Tag: Vicente Luque

Daniel Cormier: Nick Diaz must be locked in to ‘not embarrass himself’ vs. Vicente Luque at UFC 310

Daniel Cormier believes things could get ugly for Nick Diaz if he doesn’t take his UFC 310 return seriously.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] hopes [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] shows up in shape against [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag].

Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) returns against Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) in a welterweight bout at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Diaz hasn’t competed since a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler in September 2021, when he looked out of shape in what was his first fight in more than six years. Diaz’s team later revealed he was dealing with a neck injury, which hampered his training camp.

“The thing about Nick Diaz, for me: I want the guy from the pictures, I’m going to just say it,” Cormier said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” with Chael Sonnen. “I don’t want to see Nick Diaz that is just ripped. When he fought Robbie Lawler, I was so excited because I was like, ‘Man, he’s been back on the triathlons, and he looks even better than he did in his prime.’

“Then when he got to the octagon, he looked nothing like that person. He looked like a guy that was pushing 40, that hadn’t fought in many, many years, and I didn’t know if he still had that fight in him.”

Although Luque has lost three of his past four fights, Cormier still sees the once streaking contender as a stern test for Diaz. He worries that the former Strikeforce champion and UFC title challenger may tarnish his legacy if he doesn’t take Luque seriously and perform.

“Vicente Luque is thought to be on the decline,” Cormier said. “I kind of judged him based on how badly Joaquin Buckley beat him. But then now watching Joaquin Buckley do what he did to the kid that was 18-1 in St. Louis, doing what he did to Stephen Thompson, now I look back at Vicente Luque and wonder if I was too quick to judgment.

“Maybe I didn’t see how good Joaquin Buckley is as opposed to the state of Vicente Luque’s career. I still think that’s a lot for Nick Diaz. Nick Diaz struggled with Robbie Lawler, and Robbie Lawler was only one fight away from retirement. Vicente Luque is not going anywhere. It’s a tough fight. I think for Nick, though, he has to be really locked in if he wants to go out there and not embarrass himself.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Nick Diaz’s octagon return vs. Vicente Luque rebooked for UFC 310 in December

After UFC CEO Dana White expressed doubt about a return in 2024, Nick Diaz is back vs. Vicente Luque at UFC 310 in December.

After UFC CEO Dana White expressed doubt about getting a [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] fight back on the books this year, the beloved veteran has been rescheduled against [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] on the final numbered UFC event of 2024.

Diaz, a former Strikeforce champion and UFC title challenger, was originally slated to fight Luque in his first bout since September 2021 at UFC on ABC 7 in August. He withdrew due to travel issues, but now a new date is set for UFC 310, which goes down Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

The first time Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) and Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) were scheduled, it was a five-round welterweight bout. This time it is set for three rounds in the 170-pound weight class. White announced the matchup as part of a slew of matchups for the card on Saturday.

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Two people with knowledge of the situation verified the booking with MMA Junkie following an initial report from MMA Mania. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Diaz, older brother of Nate Diaz, hasn’t fought since losing to Robbie Lawler in 2021. That was also his first fight in six years. The 41-year-old is winless in his past four bouts, and hasn’t achieved a victory since battering B.J. Penn at UFC 137 in October 2011.

Luque is also looking to break out of a difficult stretch. The 32-year-old has dropped three of his past four octagon appearances, with his most bout being a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 54 in March.

The latest UFC 310 lineup now includes:

  • Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov – for welterweight title
  • Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura – for flyweight title
  • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Dominick Reyes vs. Anthony Smith
  • Virna Jandiroba vs. Tatiana Suarez
  • Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
  • Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
  • Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque
  • Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Vicente Luque hopes for quick rebooking with Nick Diaz; Dana White ‘not very’ confident it happens in 2024

Vicente Luque has a far higher degree of optimism about getting a new date on the books with Nick Diaz than that of UFC CEO Dana White.

[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] has a far higher degree of optimism about getting a new date on the books with [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] than that of UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag].

Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) was scheduled to fight Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 co-main event in Abu Dhabi unless less than two weeks out from the date UFC officials announced the matchup was off due to travel issues on Diaz’s side.

There has been little further information as to Diaz’s status for what would’ve been his first fight since a September 2021 loss to Robbie Lawler, and just his second appearance overall since January 2015. Luque talked to MMA Junkie during UFC 304 fight week in Manchester, England, and said he was disheartened by the postponement, but was confident it would be rescheduled.

“The buildup to it, I expected to have some kind of an issue with the weight or some kind of unexpected thing,” Luque told MMA Junkie. “But I didn’t think the fight was going to fall through. I was disappointed. I feel super ready, super excited to step in there and fight a legend like Nick. Hopefully we’re going to get it rescheduled for soon.

“We’re working on rescheduling the fight and I’m going to stay ready. If we can do it soon or maybe September, maybe August. … No word yet.”

It appears Luque could be waiting some time for that word to come through. When asked about Diaz’s situation at Saturday’s UFC 304 post-fight news conference, White told MMA Junkie that he has legitimate doubts it happens in 2024.

“I have no idea,” White said. “Not very (confident he fights this year).”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque off UFC Abu Dhabi due to ‘travel issue’; Shara Bullet added as co-main

Nick Diaz’s return to the UFC is on hold for now.

UFC fans will have to wait a bit longer to see [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] back in the cage.

Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) vs. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) has been removed from the upcoming UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi due to a “travel issue,” the promotion announced Saturday during the UFC on ESPN 60 broadcast.

UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald said the promotion will reschedule the fight for later in the summer, though he did not specify a date. The travel issue was with Diaz, not Luque.

The welterweight bout was scheduled to be the card’s co-main event. The promotion has replaced it with a new booking: [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) vs. [autotag]Michael Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 7-6 UFC).

Had the bout happened, it would’ve been the first for Diaz since September 2021 when he lost by third-round TKO to Robbie Lawler. That fight was Diaz’s first in four years, since a no contest vs. Anderson Silva.

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Luque would’ve looked to bounce back from a March loss to Joaquin Buckley. The defeat was his third in his most recent four fights.

Two fighters’ losses are two fighters’ gains, however. A rising star, Magomedov gets his biggest spot to date against the always gritty Oleksiejczuk.

Magomedov competed in June when he defeated Antonio Trocoli by third-round TKO. The victory moved him to 2-0 in the UFC, the banner under which he successfully debuted vs. Bruno Silva in October.

Oleksiejczuk could be fighting for his UFC career in this bout. Though his fights have been consistently exciting, the results have varied. Oleksiejczuk is 1-3 in his most recent four, including a submission loss to Kevin Holland in June.

Vicente Luque: Leon Edwards has ‘great wrestling cardio,’ more versatile striking than Belal Muhammad

Vicente Luque leans towards Leon Edwards beating Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, and explains why.

[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] leans towards [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] beating [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] at UFC 304.

Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defends his welterweight title in a rematch against Muhammad (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in the July 27 main event at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

Luque thinks Muhammad has made many improvements since his Round 2 no contest against Edwards in 2021. Having fought both Muhammad and Edwards – Muhammad twice, Luque gave insight into the title fight rematch.

“It’s a crazy fight,” Luque told MMA Junkie Radio. “If I go from their first fight which ended with that eye poke, I thought Leon was looking much better and he was beating Belal in that fight. But since then, I feel like Belal went building up a great streak. He’s been really, really sharpening up his tools and he knows the kind of fighter he is right now. He’s not a guy that makes many mistakes inside that octagon.”

Luque knocked out Muhammad in their first meeting in 2016, but Muhammad avenged his loss by outgrappling Luque when they ran things back in 2022.

Luque was also outgrappled by Edwards when they fought in 2017. He thinks the champion’s striking will eventually make the difference against Muhammad.

“For me, I’d say it’s really tied up,” Luque said. They both can really take the win. I would almost put it 50-50, but I’ll go a little bit with Leon just because I think Leon has more versatile striking and he does have some really precise shots, and that can change a fight. I know both of them wrestle really good. I feel like Leon has great wrestling cardio.

“In my fight, we wrestled a lot, and that’s how I ended up getting tired. After that he was just throwing his hands, boxing, and mixing it up with wrestling so, I think that little bit of experience, of ability from Leon, I would put him as a little bit of a favorite. But still, very close fight for me.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Vicente Luque recounts surprising UFC on ESPN 7 offer to fight Diaz: ‘Are you sure it’s Nick or is it Nate?’

Vicente Luque had to double check to make sure he was fighting Nick Diaz and not Nate Diaz at UFC on ESPN 7.

Fans weren’t the only ones surprised to see [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] book a fight. His upcoming opponent [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] was also caught off guard.

Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC), a long time welterweight contender, is scheduled to welcome back Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) in a five-round fight Aug. 3 at UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Diaz, now 40 and with almost three years of inactivity, wasn’t on Luque’s radar.

“I remember when (my manager) Ali (Abdelaziz) called and said, ‘Hey, we got a fight,'” Luque told MMA Junkie Radio. “I wanted to fight at the end of July or beginning of August, so he said we got Aug. 3 and that it was going to be in Abu Dhabi.

“I said, ‘OK, that’s going to be a different place I never fought,’ and he threw the name out there, Nick Diaz. I was like, ‘Are you sure it’s Nick or is it Nate you’re talking about?’ He said, ‘No, it’s Nick. It’s really Nick.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go.’ It’s going to be an awesome fight. In my mind, Fight of the Night is definitely up for grabs.”

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Diaz was one of the biggest stars in MMA in the 2010s. He’s a former Strikeforce champion and ex-UFC title challenger. He and his younger brother Nate Diaz have been part of some of the MMA’s biggest fights.

For Luque, it’s a dream come true to be fighting Diaz.

“Nick is a guy that I always wanted to fight before I got into the UFC,” Luque said. “That was 2014, 2013, 2012, that’s when I was making my way to the UFC and I watched a lot of Nick fights. It was amazing to watch him fight GSP, Carlos Condit, B.J. Penn, and even Anderson Silva. He’s fought all those guys that were legendary, and for me, he’s a guy I always wanted to fight.

“I didn’t think at this point I was going to fight him anymore, but now I do get to fight him. So for me, it was very exciting to get this fight. He’s not in the rankings, but man, it’s Nick Diaz. That’s a big fight regardless. It’s a good fight to get back to my winning ways and set me up for great things after that.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC on ABC 7

Nick Diaz returns in a welterweight bout against Vicente Luque at UFC on ABC 7. Here’s what you need to know.

[autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] returns after almost four years away when he takes on [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] in a welterweight bout at UFC on ABC 7.

Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque preview

Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) hasn’t competed since a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September 2021, which was his first fight in over six years. The fan favorite hasn’t won since defeating B.J. Penn in a Fight of the Night battle in October 2011.

Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) will also look to rebound. After winning four straight, including a submission of former champion Tyron Woodley, the Brazilian has lost three of his past four.

Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque odds

DraftKings released the odds for the bout, with Luque opening up as a heavy -535 favorite over Diaz, who’s a +400 underdog.

How to watch Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque at UFC on ABC 7

  • When: Aug. 3
  • Where: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
  • Broadcast/streaming: ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Dana White announces Nick Diaz, Tony Ferguson return fights at UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi

MMA legends Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson will make their returns to the UFC this summer in the Middle East.

Legendary fan favorites [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] will be stepping into the octagon once again.

On Wednesday morning, UFC CEO Dana White announced the return fights for the two MMA veterans, which will happen Aug. 3 at UFC on ABC 7 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Diaz will take on [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] in a five-round co-main event, and while Ferguson matches up with [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] on the main card. Both fights will take place at welterweight.

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Diaz, older brother of Nate Diaz, hasn’t fought since losing to Robbie Lawler in 2021. That was also his first fight in six years. Diaz is now 40 and winless in his past four UFC bouts. His last win came against B.J. Penn in 2011 at UFC 237.

Luque is also looking to break out of a bad spell. He’s 1-3 in his past four performances, with his most recent a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in March.

Ferguson, like Diaz also 40, is hoping to snap a seven-fight losing streak when he meets Chiesa. White didn’t say this would be Ferguson’s retirement fight but did state this “could be” Ferguson’s final fight. Ferguson last fought in December when he lost a unanimous decision to Paddy Pimblett.

Additionally, a UFC women’s strawweight bout between [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] and [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] was also announced.

Below is the updated card for UFC on ABC 7:

  • Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque
  • Michael Chiesa vs. Tony Ferguson
  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Marlon Vera
  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

UFC on ESPN 54 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program total passes $24.5 million

UFC on ESPN 54 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 54 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 54 took place at Boardwalk Hall. The main card aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 54 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Nursulton Ruziboev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Bill Algeo[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Chidi Njokuani[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rhys McKee[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamall Emmers[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Julio Arce[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Herbert Burns[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Dennis Buzukja[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Connor Matthews[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jacob Malkoun[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andre Petroski[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Caolan Loughran[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Angel Pacheco[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,540; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $54,000 while title challengers get $54,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-54 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,842,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,579,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.

UFC on ESPN 54 play-by-play, live results

Check out live play-by-play and official results from UFC on ESPN 54 in Atlantic City.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – UFC on ESPN 54 took place Saturday, and MMA Junkie live play-by-play and official results. UFC on ESPN 54 (ESPN/ESPN+) took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

In the main event, Erin Blanchfield (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) took on Manon Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in a likely women’s flyweight title eliminator. Joaquin Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) took on Vicente Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) in the welterweight co-feature, and former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (16-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC) returned against Bruno Silva (23-11 MMA, 4-5 UFC).

Below, you can check out the results and play-by-play from UFC on ESPN 54.