After 17 UFC fights, Vicente Luque will compete in the main event for the first time in 2022

5 UFC fighters who will compete in the main event for the first time in 2022

Modified Feb 02, 2022 16:03 GMT

#2. Vicente Luque - No. 4 ranked UFC Welterweight

Vicente Luque holds a record of 21-7-1

Of all the UFC fighters on this list, it may be most surprising to discover that Vicente Luque has never competed in a main event. The Brazilian has fought a number of high-profile opponents thus far in his career but will be given his first headline bout on April 16.

Brett Okamoto

@bokamotoESPN

Vicente Luque (@VicenteLuqueMMA) vs. Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) will headline UFC Fight Night on April 16, per sources. Ranked Nos. 4 and 5 in the UFC, respectively. Rematch of a fight that took place in 2016, which Luque won via TKO. An impactful one for the division.

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The fight is a rematch with Belal Muhammad, a fighter he knocked out back in 2016 at UFC 205. Both men have been on quite the streak as of late and with both men ranked in the top five, a win would be huge for either of their careers.

Luque has taken part in big-time fights with the likes of Tyron Woodley and Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, so shouldn't be awed by the occasion. He is already the highest-ranked welterweight without a loss to Kamaru Usman, so a title shot could be within his reach should he secure the win.

#1. Beneil Dariush - no. 3 ranked UFC lightweight

Beneil Dariush holds a record of 21-4-1

Beneil Dariush may have flown under-the-radar for a while but his most recent win over Tony Ferguson put an end to that. He is now way up there in the rankings and his seven-fight win streak has allowed him to secure a spot in his first main event on February 26.

However, he must now face an incredibly tough opponent in the No.4 ranked Islam Makhachev. Makhachev is on a nine-fight winning streak and has finished each of his last three opponents via submission. He is also now coached by the great Khabib Nurmagomedov and will likely be the favorite heading into this one.

runningmma

@runningmma

Beneil Dariush on his upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev. Do you think Dariush's grappling is as good or even better than Makhachev's?

Dariush has earned his spot in the main event fight and, while he is faced with a very difficult task, a win would be huge for him. With both men ranked so high, the winner will be the front-runner to face whoever is the lightweight champion after Charles Oliveira faces Justin Gaethje.

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Edited by
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