James Vick

TRAINING: On a normal training day I train 5 to 6 hrs a day, 5 days a week and about 2 or 3 hrs on Saturday and rest on Sunday. I do many types of training - boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu. And I spar on Tuesdays and Fridays.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I used to play basketball in high school and a little bit in junior college. I got in some trouble and got kicked off the team and I had been in a lot of streetfights growing up, and I wanted some competition. I started boxing and after two days, I decided that’s what I wanted to do – I wanted to be a fighter.

What ranks and titles have you held? Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, two-time Golden Gloves champion in the open division.

Do you have any heroes? My mom

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means everything to me. This is what I’ve been training for for the last four and a half years, and it’s the biggest thing I want in my life right now.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to a couple JUCOs and I didn’t graduate, but I went to a Medical Assistant’s school and I graduated from there.

What was your job before you started fighting? I’ve worked in the oil fields, I’ve been a bouncer, I worked at Target. In the last seven years I’ve probably had 15 jobs.

Favorite grappling technique: Triangle choke

Favorite striking technique: Head kick