Long one of the tallest fighters at 155 pounds, James Vick is making the move to welterweight following his latest loss.
Vick was once a fast-climbing contender in the lightweight division, having won nine of his first 10 fights in the UFC, but a recent three-fight skid (including two first-round knockout losses) has convinced him to make a major change. The 32-year-old announced on Facebook that he would be moving up a division.
“This isn’t some emotional post because I just took another loss,” Vick wrote. “I don’t feel this way because of losing but in my opinion it’s the opposite, I’ve been losing because I feel like this. Thank you so much to the people that have supported me. I have received so many great messages from truly good people who care about me and have showed nothing but love and support. To my friends and fans thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.
“To update everyone I will be moving up to 170 next fight. Cutting weight is not easy and has really sucked these past few years. However, I WILL NOT do what so many others have done and blame my loses on weight cuts or use it as a crutch.”
Most recently, Vick, a Texas native, suffered a first-round knockout loss to Dan Hooker at UFC on ESPN 4 in San Antonio this past Saturday.
Standing 6-foot-3, Vick has always been a large lightweight though he has never failed to make weight. He credited nutritionist George Lockhart with helping him with his diet and wrote that his top priority is setting a good example for his son going forward.
He also added a comment aimed at those who criticized him fighting at 155 pounds in the first place.
“I have worked with George Lockhart, the best nutritionist in all of MMA, and know he has always given me the best advice and knowledge possible. I myself have not followed the program at times and it has made some cuts tougher than others, but either way I have never missed weight and also did what I signed the contract to do.
“Now the time has come to move up. I know this will make a lot of people happy, especially all the MMA couch watching professionals who know so much about nutrition.”
Read Vick’s full post below:
Been doing alot of thinking and reflecting these past few days. Things aren't ideal right now. But then again they never...
Posted by James Vick on Wednesday, July 24, 2019