ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The five years since Nick Pace’s UFC debut have been a tumultuous journey which led the “Pretty Boy” back to the top of a local MMA card. On Saturday night, Pace took on Ricky Bandejas for the vacant Cage Fury Fighting Championships bantamweight title at CFFC 52.
A longtime member of Team Tiger Schulmann, Pace visited other gyms in the tri-state area to expand his jiu-jitsu knowledge ahead of the bout at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Pace put those skills to good use midway through the first round, when he was able to catch the shooting Bandejas’ exposed neck and transition to a rear-naked choke to force a tap at the 2:51 mark.