A mid-July UFC Fight Night card now has a main event.
Former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos (32-14) will face off with fellow Brazilian standout Vicente Luque (21-9-1) in a welterweight contest in the main event of the promotion’s July 15, 2023 card. No location, venue, or broadcast plan has been announced for the date, which comes just one week after International Fight Week.
MMA Fighting was first to announce news of the booking.
dos Anjos will enter the bout coming off a win over Bryan Barberena in his last outing, and with a 3-1 record in his past four appearances. The ex-155lb champ faced Colby Covington in an unsuccessful bid to claim interim welterweight gold in 2018, and hasn’t returned to the title picture since — but has continued to be a threat both at lightweight and 170.
In 2022, Luque lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his professional career, losing a decision to Belal Muhammad then suffering a knockout loss at the hands of Geoff Neal.
Luque is currently ranked #10 in the welterweight division; dos Anjos does not hold a ranking at the moment.
The UFC’s July 15, 2023 Fight Night card is expected to feature the following reported match-ups:
- Rafael dos Anjos vs. Vicente Luque
- Walt Harris vs. Josh Parisian
- Azat Maksum vs. Tyson Nam
- Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Ailín Pérez
- Norma Dumont vs. Chelsea Chandler
