Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

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 […]

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.

It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

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.

But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

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.

Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

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 […]

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.

It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

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.

But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

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.

Vicente Luque Reveals Only Non-Top 10 Opponent He’ll Accept After UFC 310: ‘I Have An Exception…’ 

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 […]

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.

It took the Brazilian-American just 52 seconds to stall the Zimbabwean’s push toward contention, first dropping him on the feet before choking him unconscious with a tight anaconda choke.

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.

But after competing against former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring, the ex-BMF champ has insisted that a UFC return is in store next year.

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 Recalls Waking Up After Being Choked Out By Vicente Luque At UFC 310: ‘Where Am I?!’

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 […]

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.”

VIDEO: Vicente Luque Chokes Themba Gorimbo Unconscious In Under A Minute At UFC 310

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 […]

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

After a pair of losses in 2022, including one to current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, Luque has now won two of his last three fights.

Gorimbo, meanwhile, sees a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss tonight.

UFC 310: Vicente Luque Explains How Joaquin Buckley ‘Woke’ Him Up With Knockout

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 […]

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.”