UFC star reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage in fight back in 2022

UFC welterweight contender Vincente Luque has reportedly received his Nevada license to resume fighting after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage after his loss to Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 59. 

Neal knocked out the 31-year-old Brazilian in the third round of their fight. Following the loss, Luque was handed a minimum one-year suspension due to brain bleeds. He recently applied for a new fighting license during a Nevada Athletic Commission meeting in Las Vegas. 

According to a report by MMA Junkie, Vincente Luque was required to submit clearance from a neurologist and a neurosurgeon as well as a new MRI of his brain to fight. An NSAC medical consultant then approved the clearance. NSAC executive director Jeff Mullen stated:

“He suffered a brain bleed [a year ago]. He had a suspension of one year. Luque had to bring before the commission clearance from a neurosurgeon and a neurologist independently who recommended he be licensed. We have that material. … I have faith in our doctors.”

Vincente Luque is booked to face Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 51 on August 12. He is on a two-fight losing slide. 

Vincente Luque on Rafael Dos Anjos fight getting moved from July to August 

UFC welterweight mainstay Vincente Luque recently addressed his July bout against Rafael Dos Anjos getting postponed to August.

‘The Silent Assassin’ was initially booked to face Dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 49 on July 12. However, the fight was later rescheduled for August 12 for reasons unknown at the time. 

While Luque doesn’t know the exact reasons behind the postponement, he recently speculated that compulsory additional medical testing could explain why he’s fighting a month later instead.  

In a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Vincente Luque stated:

“I’m not 100 percent sure why it moved. But I believe part of it was kind of the commission wanting me to get some more exams and get cleared since my last fight because I got suspended for six months. I was cleared to fight in February but still they wanted some more exams. Just making sure I’m 100 percent. I do feel 100 percent, so I’m sure that everything is going to be good. They wanted to wait maybe a year after my last fight.”

Watch the full interview below:

As of now, Vincente Luque’s fighting license is valid for a year. If he fights in Nevada again, he’ll be required to submit additional testing to confirm he’s healthy to compete.