Slated to take on former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130, Brad Pickett had to postpone his Octagon debut because of a herniated disc in his back. “One Punch” will now co-headline UFC 138 “Leben vs. Munoz” against Renan “Barao” do Nascimento Mota Pegado on Nov. 5 at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England.
“It’s my dream debut to be fighting on UK soil for the first time in over two years,” the 32-year-old Londoner told Sherdog.com. “My dream WEC debut happened when I fought in Las Vegas. I always wanted to fight there, and I got to in my very first WEC fight. Now, my UFC debut is in England, with all my fans being able to enjoy it with me live at the show. It couldn’t have worked out any better, and I can’t wait to fight in the UK again.”
Pickett (Pictured, file photo), who splits training between Team Titan in London and American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., will square off with Barao, a Nova União product who is undefeated in his last 27 appearances.
“Barao is a dangerous and very well-rounded opponent on a killer win streak, but I believe that every streak has to come to an end and I’m the guy to stop it, as I did with Demetrious Johnson,” Pickett said. “Still, he’s very tough and is going to make for an exciting opponent.”
The fact that Johnson, whom Pickett defeated by unanimous decision in April 2010, has been awarded a title shot against UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz serves as a source of disappointment for the charismatic Brit.
“Of course it’s disappointing to see Demetrious pass me by, but it’s understandable, as I haven’t been active,” he said. “I’m not bitter about it, though, as maybe it shows the level I am at since he’s doing so well now. Sometimes I do think I am overlooked, the forgotten challenger. I am a humble guy who doesn’t talk a lot of crap. But saying that, despite winning three out of my four WEC fights and being awarded “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” honors, only one of those fights was televised, and maybe that’s the reason the fans don’t talk about me much.”
Pickett, who has made tremendous progress in the wrestling and jiu-jitsu departments due to the time he has spent at American Top Team, thinks he will enjoy several advantages when facing his Barao on his home turf.
“One advantage is going to be the weather,” he said. “In November, it’s going to be very cold in England, and Barao is from Brazil. It’s not nice, even for [those of] us that have lived here all our life. And the home fans -- they will all be behind me; it will drive me harder. I have always had good support from the fans here, but the shows were smaller, and, this time, I will have 16,000 behind me. It will be a massive boost when I walk out.”
“It’s my dream debut to be fighting on UK soil for the first time in over two years,” the 32-year-old Londoner told Sherdog.com. “My dream WEC debut happened when I fought in Las Vegas. I always wanted to fight there, and I got to in my very first WEC fight. Now, my UFC debut is in England, with all my fans being able to enjoy it with me live at the show. It couldn’t have worked out any better, and I can’t wait to fight in the UK again.”
Pickett (Pictured, file photo), who splits training between Team Titan in London and American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., will square off with Barao, a Nova União product who is undefeated in his last 27 appearances.
“Barao is a dangerous and very well-rounded opponent on a killer win streak, but I believe that every streak has to come to an end and I’m the guy to stop it, as I did with Demetrious Johnson,” Pickett said. “Still, he’s very tough and is going to make for an exciting opponent.”
The fact that Johnson, whom Pickett defeated by unanimous decision in April 2010, has been awarded a title shot against UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz serves as a source of disappointment for the charismatic Brit.
“Of course it’s disappointing to see Demetrious pass me by, but it’s understandable, as I haven’t been active,” he said. “I’m not bitter about it, though, as maybe it shows the level I am at since he’s doing so well now. Sometimes I do think I am overlooked, the forgotten challenger. I am a humble guy who doesn’t talk a lot of crap. But saying that, despite winning three out of my four WEC fights and being awarded “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” honors, only one of those fights was televised, and maybe that’s the reason the fans don’t talk about me much.”
Pickett, who has made tremendous progress in the wrestling and jiu-jitsu departments due to the time he has spent at American Top Team, thinks he will enjoy several advantages when facing his Barao on his home turf.
“One advantage is going to be the weather,” he said. “In November, it’s going to be very cold in England, and Barao is from Brazil. It’s not nice, even for [those of] us that have lived here all our life. And the home fans -- they will all be behind me; it will drive me harder. I have always had good support from the fans here, but the shows were smaller, and, this time, I will have 16,000 behind me. It will be a massive boost when I walk out.”
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