Joel
Alvarez felt the difference in power after moving up to
welterweight.
Alvarez (23-3) moved up from lightweight to welterweight, replacing
Santiago Ponzinnibbio on short notice against Vicente
Luque (23-12) at
UFC Rio in October 2025. Alvarez reveals that Luque is the
hardest puncher he has ever faced, surprising him twice with his
power.
Size Matters
“Speaking of the power of hitting – Vicente
Luque,” Alvarez said on ZZEN Talks. “He surprised me twice when he hit
me. I said, ‘Holy s—t, this is the punching power of
welterweights.’”
Alvarez’s bout against Luque didn’t go down without some
controversy. Alvarez caught Luque in the eye socket with what
appeared to be a punch in the first round. Referee Osiris Maia
called a stop to the contest, declaring a technical knockout win
for Alvarez as Luque dropped to his knees in agony. However, the
doctors were later brought in to check on Luque, and the fight was
bizarrely resumed again. Alvarez eventually earned a unanimous
decision win against Luque, going to the judges’ scorecards for the
first time in his career.