Vicente Luque Bio
Vicente Catta Preta Luque, widely recognized by his ring name “The Silent Assassin,” is a Brazilian and American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on November 27, 1991, in Westwood, New Jersey, Luque has built a reputation for his finishing ability, accumulating multiple post-fight bonuses throughout his UFC career. Training out of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, he represents Cerrado MMA and Kill Cliff FC, bringing a well-rounded skill set developed through years of martial arts dedication.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall with a 75.5-inch reach, Luque competes at 170 pounds and holds black belts in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre Esportiva, disciplines he has studied since his teenage years. With a professional record spanning more than fifteen years, he has become a respected veteran of the welterweight ranks, known for his composure inside the cage and his capacity to secure dramatic finishes against high-level opposition.
Early Life and Background
Vicente Catta Preta Luque was born in Westwood, New Jersey, on November 27, 1991, to a Colombian-born Brazilian mother and a Chilean father. His maternal grandmother was a diplomat, and his mother was largely raised in Chile, where she met and married Luque’s father before the family relocated to the United States. Raised in a multilingual household, Luque grew up speaking Portuguese, Spanish, and English, an upbringing that helped shape his adaptable character.
Luque began training in martial arts at a very young age, starting with karate when he was just three years old. When he was six, his parents separated and he moved to Brazil with his mother, where he continued his karate training until the age of ten. After a brief period playing soccer, he transitioned to Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a teenager, eventually finding his calling in mixed martial arts. In 2021, he was promoted to black belt in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre on the same day, a milestone that reflected his lifelong commitment to martial arts mastery.
Path to MMA
Luque’s path to professional mixed martial arts began during his teenage years in Brazil, where his growing interest in striking and grappling disciplines naturally converged into MMA training. He transitioned to the sport in 2008 and made his professional debut in June 2009, competing for various regional promotions across Brazil. Over the following years, he compiled a record of 7-4-1 on the regional circuit, gaining valuable experience and sharpening his skills against a diverse range of opponents.
His strong regional performances earned him an opportunity to try out for The Ultimate Fighter in early 2014, the UFC’s reality competition series that has launched the careers of many notable fighters. In February 2015, it was announced that Luque had been selected as a cast member for The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians. During the show, he defeated Nathan Coy by submission in the second round before losing a split decision to Hayder Hassan in the semifinals, a setback that nevertheless paved the way for his official UFC debut.
Vicente Luque Career
Early Career (2009-2014)
Vicente Catta Preta Luque launched his professional mixed martial arts career in June 2009, working his way through the Brazilian regional scene with a steady stream of appearances. Competing for various promotions during this developmental period, he built a record of 7-4-1, gaining experience in all areas of the sport. These years were crucial for his evolution as a fighter, allowing him to test his karate, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu against a wide variety of styles.
During this time, Luque also began training with Cerrado MMA in 2007, the team that has remained his home base throughout his career. His development at Cerrado MMA laid the foundation for the technical proficiency and fight IQ that would later define his UFC tenure. By the time he earned his invitation to The Ultimate Fighter, Luque had established himself as a promising talent ready for the sport’s biggest stage.
UFC Breakthrough (2015-2017)
Luque made his official UFC debut on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale, where he faced fellow castmate Michael Graves and lost by unanimous decision. Undeterred, he rebounded quickly with a first-round submission victory over Hayder Hassan at UFC on Fox 17 on December 19, 2015, a win that earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus. He followed this with submission wins over Álvaro Herrera and Héctor Urbina in 2016, the latter a first-round knockout that brought him a second Performance of the Night award.
One of the most memorable moments of this period came on November 12, 2016, at UFC 205, when Luque knocked out Belal Muhammad in the first round. He closed out 2017 with a notable submission victory over Niko Price at UFC Fight Night 119, finishing the bout with a D’Arce choke in the second round. This stretch of performances cemented his reputation as a dangerous finisher and earned him growing recognition among welterweight contenders.
Veteran Status (2018-2021)
Between 2018 and 2021, Vicente Catta Preta Luque delivered some of the most thrilling performances of his UFC career. He opened 2018 with a first-round knockout of Chad Laprise at UFC Fight Night 129, followed by another first-round knockout of Jalin Turner at UFC 229. His February 2019 clash with Bryan Barberena at UFC on ESPN 1 produced a dramatic third-round TKO victory and a Fight of the Night award, as Luque became the first fighter to stop Barberena by TKO.
He added victories over Derrick Krantz, Mike Perry, and a rematch win over Niko Price, before delivering a career-defining performance against former champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 260 on March 27, 2021. Luque submitted Woodley with a D’Arce choke in the first round, earning both a Fight of the Night and a Performance of the Night bonus across the season. He also defeated Michael Chiesa by D’Arce choke at UFC 265, another Performance of the Night-winning effort that reinforced his status as one of the welterweight division’s premier finishers.
Recent Years (2022-Present)
The years following 2021 brought both challenges and signature moments for Vicente Catta Preta Luque. After a unanimous decision loss to Belal Muhammad in their April 2022 rematch and a knockout defeat to Geoff Neal in August 2022, Luque returned to the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Rafael dos Anjos in August 2023. A scheduled bout with Ian Machado Garry at UFC 296 was scrapped when Garry withdrew due to pneumonia.
In 2024, Luque suffered a second-round TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 54 after Sean Brady withdrew from the contest. He rebounded emphatically on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310, submitting Themba Gorimbo with an anaconda choke in under one minute to claim another Performance of the Night award. In 2025, he lost to Kevin Holland by D’Arce choke at UFC 316 and dropped a unanimous decision to Joel Álvarez at UFC Fight Night 261 after Santiago Ponzinibbio withdrew due to injury. Looking ahead, Luque is scheduled to return to the middleweight division to face Kyle Daukaus on April 11, 2026, at UFC 327.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vicente Catta Preta Luque is recognized for his calm, methodical approach inside the cage, a quality that inspired his “Silent Assassin” moniker. His striking game is built on a foundation of karate and Muay Thai, giving him sharp kicks and dangerous knees, while his Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre black belts make him a constant submission threat. He pairs that versatility with strategic patience, often setting up his finishes with measured pressure before unleashing decisive combinations or grappling sequences.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Vicente Catta Preta Luque’s signature moments, his first-round submission of former champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 260 stands out as a career highlight. His 2019 battle with Bryan Barberena, the 2024 anaconda choke of Themba Gorimbo, and his multiple post-fight bonuses have also defined his reputation as a must-watch competitor. Earning black belts in two disciplines on the same day in 2021 further underscored his dedication to the craft of martial arts.
Vicente Luque Career Wins
Vicente Catta Preta Luque has compiled 23 professional victories across regional and international promotions, with 12 losses and 1 draw on his record. Of his wins, 2 have come by knockout, 3 by submission, and 7 by decision, showcasing his well-rounded finishing ability. He has earned seven post-fight bonuses during his UFC tenure, including multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night awards.
UFC Highlights
Luque’s UFC journey has been defined by a series of memorable finishes against respected opposition. He earned Performance of the Night bonuses for his submission of Hayder Hassan, knockout of Héctor Urbina, knockout of Randy Brown, submission of Michael Chiesa, and submission of Themba Gorimbo. His Fight of the Night awards came after bouts with Bryan Barberena, Mike Perry, Stephen Thompson, and Tyron Woodley, reflecting his consistent ability to deliver action-packed performances inside the Octagon.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to joining the UFC, Vicente Catta Preta Luque built his foundation on the Brazilian regional circuit, compiling a 7-4-1 record across various promotions. These early contests allowed him to develop the versatile skill set that has since flourished on the international stage. His steady progression from regional competitor to UFC veteran illustrates a career built on consistent improvement and resilience.
Vicente Luque Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Vicente Catta Preta Luque was raised in a multicultural household shaped by the diverse backgrounds of his parents. His mother, who was born in Colombia and raised largely in Chile, and his Chilean father met and married in South America before the family relocated to the United States. His maternal grandmother’s career as a diplomat exposed the family to international environments, contributing to Luque’s trilingual upbringing in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
Personal Life
Vicente Catta Preta Luque is married to his wife, Carol, and the couple has a son. The family has been based in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil, where Luque continues to train with Cerrado MMA. Despite the demands of professional fighting, he has remained closely connected to his family, who have supported his martial arts journey from his earliest karate classes through his UFC career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented a series of challenges and notable moments for Vicente Catta Preta Luque. He opened the year with a second-round loss to Kevin Holland via D’Arce choke submission at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, a result that snapped the momentum of his previous bonus-winning performance. The setback, however, did little to diminish his standing as a dangerous veteran in the welterweight division.
Luque’s next scheduled appearance came on October 11, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 261, where he was originally set to face Santiago Ponzinibbio. After Ponzinibbio was forced to withdraw due to injury, Joel Álvarez stepped in as a replacement, and Luque ultimately lost the bout by unanimous decision. The back-to-back losses placed him at a crossroads heading into the latter portion of the year, with questions about his future weight class and matchmaking direction.
Looking ahead, Vicente Catta Preta Luque is scheduled to return to the middleweight division to face Kyle Daukaus on April 11, 2026, at UFC 327. The move back to middleweight, where he competed briefly in 2012, signals a fresh chapter in his career and an opportunity to reset his trajectory. With his deep well of experience, finishing ability, and dual black belts in jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre, Luque remains a compelling figure in the UFC’s competitive landscape.