Themba Gorimbo made headlines for his surprising connection with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and four straight wins in the UFC since May 2023, but he’s still not as big as a draw compared to veteran Nick Diaz.
For Vicente Luque, who went from facing the Stockton star to Gorimbo at UFC 310 on Dec. 7, the switch of opponents in Las Vegas changes his career from many different angles.
“Nick brought a lot of that hype from the fans,” Luque said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “When I look to the UFC, there are a lot of things that can push you over. Maybe the biggest of all is hype, and I think the Nick fight brought that. Now, when I look at this fight, from a sportive side, it makes way more sense.
“It’s a challenge, a good guy who is coming hungry for the victory, and he wants to enter the rankings. I’m here to defend my position and at the same time show I’m still going for the top, gunning to become champion. This fight brings that.”
Diaz hasn’t won an MMA fight since October of 2011, a decision over retired two-division UFC champion B.J. Penn. That was also Diaz’s sole victory since returning to the UFC, following fights with Carlos Condit, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Robbie Lawler.
“The Nick fight was very interesting because of his fame, his name,” Luque said, “but at the same time it brought that thing, if I beat Nick, it was my obligation. I had that weight, too. It’s not the same [hype] in this fight compared to the Nick fight, but it’s also a great fight.”
Luque is happy to stay active after Diaz withdrew from two cancelled fights in 2024, and wants to reinsert himself in the mix against the elite of the welterweight class. The Brazilian enters his 22nd fight in the UFC, but is still younger than Gorimbo, who holds a UFC record of 4-1.
“I know I still have a lot to deliver,” Luque said. “I’m a veteran, but I’m younger than a lot of the guys there. It will mark my 10-year [anniversary] in the UFC next year, I really got here young, but that’s also good because I’ve learned and developed along the way. I still have a lot to do, and I’m just reaching my physical prime now, also in terms of experience. I have a lot to accomplish.”
The Kill Cliff FC talent looks to rebound from a stoppage defeat to Joaquin Buckley seven months after topping Rafael dos Anjos in a five-round decision, while Gorimbo beat Niko Price this past October to extend his winning streak to four.
“He’s a well-rounded guy who can wrestle, strike and grapple, but I think the most dangerous aspect of him is his physical abilities,” Luque said. “He’s wall, lengthy and explosive, appears to have good cardio, and I have to work on that. I have to fight on my distance and take it where I want, not let him do what he likes. Maybe not trade from a dangerous distance, try to hold him against the cage or on the ground. It’s about going there to dominate.”
