Vicente Luque reacts to another Nick Diaz fight cancellation, ‘sad’ video

Vicente Luque now faces Themba Gorimbo at UFC 310 after veteran Nick Diaz withdrew from the Dec. 7 card in Las Vegas due to undisclosed reasons, and the Brazilian welterweight is concerned about Diaz’s mental health.

Luque was originally slated to take on Diaz this past August, a day after Diaz’s 41st birthday, but the promotion announced at the time that the match was pulled from the Abu Dhabi card due to “travel issues.” The duo were re-booked for UFC 310 only for that matchup to be cancelled, and Luque wasn’t informed of an official reason.

Shortly after that news broke, a viral video showing a shirtless Diaz apparently trying to light grass on fire in the middle of the night made the rounds on social media.

Luque said in an interview with MMA Fighting that he was prepared for any surprises going into UFC 310, including last-minute weight changes—like what happened with Diaz’s latest fight with Robbie Lawler—or the former Strikeforce champion simply not showing up for the event. In the end, Luque is “relieved” to at least get a new opponent this time.

“I don’t know exactly why [it was cancelled],” Luque said. “I saw that video of him in the streets, and he didn’t look OK. And more than anything, I hope his family and he’s taking care of himself. I hope he recovers and goes back to his best state possible.

“When I saw the video—first, I didn’t know if it was a recent video or not, but I kept thinking, if it’s recent, I hope he really seeks help to get out of the situation he’s in because Nick is a fighter I follow since before I was in the UFC. He has inspired me a lot in the past. What he’s done, fighting legends like B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, many big names. You see his accomplishments, and see his state at 40 years of age, that’s not how I want to see any fighter.

“This sport is very tough and we dedicate so many years to be able to make a living off this, and to see him in that situation, at his age… We don’t know what he’s going to do from now on, if he’s going to recover, if he’s going to be able to fight again, maybe open a gym and teach, whatever, but we hope for the best. It’s very sad to see him at that stage, because I don’t want that for anyone, much less a man that has inspired so many.”

MMA, and combat sports in general, are sports where younger up-and-comers are usually paired up against aging big-name veterans for a changing of the guard that boosts the popularity of those who are seen as the future of the sport. Diaz could represent that for a soon-to-be 33-year-old Luque. However, he would much rather see Diaz well instead of taking advantage of an apparent bad mental state for an easier night in the octagon.

“MMA is a more modern form of martial arts, but I think it ended up losing several martial arts values like respect to the opponent and respect to those who are older,” Luque said. “That’s how I was raised. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, so that has also taught me a lot. We have to love each other no matter who that is.

“Of course, when I step into that octagon, it’s war. I know what I have to do and why I’m there, but I’ll never look at another human being and now wish him the best. I want my opponent to be ready so we can put on a great fight, and that’s what I train for. If I see he’s not doing well, especially in a case like Nick Diaz’s, I just wish him the best. If he had made it to the fight, we would have fought and I would do what I’m supposed to do there, but it’s clear that’s why it was cancelled. He not in the condition [to fight], and I hope he recovers.”