Vicente Luque now faces Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310 after veteran Nick Diaz withdrew from the Dec. 7 card in Las Vegas resulting from undisclosed causes, and the Brazilian welterweight is anxious about Diaz’s psychological well being.
Luque was initially slated to tackle Diaz this previous August, a day after Diaz’s forty first birthday, however the promotion introduced on the time that the match was pulled from the Abu Dhabi card resulting from “journey points.” The duo have been re-booked for UFC 310 just for that matchup to be cancelled, and Luque wasn’t knowledgeable of an official motive.
Shortly after that information broke, a viral video displaying a shirtless Diaz apparently making an attempt to gentle grass on hearth in the midst of the night time made the rounds on social media.
NEW: A video of Nick Diaz, by himself, shirtless in public, making an attempt to gentle a random piece of grass on hearth has surfaced on-line forward of his MMA return towards Vicente Luque on Dec. 7.
Ideas on this video surfacing shortly after his combat with Luque bought introduced? pic.twitter.com/lVZZuZoFb8
— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) November 10, 2024
Luque mentioned in an interview with MMA Combating that he was ready for any surprises going into UFC 310, together with last-minute weight adjustments—like what occurred with Diaz’s newest combat with Robbie Lawler—or the previous Strikeforce champion merely not displaying up for the occasion. Ultimately, Luque is “relieved” to no less than get a brand new opponent this time.
“I don’t know precisely why [it was cancelled],” Luque mentioned. “I noticed that video of him within the streets, and he didn’t look OK. And greater than something, I hope his household and he’s taking good care of himself. I hope he recovers and goes again to his finest state attainable.
“Once I noticed the video—first, I didn’t know if it was a latest video or not, however I saved pondering, if it’s latest, I hope he actually seeks assist to get out of the scenario he’s in as a result of Nick is a fighter I comply with since earlier than I used to be within the UFC. He has impressed me rather a lot previously. What he’s performed, preventing legends like B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, many massive names. You see his accomplishments, and see his state at 40 years of age, that’s not how I need to see any fighter.
“This sport could be very powerful and we dedicate so a few years to have the ability to make a dwelling off this, and to see him in that scenario, at his age… We don’t know what he’s going to do to any extent further, if he’s going to get better, if he’s going to have the ability to combat once more, possibly open a fitness center and educate, no matter, however we hope for the most effective. It’s very unhappy to see him at that stage, as a result of I don’t need that for anybody, a lot much less a person that has impressed so many.”
MMA, and fight sports activities typically, are sports activities the place youthful up-and-comers are normally paired up towards getting old big-name veterans for a altering of the guard that reinforces the recognition of those that are seen as the way forward for the game. Diaz may symbolize that for a soon-to-be 33-year-old Luque. Nevertheless, he would a lot fairly see Diaz effectively as an alternative of profiting from an obvious dangerous psychological state for a better night time within the octagon.
“MMA is a extra trendy type of martial arts, however I feel it ended up dropping a number of martial arts values like respect to the opponent and respect to those that are older,” Luque mentioned. “That’s how I used to be raised. I consider in God, I consider in Jesus, in order that has additionally taught me rather a lot. We’ve got to like one another regardless of who that’s.
“In fact, after I step into that octagon, it’s battle. I do know what I’ve to do and why I’m there, however I’ll by no means take a look at one other human being and now want him the most effective. I need my opponent to be prepared so we will placed on an incredible combat, and that’s what I prepare for. If I see he’s not doing effectively, particularly in a case like Nick Diaz’s, I simply want him the most effective. If he had made it to the combat, we’d have fought and I’d do what I’m speculated to do there, but it surely’s clear that’s why it was cancelled. He not within the situation [to fight], and I hope he recovers.”
