A New Lease for Vicente Luque

A career-threatening health scare forced longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight contender Vicente Luque to look in the mirror, weigh his options and consider changes he deemed necessary.

“The Silent Assassin” will compete for the first time since suffering a purported brain bleed when he takes on Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC on ESPN 51 welterweight main event this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nearly a year has passed since Luque’s knockout loss to Geoff Neal—his first such setback in 31 professional appearances. It resulted in a jarring reality check.

“The six-month medical suspension after that fight was also a time of reflection,” Luque told Sherdog.com. “I used that time to evolve. All is good now. I’m 100 percent good to go.”

During his layoff, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 21 graduate and longtime Cerrado MMA rep put down permanent roots at Kill Cliff Fight Club in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The move resulted in welcomed stability for Luque, who had split his preparation time between the two camps in the past.

“For years, going back and forth was good for me,” he said, “but now, considering the high level of training partners, it became necessary to remain in Florida. It’s what I needed: training with multiple high-level guys in my weight class, not to mention top-notch trainers.”

Luque, who turns 32 in November, has focused his attention on dos Anjos, a future hall of famer who has represented Brazil inside the Octagon for more than a decade. The 38-year-old former lightweight champion has bounced back and forth between 155 and 170 pounds since 2017. Dos Anjos last fought at UFC on ESPN 42, where he submitted Bryan Barberena with a neck crank in the second round of their Dec. 3 pairing.

“This bout against Rafael is very important for me,” Luque said. “Before I joined the UFC, I already followed his career. I’m a fan of his. As a Brazilian, I see him as a good example. It’s an honor to be facing him. I expect a tough and highly contested bout that’s full of action. It’s our nature. I’m more likely to get finishes against my opponents by submission or knockout. Rafael has more wins by decision. As a former champ, he’s fought at a very high level for several years.

“In his fights, he attacks equally on the feet or on the ground,” he added. “We’re both true and complete MMA fighters. I bring danger no matter where the fight goes. I could see myself winning early if I connect well near the start, but considering his experience level, I expect him to be able to defend well. The plan is to get a finish before the final buzzer—in a decisive fashion—so it won’t go to the judges.”

Luque enters the match on the heels of back-to-back losses but believes beating dos Anjos has the potential to get him back on track in a hurry.

“My plans haven’t changed much,” he said. “I remain focused on becoming a dominant welterweight champion. My immediate goal is to beat Rafael convincingly. A win over him would place me closer to the belt, especially now since we have a new champ in Leon Edwards. We don’t know who will face him next.”