Vicente Luque submits Kelvin Gastelum with D'Arce choke in first round

Vicente Luque snapped a two-fight losing streak in emphatic fashion on April 11, 2026, submitting Kelvin Gastelum with a D'Arce choke inside the first round to return to the win column in convincing style.

Luque, known as "The Silent Assassin," improves to 24-12-1 with the finish. The 34-year-old Brazilian-born welterweight, who trains out of Kill Cliff FC, has long been one of the division's most dangerous finishers. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach, he brings relentless pressure and lands nearly five significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy — numbers that make him a threat on the feet at all times. His submission work has always complemented that striking, and the D'Arce choke finish here is a reminder of how complete his ground game remains.

Gastelum, meanwhile, falls to 21-11-0 and sees a troubling career pattern continue. The 34-year-old has been unable to string together back-to-back victories for eight years, a drought that now extends further with this defeat. The Fight Ready representative stands five-foot-nine with a 71-inch reach and lands 3.67 significant strikes per minute, but his submission defense — reflected in a submission attempt rate of just 0.1 per 15 minutes on offense — has historically not been his calling card, and Luque exploited that vulnerability effectively.

Why it matters

• Luque's win halts his skid and re-establishes him as a relevant name in the welterweight division
• Gastelum's inability to win consecutive fights over an eight-year stretch raises serious questions about his path forward at 170 pounds
• The style contrast — Luque's high-volume striking paired with active submission hunting versus Gastelum's more measured output — made a first-round finish a credible outcome
• A finish of this quality keeps Luque in conversations for a matchup with a ranked welterweight opponent