The Steady Hand of Vicente Luque

Vicente Luque sounds more and more like a man at peace with his accomplishments, even though he wants very much to add to his list with the time he has left in the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight division.

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 21 semifinalist will draw one of the more intriguing assignments of his career when he faces unbeaten Kill Cliff Fight Club stablemate Ian Garry in a featured UFC 296 attraction this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Luque has remained a consistent presence in the promotion for more than eight years now and enters his latest outing on the heels of a five-round unanimous decision over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 51 in August.

“I feel a high level of satisfaction in being part of the world’s biggest MMA organization,” he told Sherdog.com. “It had been my dream since childhood. I’ve won 15 out of 20 bouts in the UFC against the best in the world. I’ve fought former champions, as well as the current champion [Leon Edwards]. It’s a long road, but I feel I’m still evolving. I have yet to peak. I have far to go in fighting. It makes me happy to see my personal history, as well as all the challenges I’ve overcome. I feel blessed, always.”

Luque’s motivations run deeper than many of his contemporaries.

“I wish to not only be a standout athlete but also an example to a younger generation,” he said. “I’ve always looked to behave as a dedicated, respectful and hardworking professional, and when I step into the cage, I fight with all my heart.”

Garry, 26, has emerged as one of the sport’s top prospects. The brash Irishman boasts eight finishes among his 13 professional victories and last fought at UFC 292, where he took a three-round unanimous decision from Neil Magny on Aug. 19. If familiarity does indeed breed contempt, it should show itself here.

“He’s a talented guy,” Luque said. “I know him. We’ve trained together several times. We get along, but now we’re facing each other. I feel ours will be a very active battle due to both of our fighting styles. I feel he’s looking to overtake me in the rankings and keep his hype train going. My objective is to stop that hype. Since there are a lot of eyes on him, this fight has a good upside for me. Beating him will propel me into the Top 5 again, so I can go for the belt.”

While some trumpet Garry as a future champion at 170 pounds, the 32-year-old Luque has experience on his side and sees potential weaknesses on which he can capitalize.

“We studied Ian’s game,” he said. “He has gaps on the feet and on the ground which we can exploit. My game is MMA. Without a doubt, we’ll strike, and if the opportunity presents itself, a submission is also an option.”

The stakes are undeniably high for both men—a reality not lost on Luque.

“Ian is a great opponent, and I see that a win over him would give my career a big boost,” he said. “I’m focused on that.”