal (Muhammad) was also offered that fight as well. But it didn’t work out… I don’t really know why it didn’t. They offered me the fight and I said I would take it. I don’t know if there was some sort of issue with Chimaev or if they wanted to wait and make the fight at another moment.”
While White believes a title clash between English contender Leon Edwards and reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman is the only thing that could have made UFC London any better, it’s hard to deny that a Luque vs. Chimaev fight would have also added something to the memorable event.
Crucial April Outings On The Horizon For Vicente Luque & Khamzat Chimaev
With both sitting inside the welterweight top five and riding impressive win streaks, their UFC Fight Night main event will be crucial in determining a future challenger for the champion.
Meanwhile, after missing out on the chance to fight in his home continent for whatever reason, Chimaev’s attention will now solely be on the toughest test of his career to date.
A week prior to Luque vs. Muhammad, “Borz” will look to join them at the top of the division when he faces former title challenger and #2-ranked contender Gilbert Burns. The pair will meet on a stacked UFC 273 pay-per-view card set for Jacksonville, Florida on April 9.
Ranked welterweights Vicente Luque and Belal Muhammad are set to meet in the main event of UFC’s April 16th card.
The five-round matchup between top welterweights was first reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN on Tuesday. It’s expected to headline a Fight Night card that doesn’t have a confirmed location at the moment.
The matchup allows the welterweight division to come one step closer to finding the next challenger for current champ Kamaru Usman. Luque is currently ranked at #4 in the division, with Muhammad listed just behind him.
Luque is currently on a four-fight winning streak that has been in development over the past two years. His most recent appearance was in August, where he secured a first-round submission victory over Michael Chiesa.
Prior victories from Luque include wins over notable names like former champ Tyron Woodley and divisional vet Randy Brown. His UFC career has been highly successful since joining in 2015, attaining 14 wins through 17 fights.
Muhammad has also maintained a lengthy win streak in recent years. He has gone undefeated since April 2019, attaining six victories in that time. He overcame two veterans in 2021, first going through Demian Maia before beating Stephen Thompson in December.
The new booking is a chance for Muhammad to get a proper re-appearance into the main event picture. He made his first UFC main event appearance in March 2021, although that fight didn’t produce a satisfying result. His bout against Leon Edwards was ruled a no-contest finish, as Muhammad suffered a brutal eye poke just moments into the second round.
Who do you favor in a fight between Vicente Luque and Belal Muhammad?
UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev isn’t sure why he doesn’t have an opponent for his next fight but is willing to take on all challengers.
Chimaev has remained active on social media since dismantling Li Jingliang at UFC 267. He’s called for fights with some of the biggest names in the sport, including Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.
“If I say I want to fight everybody it means everybody,” Chimaev said. “I don’t have to call every single fighter by their names. BMF belt is mine, UFC belt is mine too. I’ve heard there is gonna be [an event on March 5] in Vegas. And I don’t understand why I still don’t have an opponent.”
Khamzat Chimaev Has Sights Set On Welterweight Title
Khamzat Chimaev (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)
Khamzat Chimaev has taken the UFC by storm since joining the promotion in 2020. He remains undefeated in his professional career, with all 10 of his wins coming by way of knockout or submission.
Chimaev has made it clear that he wants a shot at welterweight champion Kamaru Usman sooner rather than later. Luque is also vying for a title shot after four straight wins over the likes of Tyron Woodley and Michael Chiesa.
A fight between Chimaev and Luque could make sense in the meantime, but it’s unclear what the promotion has planned for both welterweights. There were previous reports of Chimaev being paired with Burns, but those talks may have fizzled out.
Chimaev and Luque both likely need at least one more strong performance to make a valid case for a title shot. If they want to impress the champion, a highlight win against the other could do the trick.
Who would you like to see Khamzat Chimaev fight next?
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque has welcomed a fight against rising star Khamzat Chimaev, saying the decision to sign the contract would be “simple” for him.
Luque has been on an impressive rise up the 170-pound ladder. Since a 2017 loss to the #3-ranked Leon Edwards, the Brazilian has gone 10-1, defeating the likes of Niko Price, Bryan Barberena, Mike Perry, and Randy Brown, and losing to only Stephen Thompson.
Since his setback to “Wonderboy,” Luque has won four straight, including 2021 victories over former champion Tyron Woodley and then-top-five contender Michael Chiesa. His victory over “Maverick,” which came at UFC 265 in August, saw “The Silent Assassin” expertly reverse position to submit Chiesa with a D’Arce choke.
After his latest victory, Vicente Luque continued his callouts of fan-favorite Nate Diaz, with the Stockton native even appearing to publicly accept the fight. But with talk of that clash disappearing, the 30-year-old is now on the hunt for other potential foes, and he’s certainly not afraid of anyone, not even an undefeated brute outside the top 10.
After making a splash in the UFC last year, Khamzat Chimaev was forced to the sidelines with a bad bout of COVID-19. When he returned at UFC 267 in October, “Borz” immediately entered the rankings and the title conversation with a first-round domination of Li Jingliang.
During an Instagram live session, Luque started by praising his welterweight peer and acknowledged why there is so much hype surrounding his blossoming career. However, that doesn’t put him off entering the Octagon with Chimaev. The Brazilian said he’d have no problem accepting the fight and encouraged “Borz” to call out his name.
“I sure understand the hype behind it. He looks great in fights, he seems like a really strong guy. He goes in there and finishes every fight. So I understand the hype, I understand why the UFC wants to put you in big fights. Many people ask me about this fight (against Chimaev). And I’m here. If he mentions my name – because I didn’t hear him say my name – if he says my name and the UFC sends me the contract, I’m going to sign that contract. This is simple for me.
“But he didn’t mention my name. I think he said, ‘Anyone in the top.’ Well, when someone mentions my name and asks for this fight, I’m going to do it for sure. I think it’s a great fight, it’s an exciting fight. He’s a monster. He goes in there and tries to finish the opponent every second. It’s not much different from what I do. It would be a great fight, that’s for sure. If he wants to, if he warns the UFC and if they warn me, we’ll do it,” he concluded. (h/t ESPN)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMv0dRopmj/
It’s perhaps unsurprising that one of the welterweights open to fighting Chimaev is Luque. “The Silent Assassin” has built a reputation as an always-game individual who doesn’t hesitate when it comes to accepting fights—unless it’s against his teammate Burns, of course.
Now that Luque has joined Neil Magny in calling out “Borz,” the idea that top contenders in the 170-pound weight class are avoiding him, a narrative pushed by many, including Derek Brunson, has perhaps lost its legs.
How do you think a fight between Vicente Luque and Khamzat Chimaev would play out?
