Vicente Luque Grinds Out Victory Over Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC Vegas 78

Timothy James

August 12, 2023

Vicente Luque defeats Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 78

It’s been tough times for UFC welterweight Vicente Luque – but he finds himself back in the win column over another former UFC champion. Luque bested former lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos in an impressive 5 round performance, utilizing a well-rounded skillset and showcasing a new wrinkle to his game – wrestling.

A dominant victory for the Silent Assassin 💪@VicenteLuqueMMA showcased his skills on all fronts tonight! #UFCVegas78 pic.twitter.com/uNVUxxG9Wh

— UFC (@ufc) August 13, 2023

The battle of Brazilian bruisers wasn’t quite the barnburner fans might have been hoping for, but Luque came in with a gameplan to use his grappling – and executed it effectively. It was a technical, back-and-forth affair, but in the end, Luque had the takedowns and control time to get the nod from the judges.

All respect to these two after going all 5 rounds 👏 #UFCVegas78 pic.twitter.com/ff9u3eAIkb

— UFC (@ufc) August 13, 2023

UFC Vegas 78 was Luque’s return to action after more than a year on the sidelines. He suffered a brain hemorrhage in his fight against Geoff Neal – only recently getting clearance from the Nevada Athletic Commission for his fight against RDA. There was some concern for Luque’s well-being after suffering such a scary injury, but if tonight was any indication, he is healthy and can compete at a high level.

RDA gave a good accounting of himself, winning a couple of rounds on two judges’ scorecards. However, it obviously wasn’t the performance he was hoping for. The UFC veteran has now competed inside the Octagon for a staggering 34 times – with some speculating that a retirement fight could be next on the docket for the Brazilian legend.