Welterweight veteran Vicente Luque returned to form earlier tonight (Sat., Dec. 7, 2024) at UFC 310 LIVE on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, stunning rising contender Themba Gorimbo with a nasty first-round submission (anaconda choke).
Despite having the second most finishes in UFC welterweight history, Luque was a betting underdog entering Saturday night’s “Prelims” clash with Gorimbo. Luque was coming off a vicious knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley this past March, but he’s still one of the most dangerous outs in the division. UFC 310 was his chance to prove he’s still a top contender heading into 2025.
It didn’t take Luque long to find his range and step inside for a stiff right hand. Gorimbo toppled to the canvas and Luque quickly followed suit. “Silent Assassin” immediately grabbed a hold of Gorimbo’s neck and locked him up in a tight anaconda choke. It was deep. Luque kept his squeeze and it eventually forced Gorimbo to go to sleep.
Check out the video highlights below:
VICENTE LUQUE PUTS THEMBA GORIMBO TO SLEEP #UFC310 pic.twitter.com/a8zylJ8j55
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 8, 2024
Luque, 33, was just 1-3 in his last four UFC appearances heading into this weekend so this was a huge victory for the struggling veteran. Gorimbo has been pretty dominant during his short tenure with the promotion, but Luque will have to prove his mettle again next year against stiffer competition.
For complete UFC 310 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.