James Vick can move further up the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight ladder when he squares off with former World Series of Fighting champion Justin Gaethje in the UFC Fight Night 135 main event on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska. Vick has quietly compiled a 9-1 record inside the sport’s toughest division, including wins over Jake Matthews, Joseph Duffy and Francisco Trinaldo.
With an impressive 9-1 record in the UFC’s most stacked division, one might think Vick would be one of the biggest stars in the 155-pound weight class, but he remains an overlooked piece of the puzzle. Although he does not get the respect he deserves, the manner in which he has risen through the ranks might be to his advantage. All too often, UFC brass jumps the gun on a young prospect and throws him to the wolves. Since Vick was afforded time to develop his skills, he now has the tools and experience to perhaps contend for a title.
Vick’s primary advantage -- and one of the reasons some see him as a dark horse contender -- can be found in his enormous height and reach. He stands 6-foot-3 and wields a 76-inch reach. To put Vick’s size in perspective, current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov stands 5-foot-10 and owns a 70-inch reach. Most importantly, Vick actually fights like the taller and longer man. He is not opposed to trading in the pocket but generally relies on his rangy jab to keep opponents at bay and set up his right straight -- a punch he can land from positions others cannot.
When faced with a longer fighter, many of Vick’s opponents aggressively try to close the distance to negate his reach. Vick realized this early on and developed a slick counter game, especially with his right straight. Opponents often underestimate his size and drop their guard when they think they are far enough away and out of danger. Vick can surprise them with his right straight.
Another interesting tactic Vick uses to further utilize his reach advantage comes in the form of rhythm-manipulating strikes. He at times feints the jab, extends his lead hand and then throws the right straight at a delayed speed. Most combos like the simple 1-2 come at the same speed and rhythm; a fighter who delays the speed of the strikes can manipulate the opponents’ reactions by throwing it a half second later than usual in hopes of catching them as they drop their guard.
Vick as the taller fighter puts an emphasis on his knees, as they have a shorter distance to cover in order to land than most fighters. He generally grabs a Thai-style plum clinch and throws knees to the body and head, but he will mix it up with the occasional flying knee. Since he is so tall, the plum clinch is much easier to secure, and if he straightens his back while doing so, he can make returning strikes from his opponents almost impossible to land.
Vick’s entire game relies on his height and reach advantage, even on the ground. He favors guillotines and brabo chokes, and he uses his long arms to secure them far easier than most. Vick grips his guillotines differently than many of his contemporaries, as he uses a Marcelo Garcia-like grip, also known as a “Marcelotine.”