UFC Boss Says Vicente Luque is a Top Welterweight: ‘We’re Talking About Him Now’

For most MMA diehards, Vicente Luque has been a well-known commodity for a few years now.

However, it seems that UFC president Dana White is only just now giving Luque his due recognition after “The Silent Assassin” put away the streaking Michael Chiesa with a first-round brabo choke in a featured welterweight bout at UFC 265 on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.

“He is [a top welterweight] now,” White said at the UFC 265 post-fight press conference. “We’re talking about him now. First of all, that kid is fun to watch. When he beat [Tyron] Woodley, Woodley hadn’t won a fight in three years. He beat Woodley – OK. Tonight, not only did he beat Michael Chiesa, but when he went for that choke, I was like, ‘Why are you trying to submit Michael Chiesa? Get back on your feet!’ He got it. He did it.”

Luque is currently on a four-bout winning streak of his own, and his stoppage of Chiesa was his 13th finish at 170 pounds – the second most in the history of the division. Given his reputation as an exciting fighter, it would seem that Luque would be someone the UFC would want to promote. At the very least he caught the attention of reigning welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

You looked great my man we might be dancing soon #ufc265

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) August 8, 2021

Still, it would seem that Luque is behind a few contenders, including Colby Covington, who is slated for a rematch with Usman at UFC 268, and Leon Edwards.

“I don’t know if I do deserve [a title shot] over [Edwards]. I just know that I’m one of the most, if not the most exciting welterweight right now,” Luque said. “I’m showing everybody what I can do. I finish every single fight. My fights are exciting. And for that reason, I think I do deserve a title fight.

“I’m the only guy up there in the top five that hasn’t fought the champion, that hasn’t challenged Kamaru for a fight. He still has a fight ahead of him, but I believe he’ll win that fight. If he does, I think I would be a great challenge.”

No matter what the future holds for Luque, he seems to have made a fan in White.

“I love to watch that kid fight,” White said. “He’s exciting. He’s a killer, and I look forward to what’s next for him. You can’t talk about all the top guys in the world without talking about Luque now.