James Vick: ‘My Goal Is to be a World Champion This Year’

MMAjunkie recently interviewed UFC lightweight fighter James Vick who discussed his upcoming UFC Fight Night 126 bout with Francisco Trinaldo, which is set for tomorrow in Austin, Texas. Below are some highlights.

James Vick on his goal to become a world champion: “My goal is to be a world champion this year. I think I’ll be a world champion by the end of the year. I’m going to get this win. They’re going to rank me around No. 10, top 10. Then I’m going to beat someone else and be ranked in the top five. Then I’m going to be fighting for a world title before the end of the year.”

James Vick on not being in the main event this weekend: “In my mind I should have been the main event on this card. I don’t know why I wasn’t. I offered to fight Cerrone at 155 or 170, either one. I don’t understand why I didn’t get that fight. For me, I think just recently I saw Jake Matthews. I beat this dude four fights ago, five fights ago and he’s on the main card of a pay-per-view (at UFC 221). I’ve never even been on the main card of a pay-per-view, and I have double the wins he has in the UFC. I literally have one of the best records in the entire organization, and no one outside of my state even knows who the hell I am because I’m not getting the stuff I feel like I deserve. It’s all good. I’m going to keep winning. I’ve got a decent contract, and I’m going to be asking for more money after this fight. So it’s all good. I’m just going to keep winning.”

His thoughts on Francisco Trinaldo: “I think I’m better everywhere. I think a lot of these guys are shocked at how physically strong I am when we lock up. They think just because I’m tall and skinny they’re just going to be able to go in there and break me over, take me down. … I plan on finishing the guy within two rounds. Obviously I’m not going to take any unnecessary risk. It’s win first, but I think he’s going to have to take some chances to get in on me to not get outpointed. When he does, he’s going to get finished.”

Vick on thinking of world titles: “Those dudes (Chiesa and Lee), their turn, their ship has sailed. If they sign to fight, I guess I’ll take it, but I’m not calling them out anymore. I’m thinking world titles. I’m thinking Khabib (Nurmagomedov), Tony Ferguson, (Conor) McGregor. I’m thinking title shot. I win this fight, I’m 9-1 in the UFC. That’s the same record as McGregor has in the UFC.”