LAS VEGAS – Vicente Luque has his eyes on one of the UFC’s biggest stars.
The Brazilian welterweight is angling at a fight with Nate Diaz following Luque’s impressive second-round knockout of Randy Brown on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+31 in Las Vegas. Luque (19-7-1 MMA, 12-3 UFC) called out Diaz in his post-fight interview as he wants an exciting fight that could further his career in the UFC. Luque thinks Diaz is the man to do just that.
“Nate Diaz is a super respected guy, everybody know what he’s capable of and what he’s accomplished,” Luque told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC on ESPN+ post-fight news conference. “That’s why I think it’s a great name even though he’s underneath me in the rankings.
“I think it would add a lot to my name, that’s why I want that fight. It’s a super exciting fight in my mind. People see my highlights, you watch Nate’s highlights, there’s no way it won’t be a great fight.”
In recent years, Diaz has only been involved in blockbuster fights competing against fighters such as Jorge Masvidal, Anthony Pettis and Conor McGregor.
Luque is unsure if Diaz would step back in the octagon for a fight, since he knows he doesn’t have the marquee value of his other foes. But he is sure a potential fight with Diaz would deliver action.
“The truth is that I don’t know if they’re (UFC) going to try it, but for me, Nate is a fighter and fighters fight,” Luque said. “I’m the kind of fighter that I’m going to put on an exciting fight no matter who it is. So Nate wants a big fight, I’m not going to sell it by talking, but definitely going to sell it by fighting.
“He knows I’m going to step in and I’m going to try to take his head off,” Luque continued. “Even if he tries to take my head off, I’m going to keep on pushing. It’s an exciting fight. If Nate wants to be in exciting fights, I’m the name, I’m the guy. I’m willing to fight anybody in the top 15 right now. I feel great. I like to keep myself active. I feel that makes me evolve. Nate is the name I want right now, but you know, if it doesn’t work out right now, no problem. I’m still going to be excited to fight another name in the top 15.”
