ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Vicente Luque accepted what many fighters would’ve rejected in his place – a alternative combat with a harmful, lesser-ranked opponent on a lesser spot on the cardboard.
The UFC welterweight veteran was presupposed to headline UFC on ESPN 54 in opposition to Sean Brady, who’s ranked No. 8 on the UFC’s official rankings. As an alternative, he ended up pitted in opposition to unranked putting powerhouse Joaquin Buckley within the co-main occasion of Saturday’s occasion.
This variation got here as a consequence of Brady’s damage, which didn’t permit him to compete on the cardboard. In response, Luque (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) accepted to combat Buckley (17-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) as a alternative – one thing he had no subject doing.
“I’ve been in that place earlier than, like in Buckley’s place,” Luque stated on the UFC on ESPN 54 media day on Wednesday. “I’ve been the man exterior the rankings that individuals have been involved about as a result of we’re good, we’re harmful. Combating is all the time danger, however I really feel the extra danger I take, the extra reward I’m going to get from that. That’s how I take a look at this combat.
“Yeah, he’s not ranked, and he’s harmful, however I’m harmful as nicely, and I’ll give him the chance to attempt to are available in and beat me.”
On high of desirous to problem himself and likewise give a chance to somebody trying to enter the rankings, there have been different issues to think about for Luque.
“Everybody says, ‘You don’t all the time get what you need,’ however on the brilliant aspect, I get to combat in entrance of my household, I get to combat in New Jersey, and within the month I wished to – so many issues which can be favorable,” Luque stated. “The coaching camp was nice for the time-frame that I had and getting a man in Buckley that yeah – he’s not ranked, we’re not going to be the principle occasion, however he has a whole lot of hype behind him, and he has a method that individuals love to look at.
“I’ve a method that individuals love to look at, so on the finish of the day it’s a combat that persons are going to look at and are going to be supporting. I can showcase my abilities and my work my manner up within the division.”
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