UFC welterweight Vicente Luque returns to action on home soil this Saturday at UFC Rio, where he’ll face Spain’s Joel Alvarez in a pivotal lightweight clash.
With both fighters known for their finishing ability and aggressive styles, fans can expect a fast-paced battle that could have major implications for the division’s pecking order.
Luque (23-11-1) enters the bout looking to rebound from a submission loss to Kevin Holland at UFC 316 in June. The longtime UFC veteran holds an impressive 16-7 record inside the promotion, with notable wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Tyron Woodley, Michael Chiesa, and Themba Gorimbo.
Alvarez (22-3) has been on an impressive run in the UFC, posting a 7-2 record inside the Octagon. Riding a three-fight win streak heading into UFC Rio, he’ll look to add a veteran name like Vicente Luque to his growing list of victories.
Round 1 – Alvarez opened the fight behind a sharp, probing jab, testing Luque’s reactions early. Luque answered with front kicks to the body, looking to slow down the faster fighter. Alvarez’s speed was evident, but Luque’s power and timing began to show as the round progressed.
Alvarez continued to mix up his strikes, darting in and out with combinations, while Luque found success countering with heavy shots. Midway through the round, an accidental thumb to the eye from Alvarez briefly halted the action.
Replays confirmed the eye poke was part of a punch, yet the referee still granted Luque a timeout and brought in the doctor for an inspection before resuming the bout.
Once back in action, Alvarez came forward aggressively, landing clean shots that forced Luque to fire back. The Spaniard capped off a strong opening round with a powerful right hand just before the horn.
Round 2 – Luque opened the second round with a right hand and a head kick — both blocked, but still more offense than he’d shown in the first. Alvarez quickly answered with a knee, a right hand, and a spinning kick that kept Luque guessing.
Alvarez then landed a thudding body kick that forced Luque to shoot for a takedown. When the attempt failed, Luque pulled guard, allowing Alvarez to take top position and rain down heavy shots while threatening a D’Arce choke. As Luque rolled to his stomach, Alvarez secured the back and continued to hammer away with strikes.
It was a dominant, if somewhat awkward, round for Alvarez, as the action played out to a surprisingly subdued Rio crowd.
Round 3 – Luque opened the final round throwing kicks, but at half speed. His right eye red, swollen, and nearly shut. It was surprising the referee didn’t pause the fight for a doctor’s inspection.
Despite Luque’s condition, Alvarez eased up on the pressure. Even after ending up in top position following a desperate takedown attempt from Luque, the Spaniard didn’t unleash much offense.
Alvarez appeared hesitant to inflict further damage on his clearly compromised opponent. He attempted a reverse triangle, a difficult submission to finish, and transitioned to a half-hearted toe hold before landing a few body shots as the clock expired.
A strange, subdued performance, but ultimately a clear victory for Joel Alvarez.
Official Result: Joel Alvarez def. Vicente Luque via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
