The 15-hour flight overseas won’t seem so bad on the return trip for James Vick. The 28-year old fighter went to Australia to fight the local kid Jake Matthews, and not only kept his record perfect in scoring a first-round guillotine choke, but he also took home some extra pocket cash.
Vick earned a $50,000 performance of the night bonus for his quick work of Matthews. With the win, the Lloyd Irvin student is now 8-0 (4-0 in the UFC).
Vick joined Robert Whittaker, James Alex Chambers and Daniel Hooker in winning the bonus money on the UFC’s maiden voyage to Adelaide, in South Australia.
Chambers, who hails from New South Wales, scored a come-from-behind victory over Kailin Curran during the card’s prelims. After losing her official UFC debut against Aisling Daly during The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale in December, Chambers was able to persevere until the third round, in which she submitted Curran via armbar.
Meanwhile Whittaker had his most impressive performance in the Octagon, scoring a quick knockout victory over Brad Tavares in the co-main event. The fight lasted just 44 seconds, but the 24-year old Whittaker made a statement that he was a force to be reckoned with as a middleweight. He defeated Clint Hester in his middleweight debut in Sydney, Australia, back in November.
New Zealand’s Hooker scored a second round knockout of the Japanese fighter, Hatsu Hioki, which gives him a 2-1 record in the UFC.