Regardless of setback, Vicente Luque thinks he is nearer than ever to title forward of UFC on ESPN 40

LAS VEGAS – Vicente Luque has had bumps within the highway, whilst just lately as April when he lost to Belal Muhammad by unanimous resolution.

Coming into Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 40 co-main occasion with Geoff Neal, nonetheless, Luque (21-8-1 MMA, 14-4 UFC) thinks he’s nearer than ever to UFC welterweight gold. With the give attention to the short-term, Luque informed reporters at Wednesday’s media day he’d be mendacity if he mentioned the long-term wasn’t on his thoughts, too.

“It’s arduous for me not to consider it, however that’s not the main target,” Luque informed MMA Junkie. “The main target proper now’s beating Geoff. He’s the person. He’s the man I’ve bought to go previous to maneuver again into that title dialog, which I used to be (in) and I can get again to. I see I’m nearer to the title struggle than I’ve ever been, even with a setback. It didn’t set me that again. A win over Geoff can put me again into the combination. That’s the main target proper now, get again into that blend, get an enormous win. It’s bought to be an enormous one towards Geoff. Then, we are able to take into consideration what’s subsequent.”

Luque, No. 8 within the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, is positioned for an additional contender towards No. 15-ranked Neal (14-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on the cardboard on the UFC Apex, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+. Many followers have it circled on their bout sheets, and Luque plans to stay as much as the hype.

“Geoff is a man I watched even earlier than I used to be lined as much as struggle him. I like his model,” Luque mentioned. “I take pleasure in watching his fights. I feel we match completely. It’s going to be probably and most definitely the Struggle of the Evening. We’re going to on the market and do what we do which is attempt to knock one another out. He’s robust (and) I’m robust, in order that’s not going to be a fast one. However I do consider I can end him and I feel that he believes he can end me, so it’s going to be good to observe that problem.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC on ESPN 40.