Disturbing news has emerged that Vicente Luque actually suffered a brain hemorrhage following his knockout loss to Geoff Neal mid-way through the 3rd round of their fight at UFC On ESPN 40 in August of 2022.
The diagnosis was revealed almost a year later at an NSAC hearing as Luque was finally given the green-light to resume his fighting career following a medical suspension.
“He suffered a brain bleed [a year ago],” NSAC executive Jeff Mullen revealed at the hearing. “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. … I have faith in our doctors.”
The 31-year-old Luque had stated back in May that he’d been handed a 6-month medical suspension following his loss to Neal that had then been extended to a full year, but he never actually revealed that it was due to having suffered a brain bleed.
“I’m not 100 percent sure why it moved,” Luque had told MiddleEasy. “But I believe part of it was kind of the commission wanted me to get some more exams and get cleared since my last fight because I got suspended six months. I was cleared to fight in February but still they wanted some more exams. (We’re) just making sure I’m 100 percent. 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.”
Now Luque has the go-ahead to compete and he’ll be fighting Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC On ESPN 51 on August 12th in Las Vegas.
