James Vick will continue to expand his martial arts horizons after retiring from MMA competition.
Vick has signed with Karate Combat, and is set to make his promotional debut against Jorge Perez in a welterweight bout at Karate Combat 36 on Oct. 29. The event streams on the promotion’s website (via Twitter):
The Official Main Card For #KC36!
Bruno Souza takes on the former lightweight champion Edgars Skrivers, Igor De Castaneda returns to battle against Franklin Mina and more!
You can watch KC36 live on https://t.co/M1Evqseev3 on October 29th at 7PM ET / 4PM PT pic.twitter.com/NqRcFCkOCh
— Karate Combat (@KarateCombat) October 5, 2022
After walking away from MMA in February 2021, the 14-fight UFC veteran returned to competition with a professional boxing debut in March, which he won by knockout.
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.
Karate Combat did not reveal the terms of Vick’s contract.
