A move up to welterweight did not change James Vick’s misfortune.
The former lightweight, who made the move up to 170 pounds after dropping three bouts in a row, faced Niko Price on the main card of UFC on ESPN+ 19 on Saturday night, and it wasn’t exactly welcoming.
Less than two minutes into the bout, Price (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) landed an all-time memorable knockout, a simultaneously thrilling and terrifying upkick that knocked out Vick cold. The time of the stoppage at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla., was the 1:44 mark of the first round.
An early scramble ended with Price in Vick’s half-guard. Another scramble ended with Vick in top position, and he was raining down punches wildly when Price’s perfectly placed upkick landed flush, heel-first, on Vick’s jaw. Vick crumpled, and Price landed a few more shots before referee Herb Dean waved things off.
With his 10th career knockout and 13th career finish, Price now has won two out of his past three fights.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 19 results include:
- Amanda Ribas def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Matt Frevola def. Luis Pena via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Eryk Anders def. Gerald Meerschaert via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ryan Spann def. Devin Clark via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:01
- Mike Davis def. Thomas Gifford via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 4:45
- Alex Morono def. Max Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
- Deiveson Figueiredo def. Tim Elliott via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:08
- Marlon Vera def. Andre Ewell via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:17
- Miguel Baeza def. Hector Aldana via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:32
- Marvin Vettori def. Andrew Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- J.J. Aldrich def. Lauren Mueller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
