James Vick News

Justin Golightly - February 21, 2018

We’re all waiting, hoping, that Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov both make it to UFC 223 in April. It’s been coming for a long time and — next to Conor McGregor’s long awaited return — this is the best and most highly anticipated lightweight fight possible. Meanwhile, 11 slots under the top of the lightweight mountain, James Vick has eyes on moving up the roster after his win at UFC Austin. He recently weighed in on the UFC 223 fight and predicts that Nurmagomedov comes out on top. “I think Khabib [Nurmagomedov] wins. I think that [Tony] Ferguson’s too content with being on his back. He’s going to get taken down, obviously. Khabib can take down pretty much anyone in the division. Guys can get up, but Tony Ferguson will accept being on his back and throwing elbows and playing rubber guard and he’s not going to win [against Nurmagomedov] like that. Unless he just likes land a big elbow and cuts Khabib from the bottom or something, I don’t see him being able to win a fight off his back. He gets too content with staying on his back instead of trying to get the hell up.”—James Vick speaking to MMA Junkie Radio.

Tom Taylor - February 19, 2018

On April 7, in the main event of UFC 223, interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and undefeated contender Khabib Nurmagomedov will battle for the lightweight title. This fight stands out as one of the biggest and most important in the illustrious history of the UFC lightweight division. Regrettably, it’s also one of the most ill-starred fights in MMA history. Yes, having been booked to no avail on multiple occasions over the last few years, this matchup looks very much like its cursed. And while we’re all hoping it finally comes to fruition this April, the realists in the MMA community are bracing themselves for the possibility of heartbreak yet again.

Chris Taylor - February 18, 2018

UFC Fight Night Austin Results: James Vick defeats Francisco Trinaldo A key lightweight scrap between Francisco Trinaldo and James Vick took place on tonight’s UFC Fight Night Austin main card.

Drake Riggs - January 4, 2018

“The Texicutioner” is coming home! After a big win at UFC 217 over Joe Duffy to extend his streak to three, James Vick wanted a top ten fight and made that very clear. He actually had been wanting one before that…but no one would accept the challenge and still hasn’t. As Vick mentioned recently on an episode of BJ Penn Radio: “I talked to [UFC matchmaker Shelby], it was probably last week,” Vick said  “They’re going to ask Kevin Lee to fight me, which they don’t think is going to happen. Then he said they’re going to ask [Michael] Chiesa to fight me. I think they really want to make that fight with Chiesa because it makes sense for the UFC and for us. They don’t want to fight me,” he said. “I’ve been calling the dude out. I’ve been talking shit to him on Twitter. He don’t want to fight me.”

Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017

Streaking UFC lightweight James Vick, who is fresh off a mauling of Joe Duffy, was hoping to battle Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming trip to Austin. Now that Cerrone has been booked for a fight with Yancy Medeiros in Austin’s main event, however, Vick knows this isn’t going to happen. With this development, Vick has been forced to look elsewhere in the hunt for his next opponent. Apparently, the UFC has a few options in mind to that end.

Tom Taylor - December 28, 2017

Riding high off a thudding knockout of the highly-regarded Joe Duffy, James Vick (12-1) feels he’s ready for a big step up in competition. He was hoping to get that step up when the UFC touches down in Austin, Texas – just hours from his hometown – this February. It was his hope that he could battle fan favorite lightweight-turned-welterweight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the card’s main event. Unfortunately for Vick, Cerrone was pencilled in for a scrap with Hawaii’s Yancy Medeiros this week. Though neither Cerrone nor Medeiros is from Texas, their fight will serve as the Austin card’s main event. Unsurprisingly, Vicki is pretty unhappy about this development.

Jason Kindschy - December 27, 2017

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 8PM ET/5PM PT with more of what you crave! 8:15PM ET- We kick things off  with “The Texicutioner” James Vick. Arguably a future champion in the UFC’s lightweight division and a very tough matchup for anyone at 155 pounds, Vick has gone 9-1 in the UFC and believes he has earned a top-ranked opponent. However, news broke yesterday that Donald Cerrone and Yancy Medeiros are slated to headline UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, Texas. James went to social media to protest the matchup and the UFC’s decision to snub Vick from the headlining bout on the card. We’ll be discussing the entire situation in depth.

Tom Taylor - November 14, 2017

Back in October, established UFC welterweight contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone stepped into the cage with Darren Till, an up-and-coming fighter he knew very little about. After winning this fight via first-round knockout, Till immediately emerged as one of the welterweight division’s hottest contenders. Had Cowboy not accepted this fight with Till, it’s likely that Till would still be out on the fringes of the welterweight top-15, rather than right in the middle of the top-10. James Vick, a lightweight who currently resides on the outside of the lightweight rankings, wishes there more fighters like Cowboy in his division so that he could be given a similar chance.

Jason Kindschy - November 8, 2017

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 8PM ET/5PM PT with more of what you crave! 8:15PM ET- First up, coming off a second round finish against Joe Duffy, “The Texicutioner” James Vick returns to the show to recap the big win in MSG. It seems evident that this victory is one he’s needed to get a push from the company, and in turn line up bigger fights. We’ll get his take on the division, who’s likely to be his next opponent, and if will see Vick with the strap in 2018.

Chris Taylor - November 4, 2017

A lightweight scrap between James Vick and Joe Duffy served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 217 prelims from New York. Vick was able to catch Duffy with a huge right uppercut with just seconds to go in the second round that sent the Irishman crashing to the canvas.

Tom Taylor - September 28, 2017

After weeks of trying to find a willing opponent, rising UFC lightweight James Vick has been booked for a scrap with Ireland’s Joe Duffy at UFC 217 this November 4. While Vick is satisfied with this fight, he would have preferred a ranked opponent. Unfortunately, he is finding it nearly impossible to enter the top-10. In his opinion, top-10 fighters are given a little too much slack when it comes to losses, while rising contenders essentially have to move mountains to enter the top-10. Vick broke it down on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio:

Jason Kindschy - September 27, 2017

BJPENN Radio returns tonight at 8PM ET/5PM PT with more of what you crave! 8:15PM ET- Kicking things off we are joined by former K-1 MAX champ and UFC welterweight turned world-renowned coach, Duane “Bang” Ludwig. Calling us from Holland, we’ll catch up with Duane about his journey of coaching athletes under his Bang Muay Thai system and growing as a martial artist himself. You’ll hear the latest on TJ Dillashaw’s preparation for UFC 217 and the opportunity to reclaim his title agains former teammate Cody Garbrandt. Also, we’ll get Ludwig’s expert opinion and analysis for the stacked card at UFC 217, his thoughts on May-Mac and Conor’s future in boxing, as well as the talk of Ronda Rousey fighting one last time against Cyborg. Always an informative and entertaining conversation with “Bang!”

Tom Taylor - May 18, 2017

Last weekend, on the undercard of UFC 211, dangerous lightweight talent James Vick picked up a gorgeous first-round TKO win over the durable Polo Reyes. With this win, he built on the momentum of a recent D’Arce choke defeat of Abel Trujillo, further separated himself from a loss to Beneil Dariush, and reestablished himself as a definite fighter to watch in the perilous UFC lightweight division. In the wake of this impressive defeat of Reyes, Vick made a clever callout of Kevin Less and Michael Chiesa, who will fight in the main event of the UFC’s upcoming trip to Oklahoma City. Naturally, Vick would love to fight the winner of this contest, but he also suggested he’d be willing to step into the fight on short notice, should one party get injured.

bjpenndotcom - May 17, 2017

BJPENN.COM Radio is live at 8PM ET/5PM PT with a trio of future contenders! 8:15PM ET- Kicking off tonights show is the No. 5 ranked light-heavyweight and one of the athletes featured at UFC FN 109 in Sweden next week, Volkan Oezdemir. Coming off an incredible win over Ovince St. Preux back in February, Volkan has skyrocketed into the top 5 and has taken the division by storm. We’ll be previewing his upcoming bout with Misha Cirkunov and hear about Volkan’s meteoric rise in one of the UFC’s toughest divisions.

bjpenndotcom - February 8, 2017

BJPENN.COM Radio returns at 8PM ET/5PM PT with another solid guest list for your MMA fix! 8:15 PM ET- We kick off tonights show with “The Tiny Tornado” Tecia Torres –@teciatorres. Coming off a successful return to action over the weekend in Houston, Tecia breaks down her decision victory over Bec Rawlings and gives us some insight as to what the future has in store for the straw weight contender.