Vicente Luque feels like middleweight 'up-and-comer' heading into UFC 330

PHILADELPHIA – Middleweight has given Vicente Luque new life. Luque (24-12-1 MMA, 17-8 UFC) meets Tresean Gore (6-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 330 (Paramount+) prelims at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. After back-to-back losses, Luque returned to middleweight for the first time since 2012. He was able to snap his losing skid with a submission of Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 327 in April. He will look to continue riding that momentum when he takes on dangerous finisher Gore. "He's a very well rounded guy," Luque told MMA Junkie of Gore. "Especially aggressive, he likes to go in there. He doesn't back down, sometimes he gets hit, he gets wobbled, and he keeps on fighting. He hasn't been tested to this level, and I think that overall I'm the most experienced guy. I'm the guy who brings danger in the striking and on the ground. "So, I think he's very challenging and very exciting because he's hungry, and that motivates me to go out there and just show him that I'm here, and I'm here to stay in this division. I used to feel like I'm a veteran at welterweight, but now I just feel like I'm a new up-and-comer." Luque had glimpses of title potential at welterweight when he went on several win streaks. However, the weight cut eventually took a toll on him, which prompted his move up a division. At 34, his goals haven't changed. "My goal has always been to be at the top," Luque said. "It's never going to stop being that. To the day I retire, I'm going to be pushing for that title. I'm here in the middleweight division now, looking for that top 15. After I get to that top 15, I'm going to be looking to climb that ladder to the top five then eventually for a contender spot and getting that title. So, that's what I do. I don't know how to just stay there and do one more. I've got to try and be the best." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Vicente Luque feels like middleweight 'up-and-comer' heading into UFC 330