Vicente Luque returned to the Octagon after a one-year layoff and immediately bounced back into form with a unanimous decision victory over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Vegas 78.
The Brazilian welterweight veterans went head to head in the main event at the UFC Apex, with Luque earning the unanimous nod from the cageside judges, who returned scores of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47 for the younger man, who picked up the 22nd win of his career.
Luque had to go through additional checks in order to compete at the event after sustaining a brain bleed after his third-round TKO defeat to Geoff Neal one year ago. But, after undertaking a battery of tests and receiving clearance, he returned to action and picked up a crucial win to snap a two-fight skid and return to form against a respected name.
After his decision win, Luque discussed his options moving forward, and offered to welcome Dustin Poirier to the welterweight division if the former interim champion makes the decision to move up a weight class following his BMF title fight loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this summer.
"I think I would love to welcome Dustin Poirier, if he needs somebody," Luque told the UFC Vegas 58 post-fight show on ESPN.
"He said he might go to 170, so who knows? We could make that work."
The co-main event saw Cub Swanson pick up a unanimous decision victory over Hakeem Dawodu in a fight many observers felt should have instead been called for the Canadian.
As the three 29-28 scorecards were announced, Swanson started to clap for Dawodu, seemingly thinking his opponent was about to get the victory. And the Octagon veteran looked a little surprised when his name was announced as the winner.
The main card also saw an impressive win for light heavyweight Khalil Rountree, who finished former heavyweight contender Chris Daukaus via first-round TKO.
UFC Vegas 78: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Vicente Luque def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
- Cub Swanson def. Hakeem Dawodu via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Khalil Rountree def. Chris Daukaus via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:40
- Iasmin Lucindo def. Polyana Viana via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:42
- AJ Dobson def. Tafon Nchukwi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Josh Fremd def. Jamie Pickett via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Marcus McGhee def. JP Buys via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:19
- Terrance McKinney def. Mike Breeden via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
- Isaac Dulgarian def. Francis Marshall via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:48
- Martin Buday def. Josh Parisian via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 4:11
- Jaqueline Amorim def. Montserrat Conejo via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:41
- Da’Mon Blackshear def. Jose Johnson via submission (twister) – Round 1, 3:47
- Luana Santos def. Juliana Miller via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:41
