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Born in New Jersey, Vicente Luque explains why he's fighting at home in Brasilia

Related Topics: Brasília, Blackzilians, New Jersey

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Hector Urbina will be facing a hostile crowd at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 95 event in Brasilia, but many people don’t know that Vicente Luque, who represents Brasilia in his MMA fights, wasn’t born in Brazil.

Born on Nov. 27, 1991 in New Jersey, Luque’s journey to the United States involves a connection to Chile. His grandmother worked for Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so she kept moving to different countries all the time. Her daughter, Maria Aparecida, followed her when she had to move from Brazil to Chile, and that’s where she met Pepe.