After defeating Rafael dos Anjos in the UFC Vegas 78 main event, Vicente Luque expressed interest in facing Dustin Poirier as his next opponent, appreciating their shared reputation for notable UFC performances.
Following his victory over ex-lightweight champion, Rafael dos Anjos, in the UFC Vegas 78 main event, Vicente Luque shifted his gaze towards another potential opponent. After a thorough survey of the welterweight rankings, he expressed Dustin Poirier as a choice of interest. Their shared penchant for spectacular performances in UFC matches has fueled Luque’s intent. Poirier, who’s currently aiming to bounce back from a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, has hinted at the possibility of a 170 pound fight in lieu of a taxing weight cut to the lightweight limit.
Luque entertained the idea that he could introduce Poirier into the welterweight division. “An interesting fight as well, I think I would love to welcome Dustin Poirier [to welterweight] if he needs somebody,” he said. Meanwhile, while Poirier has remained tight-lipped about his next fight, a battle with Luque would definitely result in a thrilling contest. Twelve “Fight of the Night” awards and a combined 21 bonuses from their elongated careers in UFC can attest to this.
In terms of performance, Luque’s triumph over dos Anjos was not amongst his top highlights. However, the fact that he was able to re-enter the ring itself was a victory, especially after the 31-year-old nearly witnessed an early end to his career due to a brain bleed following a previous match. With shaky nerves before the fight, getting the clearance to fight certainly felt like a major win to him. “It was like having the most amazing win for me, just because of everything [I went through],” he admitted. He was also appreciative of the support received and the right choices made, stating, “I feel blessed. I feel amazing. Now it’s like all the decisions that were taken and everybody that was around to help me, we did the right moves and we’re victorious.”
In the dos Anjos bout, Luque heavily relied on overpowering his opponent with grappling, guided by ex-UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. At the Kill Cliff FC in Florida, Usman’s inputs greatly helped Luque’s preparation and victory. The fight was a valuable chance for Luque to overcome his fear of being punched and rediscover his capabilities after the medical setback. Despite the opportunity for his commonplace finishes, he insisted on adhering to his game plan and showed that he could endure strenuously for 25 minutes. Luque admitted, “There was another side of me that was worried.” However, his victory over dos Anjos not only bolstered his confidence but also clocked another significant moment in his career.