4. James Vick vs. Francisco Trinaldo
UFC Fight Night 126
Feb. 18 | Austin, Texas
Vick’s slow-and-steady climb on the lightweight ladder has led him here. The 30-year-old Lloyd Irvin protégé sports a 12-1 record and has executed three consecutive finishes -- Abel Trujillo, Marco Polo Reyes and Joseph Duffy were the victims -- since he suffered his only professional defeat in a knockout loss to Beneil Dariush in June 2016. Vick, if you recall, was a semifinalist on Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. Trinaldo, 39, has thus far kept Father Time at bay. The Evolucao Thai representative has rattled off eight wins across his past nine appearances, a rear-naked choke submission loss to Kevin Lee the lone setback. Trinaldo last fought at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28, when he pocketed a unanimous decision against longtime divisional standout Jim Miller.

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