Vicente Luque seems to be a man who’s comfortable with his achievements. He’s eager to add more to his list in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division. The man’s got a peace about him, even though he’s still hungry for more.
He’s set to face one of his most interesting challenges yet. His opponent is Ian Garry, an undefeated fighter from the Kill Cliff Fight Club. The match is a featured attraction at UFC 296, happening this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Luque has been a steady force in the UFC for over eight years. His latest victory was a five-round unanimous decision over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 51 in August. The man’s been around, and he’s not slowing down.
“I feel a high level of satisfaction in being part of the world’s biggest MMA organization,” Luque told Sherdog.com. Childhood dream come true, you could say. He’s won 15 out of 20 bouts in the UFC against the world’s best. He’s fought former champs and the current one, Leon Edwards.
He’s not done yet, though. “I feel I’m still evolving. I have yet to peak. I have far to go in fighting,” he said. He’s proud of his journey and the challenges he’s overcome. Feels blessed, always.
Luque’s motivations are deep. He wants to be more than just a standout athlete. He wants to be a role model for the younger generation. He’s always tried to be a dedicated, respectful, and hardworking pro. When he steps into the cage, he fights with all his heart.
Garry, on the other hand, is a rising star in the sport. The 26-year-old Irishman has 13 professional victories, eight of which are finishes. His last fight was at UFC 292, where he won a three-round unanimous decision against Neil Magny on Aug. 19.
Luque knows Garry. They’ve trained together. They get along, but now they’re facing each other. “I feel ours will be a very active battle due to both of our fighting styles,” Luque said. He believes Garry is trying to overtake him in the rankings and keep his hype train going. Luque’s objective is to derail that hype.
Some people are calling Garry a future champion at 170 pounds. But Luque, 32, has experience on his side. He sees potential weaknesses in Garry’s game that he can exploit. “He has gaps on the feet and on the ground which we can exploit. My game is MMA. Without a doubt, we’ll strike, and if the opportunity presents itself, a submission is also an option,” he said.
The stakes are high for both fighters. Luque is aware of this. “Ian is a great opponent, and I see that a win over him would give my career a big boost,” he said. He’s focused on that.