HOUSTON – Vicente Luque beat Michael Chiesa with a first-round submission Saturday on the main card at UFC 265 in Houston.
Take a look inside the fight with Luque, who picked up his fourth straight win – all of which have come by finish.
Luque on the fight’s key moment
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Vicente Luque (blue gloves) reacts to the fight against Michael Chiesa (red gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
“At some point, they started booing a little bit. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t want this. I’ve got to make this fight exciting.’ It’s something I just have. I’ve got to balance it out – I can’t just go out of my strategy and and fight any way I want to. I’ve got to be smart. But I’ve got to spice it up with some action, and it pays off in the end. I think my fights are some of the most exciting in the UFC.”
Luque on showing the division his ground game
Aug 7, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Michael Chiesa (red gloves) fights Vicente Luque (blue gloves) during UFC 265 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
“It feels great, especially getting a finish over a guy like Chiesa – a great grappler, a guy known for his grappling, known for his fighting style. The top of the division is filled with good grapplers, and I’m showing them I’m ready for that as well. I’m also a good grappler – I’m ready to hang there. Plus, I’ve got my striking.”
Luque on what he wants next
“I don’t know if I do deserve (a title shot) over (Leon Edwards). I just know that I’m one of the most, if not the most exciting welterweight right now. I’m showing everybody what I can do. I finish every single fight. My fights are exciting. And for that reason, I think I do deserve a title fight. I’m the only guy up there in the top five that hasn’t fought the champion, that hasn’t challenge Kamaru (Usman) for a fight. He still has a fight ahead of him (against Colby Covington), but I believe he’ll win that fight. If he does, I think I would be a great challenge.”
To hear more from Luque, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.