RIO DE JANEIRO — Vicente Luque has by no means been such a betting underdog in his whole UFC profession like he’s now forward of UFC Rio, when he faces short-notice substitute Joel Alvarez, and he has a tough time understanding the strains.
Luque, who was initially slated to satisfy Santiago Ponzinibbio on the Oct. 11 occasion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has overwhelmed former and future champions in Rafael dos Anjos, Tyron Woodley and Bella Muhammad all through his 16-7 run within the UFC. The current loss to Kevin Holland dropped him to 2-4 in his previous six outings, although.
Alvarez, however, makes the transfer to welterweight after having a tough time making 155 kilos prior to now. The Spanish expertise received seven of 9 within the UFC with a 100-percent end charge, stopping Marc Diakiese, Elves Brenner and Drakkar Klose in most up-to-date appearances.
“It’s arduous to say what the followers and what all people at residence expects,” Luque advised MMA Preventing throughout the UFC Rio media day. “That’s probably not what I take into consideration an excessive amount of. I do know what I’ve been doing, I do know what I plan to do this night time. If all people thinks I’m the underdog, I’m gonna should go on the market and shock them.”
Preventing in Rio de Janeiro for the primary time boosts his confidence and spirit, and being counted out can work as further gas.
“I’m not making an attempt to close anyone up, however I’m undoubtedly there do to what I’m gonna do,” Luque stated. “Something that you simply put in opposition to me is gonna be motivation, an additional fireplace to go on the market and do what I do. Regardless, I wish to win, I wanna go on the market and have enjoyable that night time. I wanna go on the market and do what I do. If guys are gonna suppose I can not do it they usually wanna put that problem on, even higher. I bought extra fireplace to go on the market and do what I do as finest as I can.”
Alvarez’s solely two UFC defeats got here in opposition to Arman Tsarukyan and Damir Ismagulov at light-weight, and Luque stated “he deserves the hype he will get”.
“He’s had nice fights and he has completed a number of them — if not all of them,” Luque stated. “He has fought actually good struggle. There are guys which have a lot much less fights and have way more hype than that. I believe that he backs up his hype. That’s precisely one factor that excites me. I’m stepping in there in opposition to a man that’s hungry, in opposition to a man that lots of people see as a prospect, and I can revenue from that as nicely.”
Luque competed thrice in South America since becoming a member of the UFC. At UFC Montevideo, he received a “Combat of the Night time” bonus-winning cut up choice over Mike Perry. On Brazilian soil, Luque scored stoppages in opposition to Niko Value and Hector Urbina. He was compelled to make some adjustments after Alvarez stepped in for Ponzinibbio, however feels able to get the job completed inside the space.
“Joel is way taller opponent. Though he’s a 155er, he’s a really tall 170 man,” Luque stated. “And he’s a striker extra boxing oriented. However all this stuff have been issues I had three weeks to alter to ensure I adjusted. At Kill Cliff I’ve a lot expertise to assist me with that, so I had guys that might emulate that type and get me prepared for this. I’m assured that even with the trade, nothing has actually been an issue for me on this coaching camp. I’m in nice form, bodily, mentally, and really motivated for this struggle.”
“I undoubtedly envision myself with a end,” he added. “I’ve been working arduous. My type favors a end, being knockout or submission, so I do see it.”
