James Vick was hoping a return to welterweight might change his fortune in the Octagon, but instead he suffered yet another devastating knockout by the hands — or the foot, rather — of Niko Price.
The fight got off to a thrilling start with both fighters coming out throwing with power. A back-and-forth scramble that saw Vick in a pretty good position with Price on his back on the canvas, ended with a bone-chilling knockout. Vick was on the receiving end of a brutal upkick by Price that connected flush with Vick's chin, immediately sending his unconscious body crumbling to the mat.
Price landed a few more shots to Vick, who was already out cold, before referee Herb Dean stepped in and waived off the contest 1:44 into the first round. Check out the brutal knockout below and listen to that crushing thud.
“Wherever they’re at, I hit you. I don’t care,” Price said after the fight when asked where he comes up with such creative finishes. “Fighting’s not a technique. You just fight. Be a dog, get in it!”
Niko Price (14-3, 1 NC) is back in the win column after losing to Geoff Neal earlier this year. James Vick, a former lightweight contender making his 170-pound debut, has now lost four fights in a row. This was his second straight first-round loss, after getting knocked out by Dan Hooker back in July.