Report: Luque to face Buckley in UFC Atlantic City co-main event
Vicente Luque will throw down at UFC Atlantic City, after all.
The No. 9-ranked welterweight is set to meet Joaquin Buckley in the March 30 co-main event at Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey, sources told MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn.
The UFC originally announced that Luque would headline the event against fellow contender Sean Brady. But it was later revealed Brady never signed a bout agreement and couldn't proceed with the fight due to a lingering injury.
Luque enters the new matchup off a unanimous decision win over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a UFC Fight Night main event last August. "The Silent Assassin" snapped a two-fight skid with the victory.
Buckley carries momentum into his 2024 campaign after going 2-0 last year. He knocked out Andre Fialho in May and bested Alex Morono by decision in October. Buckley, best known for a viral knockout in 2020, will have a chance to crack into the top 15 against Luque.
A pivotal strawweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot will headline UFC Atlantic City.