Las Vegas – UFC welterweight Vicente Luque had a fellow UFC fighter in his ear going into his victory over Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310 on Saturday night.
“Gilber (Burns), Gregory (Rodrigues), specially Gilbert. He was always telling me like man you’ve gotten so much better but now it’s time for that old Vicente Luque to get back in there,” Luque told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“We’ve been talking about that, but this week all of us we were together in the room and talking about it. They just could see what’s going to happen is not the old you back, but it’s something better. Something new, and it’s going to be amazing.”
Luque (23-10) defeated Gorimbo via submission 51 seconds into the fight. The quick finish was a surprise to most, and maybe even Luque himself.
“When I stepped in there I expected a war. I expected a battle, back and forth, I know how tough he is and how hungry he is to get a win. So I expected a back and forth battle,” he said.
“But I was ready and I was ready to get the kill as quick as possible, and it happened.”
Luque’s year is over having gone 1-1 in 2024, but with a violent submission victory over Gorimbo helping him gain momentum, he wants a big fight to start 2025.
“My focus has never stopped being a champion, and that’s where I’m going through 2025 is that run for the title. I want that Miami possible card that is going to start. I want to a top 10, but I have an exception,” he said.
“If (Jorge) Masvidal really wants to step back in there, and he wants to get it done, I would love to have a battle against him. I want him as an opponent because I know it’s going to be a war, I know the fans are going to enjoy that, and I know that we both can deliver a battle.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Vicente Luque above.
