Vicente Luque is best known for being a kill or be killed brawler. Conventional wisdom said he had the advantage on the feet, while his UFC 265 opponent, Michael Chiesa, had his best chance to win on the ground. But, in a crazy reversal of expectation, Luque survived some close choke attempts from Chiesa to land his own d’arce choke, finishing the fight midway through the first round.
It’s his second d’arce choke in a row (he hit the same move on Tyron Woodley after touching up his chin), but we’re still shocked. Luque submitting Chiesa during a pure Brazilian jiu-jitsu showdown? Wow.
Watch the finish here:
OH MY GOSH!!! @VicenteLuqueMMA just reversed it on him! #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/JTBj7W3j47
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
Locks in his 4th D’Arce choke in UFC
@VicenteLuqueMMA just did that. #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/JcUZM0fqcW
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
Calling his shot at the champ
[ @VicenteLuqueMMA | #UFC265 ] pic.twitter.com/l4JO3mzDZV
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
Following the fight, Luque called out 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman in the hopes of getting in line behind Colby Covington. Considering how Luque is one of the few Welterweight contenders actually fighting his way through the division with regularity, we’re feeling pretty down with this.
The win puts Luque to 14-3 in UFC (21-7-1 MMA) and sets him on a four-fight win streak. Chiesa’s own four-fight win streak got snapped, dropping him to 11-5 in UFC (17-5 MMA).
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