UFC veteran James Vick ends retirement, set for professional boxing bout

After retiring from MMA competition on a string of five straight losses with four knockouts, James Vick is coming back to the fight game for more.

Vick (13-6), who competed 14 times under the UFC banner over the course of his career, is set to make a return to combat sports, but this time in the boxing ring.

He’s set to take on Alejandro Heredia in a four-round, 168-pound fight on Saturday at “The Last Combat: Morales vs. Salido” event, which takes place at Mesquite Arena in Mesquite, Texas, and streams on FiteTV (via Twitter):

A former #UFC fighter switches to the #boxing ring.

The Texecutioner @JamesVickMMA will go 4 rounds in his second pro bout this Saturday under the #MoralesSalido undercard in Mesquite, #Texas.

Streaming Live March 26th on #FITE

https://t.co/tC1a6PDQ2V pic.twitter.com/lmuEGOGvVe

— FITE (@FiteTV) March 24, 2022

Just a few years ago, Vick found himself ranked in the shark tank that is the UFC lightweight division. He won eight of his first nine fights with the organization, but then things took a difficult turn.

Vick earned a main event spot against Justin Gaethje at UFC Fight Night 135 in August 2018, and an 87-second knockout loss marked the start of a downward swing.

The 35-year-old would suffer subsequent losses to Paul Felder, Dan Hooker and Niko Price before he was released from the UFC roster. He then suffered a brutal knockout defeat to Andre Fialho in January 2021, prompting him to announce his retirement in an emotional statement.

Like many in the fight game, though, Vick couldn’t stay away for long. Now he’ll test himself in the boxing ring.