Walmir Lazaro vs. James Vick booked for UFC 176 in Los Angeles
Another Nova Uniao-based Brazilian has signed with the UFC, and he’ll make his debut with the promotion in August.
Walmir Lazaro (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will meet the unbeaten James Vick (5-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC 176. Promotion officials announced the new matchup overnight, saying verbal agreements between the two fighters are in place.
UFC 176 takes place Aug. 2 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event’s main card airs live on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Lazaro-Vick likely will be part of the preliminary card.
Lazaro started his career 1-2 in Brazil, but since then has rattled off 11 straight wins – eight by knockout, including the last three. One of those came against UFC veteran Chris Wilson this past August at Shooto Brazil 42. The 6-foot-tall 28-year-old hasn’t lost in more than four years. He now joins the likes of teammates Jose Aldo and Renan Barao in the UFC.
Vick fought on Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter†two years ago. He beat the highly regarded Dakota Cochrane to get into the house, then knocked out the currently surging Daron Cruickshank in his first fight inside the house. He lost to eventual winner Michael Chiesa in the semifinals, and thanks to the knockout setback was unable to compete at the TUF 15 Finale set for June 2012.
His official UFC debut didn’t come for more than a year after that, when he submitted Ramsey Nijem this past August just 58 seconds into their bout at UFC Fight Night 26. Now it will be nearly another year between fights for the Texan.
The latest UFC 176 card includes:
Champ Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes – for featherweight title
Jussier Formiga vs. Zach Makovsky
Fabricio Camoes vs. Gray Maynard
Derek Brunson vs. Lorenz Larkin
Walmir Lazaro vs. James Vick
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