Round 1 – UFC debut for Brazil’s Lazaro. Heavy leg kick from Lazaro right away, but Vick checks it and kicks back. Leg kick is good for Lazaro, but Vick fires back with one of his own. They trade leg kicks, but Lazaro lands a solid right hand. He eats a jab, but then lands again. Vick lands a knee, but eats a right hand. Lazaro lands a pair of punches, but seconds later he gets caught with a high kick. But they keep firing at each other. They’re both landing some punches. It seems like just a matter of time before one of them lands a haymaker to end it. Vick kicks high and slips to his butt. But Vick starts to put together a nice combination – then gets taken down by Lazaro in defensive mode. Vick sweeps back to his feet, and the two go back to swinging wildly. With a minute left, Lazaro again drags it down, but Vick is right back up. Vick goes to the body, then the head. They trade right until the horn. Who the heck knows how to score it. They both landed sloppily. But MMAjunkie will give a close round to Lazaro, 10-9.
Round 2 – Vick tries a knee, then kicks up high, but Lazaro lands a good combo to counter. Vick stands still for a minute, and Lazaro lands a few punches and kicks. Vick lands with a right, then again seconds later. Lazaro kicks to the back of the knee, then lands a good combo with kicks and punches, including a left hook on the mark. A spinning back elbow from Vick is ducked under. Vick is cut, but he lands a massive right hand, and Lazaro is on wobbly legs. Vick tries to take advantage, and he lands another right hand as Lazaro starts to back up. But as the pace settles, Lazaro tries to recapture the momentum right in front of Vick. With 20 seconds left, Lazaro lands a takedown. MMAjunkie will give him the round, 10-9.
Round 3 – Vick lands a brutal right hand that pops Lazaro’s head back 20 seconds in. Then another one in a big way. He fires off his jab, but Lazaro pushes in and tries to take him down, not wanting to eat that right hand anymore. Vick defends, and he pushes Lazaro to the cage. The fight stays on the feet, and Lazaro looks wiped out. Vick isn’t much better. Yet they swing for the fences again. Another right hand from Vick is good, and Lazaro has his hands down as Vick kicks up high. After Vick hears his corner tell him “he’s dead,” Vick lands a high kick that plants Lazaro. And as Lazaro backs up, Vick lands a low kick. Lazaro will get five minutes to recover if he wants. He’ll take just 30 seconds before we get going again with about two minutes to go. Vick lands again with the right, then a knee, then another right. Vick lands to the body. Lazaro gets a few punches through late, then ducks away from an uppercut. Vick lands a flying knee and winds up on his back to end the fight. MMAjunkie gives the last to Vick, but has Lazaro winning 29-28. Judges’ scores could be interesting.
Result: James Vick def. Valmir Lazaro via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)