Marc Raimondi, ESPN Personnel Editor
Vicente Luque returned to the cage Saturday and pulled out his first victory since struggling a mind hemorrhage in a knockout loss in 2022.
Luque defeated Rafael dos Anjos by way of unanimous resolution (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) within the welterweight primary match of UFC Struggle Night time in Las Vegas. Luque well old strategic grappling, wrestling and clinching in opposition to the cage to outwork dos Anjos, the previous UFC light-weight champion.
“I came back stronger than ever,” Luque mentioned in his postfight interview. “I beat a former champion in his game.”
On Aug. 6, 2022, Luque was once knocked out by way of Geoff Neal and was once then identified with a mind hemorrhage. The Nevada Condition Athletic Fee (NSAC) wanted difference scientific documentation to deliver for Luque to be cleared to compete. He was once authorized two weeks in the past.
“For me, it’s a miracle to be here,” Luque mentioned. “A lot of people know what happened to me a year ago. I never feared anything, but I feared not being able to do this again.”
Coming in, ESPN had dos Anjos ranked Disagree. 10 on the planet at light-weight. He made his go back to welterweight in his endmost bout.
Dos Anjos had luck early, touchdown some dry directly left arms from the southpaw stance and a heavy Superman elbow. Luque was once ready to recuperate, counter a takedown try and land some dry ground-and-pound hour dos Anjos was once on his arms and knees.
Luque’s grappling and wrestling luck persisted all through the battle, such a lot in order that dos Anjos’ nook got rid of the fighter’s ankle sleeves then the 3rd around as a result of they felt Luque was once the usage of them to jerk dos Anjos indisposed. Luque was once lively with submission makes an attempt all through and bloodied dos Anjos with punches, too.
“In the first round, I was afraid of getting hit,” Luque mentioned. “It had been a year without fighting. I didn’t know how I would react.”
Luque landed a career-high 8 takedowns, the second-most dos Anjos had allowed. Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, a high-level wrestler, had 12 in opposition to dos Anjos in 2018.
Luque (22-9-1) snapped a two-fight dropping streak. The Brazilian-Chilean fighter, who trains out of Florida, has received 5 of 7 total. Luque, 31, mentioned he hopes to now be again within the identify combine. He was once +500 to win by way of resolution, in step with Caesars Sportsbook.
Dos Anjos (32-15) beat Bryan Barberena in his welterweight go back endmost December by way of second-round submission. The Brazilian-born fighter had received 3 of his time 4 bouts. Dos Anjos, 38, held the UFC light-weight identify in 2015 and 2016.
