LAS VEGAS – Vicente Luque has had bumps within the highway, whilst just lately as April when he lost to Belal Muhammad by unanimous determination.
Coming into Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 40 co-main occasion with Geoff Neal, nevertheless, Luque (21-8-1 MMA, 14-4 UFC) thinks he’s nearer than ever to UFC welterweight gold. With the deal with the short-term, Luque informed reporters at Wednesday’s media day he’d be mendacity if he stated the long-term wasn’t on his thoughts, too.
“It’s arduous for me not to consider it, however that’s not the main focus,” Luque informed MMA Junkie. “The main focus proper now could be beating Geoff. He’s the person. He’s the man I’ve bought to go previous to maneuver again into that title dialog, which I used to be (in) and I can get again to. I see I’m nearer to the title struggle than I’ve ever been, even with a setback. It didn’t set me that again. A win over Geoff can put me again into the combination. That’s the main focus proper now, get again into that blend, get a giant win. It’s bought to be a giant one towards Geoff. Then, we are able to take into consideration what’s subsequent.”
Luque, No. 8 within the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, is positioned for one more contender towards No. 15-ranked Neal (14-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on the cardboard on the UFC Apex, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+. Many followers have it circled on their bout sheets, and Luque plans to dwell as much as the hype.
“Geoff is a man I watched even earlier than I used to be lined as much as struggle him. I like his fashion,” Luque stated. “I take pleasure in watching his fights. I believe we match completely. It’s going to be probably and almost definitely the Struggle of the Evening. We’re going to on the market and do what we do which is attempt to knock one another out. He’s robust (and) I’m robust, in order that’s not going to be a fast one. However I do consider I can end him and I believe that he believes he can end me, so it’s going to be good to look at that problem.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC on ESPN 40.
