UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje - Predictions and Picks

#4 Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Niko Price

Can Vicente Luque overcome Niko Price again?

A rematch of their initial fight in 2017, quite why the UFC has chosen to pit Luque against Price again is anyone’s guess. But it honestly doesn’t matter. It’ll likely still be one of the best fights of 2020. In a combined 23 UFC fights, these two have been the distance just four times, with Price only going out of the first round five times.

Last time they met, it was a comfortable win for Luque. He outstruck ‘The Hybrid’ in the first round and again in the second, basically using his superior technique. He then choked him out with a D’Arce after dropping him. Will he be able to repeat the feat here?

In all honesty, he most likely will. Price remains one of the best fighters to watch on the entire roster. Not many people can get knockouts from upkicks or from hammer fists from the guard. But in all honesty, despite the fact that he’s tremendous on offense, he’s still somewhat porous on defense.

Most notably, he’s got a tendency to be drawn into shootouts with fighters who are either heavier hitters or far more technical. And while he can win those kinds of fights with his crazy finishing skill – see his victory over Tim Means in 2019 – it’s not the smartest way of doing things.

I’ve got no doubt that Price will come into this fight aggressively and look to finish Luque. And with ‘The Silent Assassin’ coming off a clear-cut loss at the hands of Stephen Thompson, he could be gunshy. But overall I would like the Brazilian to do exactly what he did in the first fight, piecing Price up standing before getting him down for a submission.

The Pick: Luque via second-round submission