# Vicente Luque
**Vicente Luque** (full name Vicente Catta Preta Luque) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC's middleweight division, known by the nickname "The Silent Assassin" (Asesino Silencioso). Born to a Brazilian mother and a Chilean father and residing in Florida, United States, he has fought in the UFC since 2015, first as a welterweight and, since 2026, at 185 pounds.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/vicente-luque) • [2](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/quien-es-vicente-luque-el-rival-del-espanol-joel-alvarez-en-su-estreno-en-el-peso-welter-de-ufc-f202510-n/) • [3](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/sbc/documents/04-11-2026-UFC-results_without_med.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 24-13-1 (wins-losses-draws) in the UFC's official profile, with 11 wins by knockout, 10 by submission, and 15 first-round finishes[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/vicente-luque) |
| Division | Welterweight for most of his career; moved up to middleweight in 2026 after losses to Kevin Holland and Joel Álvarez[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/vicente-luque-new-chapter-journey-ufc-327) |
| Background | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and luta libre; 1.80 m tall with a 1.93 m reach[2](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/quien-es-vicente-luque-el-rival-del-espanol-joel-alvarez-en-su-estreno-en-el-peso-welter-de-ufc-f202510-n/) |
| Signature submission | Holds the most D'Arce choke finishes in UFC history[5](https://fightomic.com/vicente-luque-profile/) |
| Health scare | Suffered a brain bleed in a knockout loss to Geoff Neal in August 2022; licensed again by the Nevada Athletic Commission in July 2023[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/7/25/23807377/nac-vicente-luque-cleared-to-fight-after-suffering-brain-bleed-in-geoff-neal-knockout-loss) |
| Peak run | 10-1 in 11 appearances with four Fight of the Night and two Performance of the Night bonuses as of April 2022[7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/4/16/23026421/vicente-luque-isnt-angry-or-jealous-of-khamzat-chimaev-fast-rise-up-the-ranks-i-have-my-own-path) |
| Finishing rate | 21 of his 24 UFC-listed wins came by stoppage (11 KO/TKO, 10 submission), with only 3 by decision[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/vicente-luque) |
## Background
Luque fought on smaller shows throughout Brazil for about five years before coming to the United States and joining the Blackzilians team in Boca Raton in early 2014, a move that led to his stint on the reality show "The Ultimate Fighter."[8](https://us.ufcespanol.com/news/meet-blackzilians-vicente-luque) He joined the UFC in 2015; his first UFC bout came on July 12, 2015.[9](https://fightiq.net/fighter/vicente-luque)
## UFC career
**Rise at welterweight.** Luque built a reputation as one of the division's most reliable finishers. By May 2018, his TKO of Chad Laprise at UFC Fight Night Chile had run his overall MMA record to 13-6-1 and marked his sixth knockout since joining the UFC in 2015.[10](https://as.com/us/us/2018/05/19/masdeporte/1526760114_780820.html) By April 2022 he had gone 10-1 in his previous 11 appearances, collecting four Fight of the Night awards and two [Performance](https://www.edgepedia.org/performance) of the Night bonuses along the way, and he headlined UFC Vegas 51 against [Belal Muhammad](https://www.edgepedia.org/belal-muhammad), his first UFC main event after roughly five years in the organization.[7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/4/16/23026421/vicente-luque-isnt-angry-or-jealous-of-khamzat-chimaev-fast-rise-up-the-ranks-i-have-my-own-path) At that point he was considered one of the top welterweights in the UFC, though still outside title contention; he said he accepted a longer path because he was "just not a trash talker."[7](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/4/16/23026421/vicente-luque-isnt-angry-or-jealous-of-khamzat-chimaev-fast-rise-up-the-ranks-i-have-my-own-path) At UFC 268 weekend he served as emergency backup for the [Kamaru Usman](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamaru-usman) versus Colby Covington title rematch and weighed in at 172.2 pounds, more than two pounds over the welterweight limit, for a fight he was never called upon to take.[5](https://fightomic.com/vicente-luque-profile/)
**The Geoff Neal injury and return.** Luque's August 2022 fight with [Geoff Neal](https://www.edgepedia.org/geoff-neal) left his future in the Octagon uncertain: he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, or brain bleed, in the knockout loss.[11](https://www.ufc.com/news/vicente-luque-has-found-peace-ufc-rio) • [6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/7/25/23807377/nac-vicente-luque-cleared-to-fight-after-suffering-brain-bleed-in-geoff-neal-knockout-loss) In July 2023 the Nevada Athletic Commission licensed him to fight again after its medical consultant reviewed and approved the clearance.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/7/25/23807377/nac-vicente-luque-cleared-to-fight-after-suffering-brain-bleed-in-geoff-neal-knockout-loss) He returned in the UFC Vegas 78 main event on August 12, 2023, beating former lightweight champion [Rafael dos Anjos](https://www.edgepedia.org/rafael-dos-anjos) by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. Luque admitted he had been afraid to get hit after the injury, then secured eight takedowns over five rounds for his first ever win in a five-round fight.[12](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/8/12/23830162/vicente-luque-leans-on-grappling-and-takedowns-to-beat-rafael-dos-anjos-in-ufc-vegas-78-main-event)
**Move to middleweight.** After the injury-interrupted stretch, Luque won just two of seven bouts, and in 2025 he lost to [Kevin Holland](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-holland), who choked him out at [UFC 316](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-316) in June 2025, and to Spain's Joel Álvarez, who beat him by unanimous decision (triple 30-26) in Álvarez's welterweight debut at UFC Rio de Janeiro in October 2025.[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/vicente-luque-new-chapter-journey-ufc-327) • [13](https://apnews.com/article/30ff9728d97d194abda3f22643b96abe) • [14](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/joel-alvarez-conquista-el-welter-f202510-n/) Those losses prompted a move up to middleweight. Luque said the jump had been percolating for a long time because cutting to 170 pounds had become harder, and he made his 185-pound debut against [Kelvin Gastelum](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelvin-gastelum) at UFC 327 in Miami in April 2026, winning by first-round submission and saying afterward he planned to stay at 185.[4](https://www.ufc.com/news/vicente-luque-new-chapter-journey-ufc-327) • [15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQXXDJHHQxc) He then fought Tresean Gore at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15, 2026, winning that bout as well.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/vicente-luque)
## Fighting style
Luque is an offense-first pressure puncher with a [Muay Thai](https://www.edgepedia.org/muay-thai) background, stalking opponents behind hooks, crosses, and low kicks, and he is at his best intercepting strikes, timing opponents' jabs with a right overhand or a tight left hook.[16](https://www.mmamania.com/23026127/vicente-luque-fighter-breakdown-strengths-weaknesses-ufc-vegas-51-espn-mma) His grappling is built around front chokes: a jiu-jitsu black belt, he attacks the neck aggressively, with D'Arce chokes and the guillotine listed among his favorite weapons, and he holds the most D'Arce choke finishes in UFC history.[2](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/quien-es-vicente-luque-el-rival-del-espanol-joel-alvarez-en-su-estreno-en-el-peso-welter-de-ufc-f202510-n/) • [5](https://fightomic.com/vicente-luque-profile/) • [16](https://www.mmamania.com/23026127/vicente-luque-fighter-breakdown-strengths-weaknesses-ufc-vegas-51-espn-mma) His UFC statistics reflect the finishing orientation: 4.69 significant strikes landed per minute against 5.19 absorbed, a 52 percent striking defense, and an average fight time of 9:41.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/vicente-luque)
## References
1. [Vicente Luque, official UFC fighter profile](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/vicente-luque)
2. [Quién es Vicente Luque, el rival del español Joel Álvarez en su estreno en el peso wélter de UFC, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/quien-es-vicente-luque-el-rival-del-espanol-joel-alvarez-en-su-estreno-en-el-peso-welter-de-ufc-f202510-n/)
3. [MATCH RESULTS, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/sbc/documents/04-11-2026-UFC-results_without_med.pdf)
4. [Vicente Luque: A New Chapter In The Journey, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/vicente-luque-new-chapter-journey-ufc-327)
5. [Vicente Luque: Record, Career and Middleweight Move, Fightomic](https://fightomic.com/vicente-luque-profile/)
6. [NAC: Vicente Luque cleared to fight after suffering brain bleed in Geoff Neal knockout loss, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/7/25/23807377/nac-vicente-luque-cleared-to-fight-after-suffering-brain-bleed-in-geoff-neal-knockout-loss)
7. [Vicente Luque isn't angry or jealous of Khamzat Chimaev's fast rise up the ranks, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/4/16/23026421/vicente-luque-isnt-angry-or-jealous-of-khamzat-chimaev-fast-rise-up-the-ranks-i-have-my-own-path)
8. [Meet The Blackzilians' Vicente Luque, UFC.com](https://us.ufcespanol.com/news/meet-blackzilians-vicente-luque)
9. [Vicente Luque, record and tale of the tape, FightIQ](https://fightiq.net/fighter/vicente-luque)
10. [Resultados y resumen del UFC Fight Night Chile: Maia vs Usman, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2018/05/19/masdeporte/1526760114_780820.html)
11. [Vicente Luque Has Found Peace, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/vicente-luque-has-found-peace-ufc-rio)
12. [Vicente Luque leans on grappling and takedowns to beat Rafael dos Anjos in UFC Vegas 78 main event, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/8/12/23830162/vicente-luque-leans-on-grappling-and-takedowns-to-beat-rafael-dos-anjos-in-ufc-vegas-78-main-event)
13. [Harrison, Dvalishvili celebrate as 135-pound champions at UFC 316, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/30ff9728d97d194abda3f22643b96abe)
14. [Un 'Fenómeno' arrasa el wélter, AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/joel-alvarez-conquista-el-welter-f202510-n/)
15. [Vicente Luque plans to stay at 185 after submitting Kelvin Gastelum, UFC 327, MMA Junkie (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQXXDJHHQxc)
16. [Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC Vegas 51's Vicente Luque, MMA Mania](https://www.mmamania.com/23026127/vicente-luque-fighter-breakdown-strengths-weaknesses-ufc-vegas-51-espn-mma)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Welterweight and middleweight fighters › Welterweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license