Vicente Luque
Active 2015–present · rated in 5 editions · peak overall 84.0
Scouting report
A pocket boxer with a dangerous D'Arce choke, Vicente "The Silent Assassin" Luque built a reputation as a high-finish-rate welterweight. Born in New Jersey and raised in Brasilia, Brazil, Luque compiled a high finishing rate out of Kill Cliff FC with stoppage wins over Tyron Woodley and Michael Chiesa, driven by an 87 Boxing and 87 BJJ, complemented by 85 Durability that fuels an 84 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Luque finished Alvaro Herrera, Hector Urbina and Belal Muhammad in 2016, lost a decision to Leon Edwards in London, then submitted Niko Price with a brabo choke in Sao Paulo. His pocket hooks, low calf kicks, and D'Arce chokes are reflected in an 85 Boxing and 85 BJJ.
Luque went on a four-fight knockout run from 2018 to 2019, stopping Chad Laprise in Santiago, Jalin Turner at UFC 229, Bryan Barberena in Phoenix and Derrick Krantz in Rochester, then beating Mike Perry on a split decision in Uruguay before losing a decision to Stephen Thompson. His chin, power boxing, and pressure anchor his 86 Boxing and 85 Durability.
In 2020 and 2021, Luque finished Niko Price in a rematch, knocked out Randy Brown, submitted former champion Tyron Woodley with a D'Arce choke at UFC 260, and submitted Michael Chiesa with a D'Arce choke at UFC 265 in Houston. His submission transitions, hook combinations, and finishing instinct justify his 87 Boxing and 87 BJJ.
After a knockout loss to Geoff Neal in August 2022, Luque returned in August 2023 in Las Vegas, outpointing former champion Rafael dos Anjos over five rounds before losing to Joaquin Buckley by TKO in Atlantic City. His toughness, adaptable wrestling, and pocket boxing anchor his 85 Boxing and 82 Durability.
Vicente Luque, a submission threat who stands and trades
Vicente Luque was born in Westwood, New Jersey, grew up speaking Portuguese, Spanish and English, and began karate at three. He moved to Brazil at six with his mother and later took up Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu. He joined The Ultimate Fighter in 2015, lost a semifinal split decision to Hayder Hassan, and then beat Hassan in a rematch by submission in December 2015. In 2021 he was promoted to black belt in both BJJ and Luta Livre on the same day, and that year he choked out Tyron Woodley and Michael Chiesa in the first round.
Luque, rating by rating
Boxing. Tied for the top at 87. He knocked out Belal Muhammad in the first round in 2016 and Chad Laprise in 2018.
Kickboxing. Rated 84. He dropped Randy Brown multiple times with low kicks before finishing him in 2020.
Wrestling. The lowest number on his card at 77. Leon Edwards won a unanimous decision over him in 2017.
BJJ. Tied for the top at 87. The D'Arce on Niko Price in 2017 and the anaconda in 2024 are examples.
Strength. Rated 82.
Durability. Rated 85. He beat Bryan Barberena by TKO in February 2019 and Mike Perry by split decision that August, and the Perry fight earned Fight of the Night.
Cardio. Rated 84. He lost a Fight of the Night decision to Stephen Thompson in 2019.
Fight IQ. Rated 82. He took the Niko Price fight in 2017 on 11 days' notice and won.
A tie at 87 between boxing and BJJ
Boxing and BJJ tie at the top of his card at 87, and he has used both to finish. He knocked out Jalin Turner in the first round in October 2018 and choked Woodley in the first in March 2021. In December 2024 he submitted Themba Gorimbo with an anaconda choke in under a minute. Wherever the fight goes, he has a way to end it.
Wrestling at 77 is where he looks thinnest
Wrestling is his lowest rating at 77. He has lost decisions to Leon Edwards in 2017 and to Belal Muhammad, a former high school wrestler, in April 2022. Geoff Neal knocked him out in the third round in August 2022. A high-level wrestler who can grind out rounds is the matchup to worry about.
Keep exploring
Closest welterweight profiles to Vicente Luque, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Kevin Hollandbest boxing 86 · weakest wrestling 74
- Martin Kampmannbest kickboxing 84 · weakest wrestling 74
- Rafael dos Anjosbest kickboxing 88 · weakest strength 82
- Michel Pereirabest kickboxing 86 · weakest bjj 80
- Welterweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Vicente Luque's strongest attribute, Boxing.
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Vicente Luque is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Vicente Luque's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.