Vicente Luque Makes Triumphant Return to the Octagon with Victory over Rafael dos Anjos
By Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff Writer
August 12, 2023, 10:52 PM ET
In a sensational comeback, Vicente Luque emerged victorious in his first fight since suffering a brain hemorrhage in a knockout loss last year. Luque defeated Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision in the welterweight main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
Luque strategically employed grappling, wrestling, and clinching techniques to outmaneuver dos Anjos, a former UFC lightweight champion. The judges scored the fight in favor of Luque with a unanimous decision of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47.
“I came back stronger than ever,” Luque remarked in his post-fight interview. “I beat a former champion in his own game.”
Luque’s road to recovery after the devastating brain hemorrhage began in August 2022 when he was knocked out by Geoff Neal. With the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) requiring additional medical documentation, Luque faced uncertain prospects of returning to the sport. However, after obtaining the necessary clearances, he made a miraculous comeback.
“For me, it’s a miracle to be here,” Luque expressed his gratitude. “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.”
Heading into the fight, dos Anjos was ranked No. 10 at lightweight by ESPN. Luque’s impressive performance overshadowed dos Anjos’ initial success, with the latter landing powerful left hands and a remarkable Superman elbow. Luque managed to regain control, countering a takedown attempt and delivering heavy ground-and-pound strikes while dos Anjos was on all fours.
Throughout the fight, Luque’s grappling and wrestling prowess remained dominant. In fact, dos Anjos’ corner even removed his ankle sleeves after the third round, suspecting that Luque was exploiting them to secure takedowns. Luque continuously threatened with submission attempts and inflicted significant damage with punches, causing bloodshed in the process.
“In the first round, I was afraid of getting hit,” Luque admitted. “It had been a year without fighting. I didn’t know how I would react.”
Notably, Luque achieved a career-high of eight takedowns, the second-most ever allowed by dos Anjos. Kamaru Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion renowned for his wrestling skills, holds the record with 12 takedowns against dos Anjos in 2018.
With this victory, Luque put an end to his two-fight losing streak. The Brazilian-Chilean fighter, who trains in Florida, has now won five of his last seven fights. Luque, aged 31, expressed his desire to re-enter the title mix. According to Caesars Sportsbook, he had +500 odds to win by decision.
On the other hand, dos Anjos (32-15) had previously showcased his welterweight potential by defeating Bryan Barberena last December via second-round submission. The Brazilian-born fighter had triumphed in three out of his last four fights. As the former UFC lightweight champion in 2015 and 2016, dos Anjos has an illustrious career behind him.
Luque’s incredible comeback victory solidified his return to the Octagon with a bang, proving that he has overcome his previous setback and is ready to compete among the welterweight elite once again.