Vicente Luque has been cleared to fight Rafael Dos Anjos after the Nevada State Athletic Commission cleared him due to concerns about a brain bleed.
As reported by MMA Junkie, Luque required special approval from the commission when it was revealed he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage after his loss to Geoff Neal. Though the nature of the injury was dire, the commission gave Luque a clean bill of health to compete again.
Executive direction Jeff Mullen explained the circumstances in detail.
“He suffered a brain bleed. He had a suspension of one year. He had to bring before the commission clearance from a neurosurgeon and a neurologist independently who recommended he be licensed. We have that material.”
Luque’s medical suspension is likely the cause behind the one-month delay in his welterweight fight against Dos Anjos. In an interview with Middle Easy, Luque confirmed his readiness for the contest.
“I do feel 100 percent, so I’m sure that everything is going to be good. They wanted to wait maybe a year after my last fight.”
Vicente Luque will headline the ESPN card against Rafael Dos Anjos
With that concern behind him, Luque can concentrate on the task at hand. He’s set to main event an August UFC Fight Night card in a crossroads fight against Dos Anjos.
“The Silent Assassin” has dropped his last two fights after going on a five-fight win streak. Though he remains ranked #10 at welterweight, a loss to Dos Anjos and his recent health scare might damage his career going forward.
Dos Anjos returned to welterweight after being unable to secure a significant fight at lightweight. He submitted Bryan Barbarena in the second round last December. In that fight, Dos Anjos set a UFC record for the most overall fight time in the promotion when he passed the 8-hour mark.
