Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
It was a bad night for both Vick and Gifford, but fortunately both men seem to have emerged from Florida without serious injuries.
Mixed martial arts is a violent sport and it’s sometimes amazing to marvel at the fact that we haven’t witnessed a death in the Octagon after nearly 500 events. That feat feels extra fortunate considering the number of articles I’ve had to write lately about boxers slipping into comas and dying.
Even the really bad looking fights in the UFC are usually followed up by a battered fighter proclaiming they’re okay. Such is the case with two men from UFC Tampa: James Vick and Thomas Gifford.
Vick suffered his fourth loss in a row against Niko Price, a nasty upkick knockout that saw Niko Price’s heel slam right into his jaw and put him out cold (watch it here). Vick was unconscious for a scary amount of time, but let us know through Luke Thomas that no serious damage was done:
Health update from James Vick:
CT scan came back negative. He believes he has a torn MCL but x-ray was inconclusive. His lip is busted, but he credits his Guard Labs mouthpiece for preventing any loose or cracked teeth. His jaw is fine. He’ll get an MRI later this week.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) October 13, 2019
And then There’s Thomas Gifford, who took a hellacious beating en route to a third round faceplant knockout at the hands of Mike Davis. Gifford looked practically helpless by the end of the second round, with Davis teeing off on him mercilessly. A lot of hay was made over his corner and / or the ref not stopping that fight, but “The Young Lion” came out and said there was no one to blame for all that but him:
I’m fine guys got cleared by the doctors last night. CT scans came back good. XRays come back fine I’m just all bruised up and swollen ??? pic.twitter.com/w1d03TBsqf
— Thomas Gifford (@YoungLionMMA) October 13, 2019
No ones getting fired it’s no ones fault but my own I was prepared in shape and had a game plan that I didn’t execute no one to blame but myself
— Thomas Gifford (@YoungLionMMA) October 13, 2019
I’m never been done that way either Mike Davis was the better man last night and I tried to give him all the fight I had in me till I couldn’t no more exactly how Jesus took a lashing and got nailed to the cross if he would of gave up on us we would all go into the lake of fire!
— Thomas Gifford (@YoungLionMMA) October 13, 2019
That’s an interesting way to react to a beating, but whatever helps you process a loss like that, we suppose. As always, we’re just glad no serious brain damage was suffered … we think?