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 F…
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 f…
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 t…
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?
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns has reiterated that he won’t accept a fight against teammate and fellow top-five Vicente Luque.
Since returning to welterweight in 2019, Burns has gone 5-1 and established himself as one of the top names in …
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns has reiterated that he won’t accept a fight against teammate and fellow top-five Vicente Luque.
Since returning to welterweight in 2019, Burns has gone 5-1 and established himself as one of the top names in the division. After victories over Alexey Kunchenko and Gunnar Nelson, “Durinho” shot into title contention with dominant 2020 wins against his compatriot Demian Maia and former 170-pound champion Tyron Woodley.
Despite knocking reigning king Kamaru Usman down in their UFC 258 title fight, the Brazilian became the first victim of the champ’s improved striking, falling to a third-round TKO.
Unfortunately for Gilbert Burns, the logical title eliminator would see him clash with Vicente Luque, his Sanford MMA teammate and friend. Luque has been on an impressive ride to the top, with his latest success against Michael Chiesa placing him in the division’s top five.
During a recent appearance on MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-language podcast Trocação Franca, Burns revealed that the UFC approached both men’s manager Ali Abdelaziz in an attempt to match the two training partners together.
“[The long wait for a fight] is a bit frustrating, I won’t say it isn’t, but it’s part of the job,” Burns said. “The UFC said the fight to make would be Vicente and I, but since we have this partnership, it won’t happen. This brotherhood screwed us, otherwise, we would have fought already. If we had fought, No. 2 against No. 4, I’d be way up there with a win, and Vicente would be up there with a win as well. I think that’s what’s keeping us stuck, more than the other guys [in the division].” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Despite shutting the door on a fight with Luque, “Durinho” did admit that, given the current welterweight landscape, it would make a lot of sense.
“It makes sense [based on] the rankings,” Burns said. “They know we won’t fight but still asked and tried to make it happen, but we declined. Vicente was the only fight I turned down in the entire division and vice versa. Other than that, I’ve already said I’ll fight anyone.”
Reiterating just how reluctant he is to face “The Silent Assassin,” Burns suggested it would take Floyd Mayweather-level cash for the pair to collide in the Octagon.
“Only if it’s the case of them coming with Floyd Mayweather money and Vicente and I talk and get to the point of like, ‘Let’s fight just for the money.’ Only if it’s something like that,” he said. “Other than that, there’s no way. And [Mayweather money] won’t happen. Only if it’s a life-changing stuff that we talk and see we have to take it. Other than that, I think it’s very difficult.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSSiusrp1ay/
While the next steps for both men are still unconfirmed, reports suggest Burns will be the next challenge for surging star Khamzat Chimaev. After returning in style with a submission victory over Li Jingliang at UFC 267, most believe the Chechen-born Swede is one win away from a title shot. A victory over Burns would certainly secure one.
The situation is a little more unclear for Luque. With Leon Edwards set to wait for a rematch with Usman and Colby Covington eyeing up a grudge match with Jorge Masvidal, the 30-year-old is left with #7 contender Neil Magny as the highest-ranked name who’s available and who he’s yet to face.
How do you think a fight between teammates Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque would play out?
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque has called for a title eliminator against #2-ranked Leon Edwards, and suggested he could make weight for UFC 269.
Luque has surged into the 170-pound top five with back-to-back submission wins in 2021. The B…
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque has called for a title eliminator against #2-ranked Leon Edwards, and suggested he could make weight for UFC 269.
Luque has surged into the 170-pound top five with back-to-back submission wins in 2021. The Brazilian initially entered it after a memorable victory over former champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 260 in March. Michael Chiesa then sent Luque back to #6 in the summer without either man fighting prior to the rankings update.
Luque reversed that change in emphatic fashion when he met “Maverick” at UFC 265 in August. After escaping multiple submission attempts against the grappling specialist, “The Silent Assassin” lived up to his moniker, reversing position and locking Chiesa in a D’Arce choke.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSUIDwJrbdT/
Luque: “It Would Remove Any Doubts”
Luque’s second D’Arce choke triumph of 2021 marked his fourth straight victory. Prior to his successes against Woodley and Chiesa, the 29-year-old finished Randy Brown and Niko Price. A defeat to perennial contender Stephen Thompson in 2019 is Luque’s only blemish in his last 11 Octagon outings. In that time, he’s secured six bonuses, five of which have come in his last six appearances.
“I would accept (the fight). I saw a lot of people talking about this fight and I didn’t say much because there were a lot of people asking. I’m always ready, I couldn’t beat the weight to be in reserve for Kamaru (Usman) and Colby (Covington), but I got the news within 10 days. If the UFC calls me, I’ll be in and sign a contract. A month is easy to beat the weight and I would still have time to do a good workout,” Luque said. (h/t BJPenn.com)
While some fans are calling for Edwards to receive the next shot, something the Jamaican-born Brit believes he is long overdue, others believe Luque should sit at the top of the queue. According to the Brazilian, a title eliminator between the pair makes the most sense.
“I think it would remove any doubts. There are people who think I should fight for the belt, there are people who think Leon. He has a great streak of victories, but I’ve done some damage in the division, with victories, so a fight between the two of us would remove any doubts and would be the next challenger for Kamaru.”
Would you like to see Vicente Luque and Leon Edwards collide in a title eliminator?
UFC President Dana White has addressed backup fighter Vicente Luque’s weight miss ahead of UFC 268 last week, describing it as “unfortunate.”
This past weekend, one of the most highly-anticipated events of 2021 delivered. Inside New York City’s pre…
UFC President Dana White has addressed backup fighter Vicente Luque’s weight miss ahead of UFC 268 last week, describing it as “unfortunate.”
This past weekend, one of the most highly-anticipated events of 2021 delivered. Inside New York City’s prestigious Madison Square Garden, a host of thrilling fights, memorable knockouts, and a couple of five-round title rematches went down. In the main event, Kamaru Usman followed in the footsteps of Justin Gaethje and Rose Namajunas, becoming the third of Trevor Wittman’s athletes to have their hand raised on the night.
#4-ranked welterweight contender Luque was brought to NYC to be a backup for Saturday’s headliner. Ultimately, there were no issues in the lead-up to Usman’s fifth title defense against Colby Covington and the Brazilian wasn’t required. That was fortunate given he’d actually missed weight by just north of two pounds on Friday.
Vicente Luque just missed weight as a backup. 172.2lbs. So the backup fighter for the main event has missed weight. #UFC268
The unexpected weight miss left many wondering whether Luque would get paid and what consequences there would be. At the UFC 268 post-fight press conference, Dana White commented on the incident after he was asked whether action would be taken. Despite revealing “The Silent Assassin” has still been paid, the UFC kingpin admitted the infraction was “bad.”
“Yeah, it’s unfortunate. [LAUGHS] It’s unfortunate when your backup doesn’t make weight. Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know what the answer to that question is, but it’s not good. It’s bad.”
Having stepped on the scale twice, once with the use of the towel, Luque’s weight miss was official. However, White revealed that the Brazilian could have taken two more hours to try and make the welterweight limit.
“So what happened was: He didn’t make weight, we did not tell him to quit. But if he really was gonna be the backup, they would’ve gave him two hours to cut the weight. So he didn’t take the two hours to go back and try.”
Luque was last in action at UFC 265 in August. In a clash of welterweight contenders, “The Silent Assassin” met wrestling specialist Michael Chiesa on the main card. In a frantic opening round, Luque escaped numerous submission attempts before reversing position and locking in a D’Arce choke of his own. After “Maverick” tapped, Luque secured his spot back in the division’s top five.
In the mind of most, Luque is perhaps one impressive win away from a title shot. Given his place on the 170-pound ladder, a clash with Gilbert Burns to determine a future championship challenger would make the most sense. However, as close friends, that fight won’t be happening.
