Tag: Vicente Luque

Vicente Luque Will Be The Back-Up for Usman vs. Covington

Vicente Luque will be ready to step in if needed in New York.

One of the biggest events of the year will go down this Saturday night in New York City. UFC 268 will feature two title fights and a number of other great matchups. The main event will b…

Vicente Luque Kamaru Usman Colby Covington

Vicente Luque will be ready to step in if needed in New York.

One of the biggest events of the year will go down this Saturday night in New York City. UFC 268 will feature two title fights and a number of other great matchups. The main event will be a welterweight title bout between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. This is a rematch and both fighters seem to be eager to run it back. That being said, there is always a chance one could be unable to go come Saturday, that is where Vicente Luque comes in.

Luque will be on hand at Madison Square Garden to weigh in on Friday as the official backup fighter for UFC 268. The news was first reported by ESPN. Luque is coming into this opportunity having won his last four. His recent wins are over some of the who’s who of the division, including Tyron Woodley, Michael Chiesa, and Randy Brown. He is currently sitting in the number four spot of the rankings.

Luque was briefly linked to a possible fight with Nate Diaz coming up this year, but talks of that bout seem to have cooled. If Luque gets the chance to step in on ultra-short notice on Nov. 6, it will be his first title shot, assuming he faces off against Usman.

Luque recently spoke to MMA Fighting about the possibility of getting this fill-in chance in which he said, “I’m staying ready. I love being ready for an opportunity. If something comes in November, if they end up needing someone, I’ll stay ready for it. I’ll be training for this.”

What do you think of Vicente Luque serving as the backup for the UFC 268 main event?

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Vicente Luque To Serve As Backup For UFC 268 Main Event

Vicente LuqueUFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque will weigh in and serve as the backup to Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2 at UFC 268. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the news, per Luque’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. Luque will weigh in at a championship weight of 170 pounds just in case either Usman or […]

Vicente Luque

UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque will weigh in and serve as the backup to Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2 at UFC 268.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the news, per Luque’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. Luque will weigh in at a championship weight of 170 pounds just in case either Usman or Covington fail to make the walk on Saturday night.

Luque, in many eyes, is the No. 1 contender who will face the winner of Usman vs. Covington next. He’s been on a tear as of late, with four straight wins over the likes of former champion Tyron Woodley, and most recently a first-round submission against Michael Chiesa at UFC 265.

Vicente Luque could get the next title shot against either Kamaru Usman or Colby Covington

Luque has looked like a force of nature at welterweight since losing to Stephen Thompson at UFC 244. Since losing in The Ultimate Fighter: Season 21 Finale against Michael Graves, he’s only lost to Thompson and Leon Edwards in his professional career.

Luque’s gesture of offering to be the backup for Usman/Covington could also complicate things in the title picture. Edwards is slated to face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 269 next month, and could potentially get the next title shot with his long winning streak. But, Luque also has a good case to get the next title shot with his recent successes.

Luque and Usman are also former training partners during their time at Blackzilians during the gym’s rise in south Florida. Luque called for a fight with Usman following his latest win over Chiesa.

UFC 268 is expected to be one of the most exciting cards of the year, with two title fights and plenty of talent on the undercard. In the event that something happens with the main event, Luque is ready to step in and keep the welterweight fight intact.

Should Vicente Luque get the next UFC welterweight title shot?

Manager: Diaz/Luque Likely Only Happens If Nate Re-Signs With UFC

Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz believes a fight between Nate Diaz and Vicente Luque will only happen if the former signs a new deal with the UFC. Talk of a clash between Luque and Diaz has existed for most of 2021. Prior to last month, it had been the Brazilian pushing for a clash with […]

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Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz believes a fight between Nate Diaz and Vicente Luque will only happen if the former signs a new deal with the UFC.

Talk of a clash between Luque and Diaz has existed for most of 2021. Prior to last month, it had been the Brazilian pushing for a clash with the Stockton native. He first called for the matchup towards the back end of last year following his knockout victory over Randy Brown.

With nothing materializing, “The Silent Assassin” took on former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 260 in March. After just under four minutes of Fight of the Night-worthy action, Luque submitted “The Chosen One” with a D’Arce choke.

Four months later, Luque took on fellow surging contender Michael Chiesa at UFC 265. Despite facing one of the best wrestlers in the division, the 29-year-old reversed position on the ground and secured yet another first-round D’Arce.

Following his latest victory, the #4-ranked welterweight once again had Diaz’s name on his lips. Praising the veteran’s entertaining style and durability, Luque pitched a 10-round fight against the 36-year-old. Diaz put those traits on full display when he was last in action in June. At UFC 263, he faced Leon Edwards in the UFC’s first non-title and non-main event five-round fight. Despite being outpointed throughout, Diaz nearly secured an incredible comeback courtesy of a last-minute surge.

Having suggested he was targeting a December return to the Octagon, it appeared the timelines of the Stockton star and Luque fitted nicely. Diaz even publicly accepted the Brazilian’s callout in September, suggesting an official booking wasn’t far away.

However, Diaz took to Twitter last week to provide a disappointing update on the matchup. The Californian said he hadn’t received a contract for the bout, believing there was likely an issue on Luque’s side. The Brazilian’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has now discussed the faltering booking. According to him, the UFC wants to ensure Diaz’s potential trilogy fight with Conor McGregor is protected first by re-signing Diaz, who has just one fight left on his contract.

“Listen, I believe Nate Diaz has one fight left on his contract,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. “I like the fight. I think it’s a great fight. I think the UFC, it’s a business, they want to make money and I think Nate and Conor [McGregor] will make them so much money.

“I think the only way the UFC will agree to make this fight happen [is] if Nate re-signs with the UFC. But I don’t know if this is good for Nate to re-sign with the UFC.”

Abdelaziz also reiterated Luque’s desire to fight either Nate or Nick Diaz. However, he understands the UFC and believes a fight with the younger Diaz brother will only be possible should the 36-year-old agree a new deal with the promotion.

“But at the end of the day, I understand the business. I understand the UFC’s point but they know we want the fight, Nate wants the fight but at the end of the day, they hold the contract. I can push as much as I can but I don’t know what they want to do. Vicente, 100 percent will fight Nate or Nick [Diaz].”

Do you think Vicente Luque vs. Nate Diaz is the fight to make?

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Nate Diaz Talks Fight Contract With Team Vicente Luque

Nate Diaz has not taken his radar off of Vicente Luque, and he’s now zeroing in on getting things finalized. “Closed mouths don’t get fed” is a common American expression. It is a modernized version of the more antiquated, “Ask and you shall receive.” Many men have asked for a fight with Nate Diaz, but […]

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Nate Diaz has not taken his radar off of Vicente Luque, and he’s now zeroing in on getting things finalized.

“Closed mouths don’t get fed” is a common American expression. It is a modernized version of the more antiquated, “Ask and you shall receive.” Many men have asked for a fight with Nate Diaz, but it looks like Vicente Luque’s open mouth is getting closer and closer to being adequately served.

Just prior to defeating Michael Chiesa in August, Luque expressed a desire to face Nate Diaz not in a five-round fight but in a first-ever 10-round fight! After he got the W over Chiesa, Luque was just eager to share the cage with Diaz for any length of time, with the aim of ensuring that it wouldn’t see the distance of however many rounds were allotted. And wouldn’t you know it, Nate Diaz accepted the call-out.

That acceptance was a full month ago, yet the date and place of the “agreed” fight have yet to be reported. The fact that this bout still has not been made official has surely been noticed by the Nate Diaz Army, including their general.

“I ain’t got a contract It must be something wrong wit luque,” Diaz posted.

This prompted a response from Luque’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who assured his client is every bit as ready to get things finalized as Diaz is.

“He ready let’s go,” Abdelaziz tweeted, tagging his client to ensure he was apprised of these latest developments.

It didn’t take long for Luque to respond to his manager’s cue and charge headfirst into the conversation.

“You know I’m in from day one! I’ve never backed up from a fight and I’m not gonna start now!! We can do it when and where you want I’m ready.”

Luque even decided to sweeten the pot with an offer for an all-you-can-eat violence smorgasbord.

“I’ll raise my offer we can go as many rounds as you want and let’s make it an all stand up war no take downs allowed! #FOTY“

These two warriors have never disappointed, so Luque’s hashtag of “Fight of the Year” isn’t difficult to imagine. Now, instead of talking or imagining, it’s time for the signing followed by the fighting, so that both these tested dogs can eat.

And when that happens, your good friends here at MMA News will give you the full scoop the moment the latest update drops.

Continue Reading Nate Diaz Talks Fight Contract With Team Vicente Luque at MMA News.

Vicente Luque Gives Update On Nate Diaz Fight Developments

Vicente Luque has been eyeing a fight with Nate Diaz recently, and the Brazilian went so far as to say he would abandon his gameplan just to fight the Stockton slugger. Holding one of the most impressive winning streaks in the 170-pound weight class, the #4-ranked Luque has been putting in the work. “The Silent […]

Continue Reading Vicente Luque Gives Update On Nate Diaz Fight Developments at MMA News.

Vicente Luque has been eyeing a fight with Nate Diaz recently, and the Brazilian went so far as to say he would abandon his gameplan just to fight the Stockton slugger.

Holding one of the most impressive winning streaks in the 170-pound weight class, the #4-ranked Luque has been putting in the work. “The Silent Assassin” is on a four-fight winning streak over solid competition. With notable wins against Niko Price, Tyron Woodley, and Michael Chiesa, it appears Luque is turning a corner in his young and developing MMA career. Diaz and Luque even jabbed back and forth on social media last month trying to get the fanbase behind a potential showdown.

Speaking on an episode of Food Truck Diaries, Luque shared his thoughts on how a fight between him and the 209 fan-favorite would go. But first, the Brazilian emphasized this is the fight he wants.

“I’ve talked to my manager, I let him know that I want that fight. The UFC knows that I want that fight. Apparently, Nate also wants the fight, so it’s up to the UFC now, let’s see if they can make that fight,” Luque said.

While most top-ranked welterweights are already tied down to a future fight, Luque is without a dance partner. In an effort to entice Nate Diaz to come back and fight another elite welterweight, it appears Luque is willing to ditch his gameplan just so he can mix it up with one of the UFC’s biggest names.

“I think that what really makes sense for this fight is that we both have the ingredients to make a fight of the year. We’re going to go out there, I’m not going to go out there and take him down. (Even) if that can be a good gameplan, I’ll throw that right in the garbage…” Luque said.

With Luque’s latest offering, perhaps the cult-favorite Diaz brother will bite. After all, Diaz did post a cryptic message on social media last week, and all it said was “December.” As the holiday season approaches, it will be interesting to see if Diaz pushes for a fight with a quiet talent like Luque.

Do you think Nate Diaz can beat Vicente Luque?

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Nate Diaz Approves Vicente Luque Callout: “So let’s fight”

Nate Diaz Vicente LuqueUFC welterweight contenders Nate Diaz and Vicente Luque might be on track to competing in the octagon before year’s end after the former endorsed the matchup in a subtle tweet on Monday. Diaz has spoken in the past about remaining active in this next chapter in his UFC career, and it appears that he could […]

Nate Diaz Vicente Luque

UFC welterweight contenders Nate Diaz and Vicente Luque might be on track to competing in the octagon before year’s end after the former endorsed the matchup in a subtle tweet on Monday.

Diaz has spoken in the past about remaining active in this next chapter in his UFC career, and it appears that he could be close to living up to that promise against Luque. After falling by unanimous decision to Leon Edwards at UFC 263, Diaz vs. Luque could potentially be a No. 1 contender bout for the right to face the winner of Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2.

Diaz appears to favor the matchup with Luque, and there appears to be virtually no bad blood between the two brawlers. But, Diaz wants Luque to make his recent callout a reality as he shared in a tweet.

“So, let’s fight,” Diaz tweeted along with a video of Luque calling him out during a post-fight press conference.

Luque has been one of the most dangerous matchups in the UFC welterweight division over the past few years and most recently earned a big win over Michael Chiesa at UFC 265 earlier this summer. After the fight, he called out Diaz along with Usman in a polite but direct way.

“To me, Nate is a fighter and fighters fight, and I’m the kind of fighter that’s going to put on an exciting fight no matter who it is,” Luque said during his UFC 265 post-fight presser. “So, Nate wants a big fight, I’m not going to sell it by talking, but I’m definitely going to sell it by fighting.”

If Diaz vs. Luque ends up happening later this year, it would end to an already incredible string of fights to wrap up 2021. One interesting thought is the two of them competing on the December pay-per-view, along with Diaz’s rival Dustin Poirier facing Charles Oliveira for the lightweight belt.

What are your thoughts on a potential Nate Diaz vs. Vicente Luque matchup?