This weekend I took a trip over to east London to speak to one of the UK's brightest stars, none other than new WEC Bantamweight contender; Brad "One Punch" Pickett. Fresh from his "Submission Of The Night" victory over Kyle Dietz last month, Brad took the time to speak exclusively to MMATorch.
HI BRAD, FIRSTLY CONGRATULATIONS ON A VERY IMPRESSIVE WEC DEBUT. DID THAT VICTORY MAKE THIS THE BEST CHRISTMAS YET?:
Hmmm. The best end to the year I have ever had ya know, best year I've had in fighting. I didn't really enjoy Christmas as much. Because I was training for my fight in Miami and then went to Vegas for my fight and Miami is quite hot so I didn't really get into the Christmas spirit. I wasn't thinking about presents I was too busy training and there was no snow. Christmas wasn't really Christmassy and it was the first without either of my parents who have both passed away now so that was kinda weird for me. It was good in alot of ways. Professionally it was great.
SO YOU GO BY THE NAME "ONE PUNCH"; WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME, IMAGE AND THE RING ENTRANCE?:
Basically a lot people associate it with Brad Pitts character in Snatch (One Punch Mickey), there are alot of similarities. I call myself "One Punch" from when I used to box. I used to knock out alot of people with head gear on and 10oz gloves on so I knew I could punch back then. My image and my hat is something my mum's dad used to wear he was a bare knuckle boxer. My parents were quite old so I was brought up the old fashioned way so I used to see alot of pictures of my family, my dad wearing the trilby hats so it kinda stuck. You need to market yourself. I get recognised alot more when I have my hat on.
WELL IT HAS WORKED FOR ALOT OF FIGHTERS KOSCHECK & HARDY FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN SPOT THEIR HAIR FROM THE BACK OF THE ARENA: Yeah exactly
IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THAT WITH THE NAME "ONE PUNCH" YOU HAVE NINE SUBMISSION VICTORIES ON YOUR RECORD. WHAT GIVES YOU THE BIGGEST BUZZ AN IMPRESSIVE SUBMISSION OR TO KNOCK SOMEONE OUT?:
Knocking some out yeah, obviously you take a win no matter how it comes but obviously me being who I am where I came from I way prefer knocking someone out but I'll take a submission if it's there. I don't normally go out looking to set up submissions but if someone gives me an opportunity i'll take it. I obviously prefer to go and knock someone out.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST START LEARNING TO GRAPPLE AND DEVELOP YOUR GROUND GAME?:
I had my first two fights and won them collectively in under a minute. The first one was forty seconds and the second was seventeen seconds, that was my boxing background. I didn't know any ground. I was about 26 at this point I won those two fight really easily then I fought this guy who's record was 7-21 I thought it was gonna be a guy for me to beat up. I went in there didn't really train he took me down beat me up for a bit. I was still tough so got back up he took me down again and again I'm getting angry and swinging for the fences and he just kept on taking me down. Then he caught me in a triangle I wouldn't tap he was punching my face there was blood everywhere, the ref stopped it I was really upset with the ref but afterwards I realised. He wasn't hitting me that hard so at one point I was just letting him, but collectively you get punched a thousand times your gonna be a mess. So after that loss I was like right if I wanna do this and not be a punch for people I need to learn. So that's how it started.
YOU HAVE NOW JOINED THE WEC IN THE BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION BUT LAST YEAR YOU WON THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE TITLE AND BROKE YOU RIBS IN THE PROCESS. IS THAT TRUE?:
Weird thing alot of people assume it was something he did to me. Did he kick me or land something. It wasn't. The cartilage popped. I was on the ground he was trying to place his guard, he put his knee inside, I squeezed back to stop him and it went. It was really uncomfortable from then on. It was literally the first time we went to the floor like a minute into the fight. It was really giving me trouble breathing so in that first round I was like I've gotta get him out of here I was going for a triangle an armbar whatever just to get him out. In between rounds I knew I was in trouble but I would never quit. Then in the second round I submitted him
WAS THAT THE MOST DIFFICULT OBSTICLE YOU HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME DURING A FIGHT?:
No! When I was boxing, wearing headgear, the head gear was crap and kept going over my face. At one point it went over my eyes so I turned to the ref and said can I sort my head gear and he cracked me so hard. One of the worst body shots I have ever felt in my life. It winded me so bad I didn't go down but man. Went back to my corner and I was stalling loads when they were fixing the head gear it was so bad. Then I went back out and thank god, knocked him out within twenty seconds but even after the fight I was in bits. Those shots stay with you they really gas you that's why I throw alot in my fights because I know what affect they can have.
SO HOW DID THE CONTRACT WITH THE WEC COME ABOUT?:
I have been training with Mike (Brown) for a long time and I corner him so I met all the guys and was like "hey get me on one of your shows". But because I'm an English fighter you can't just bring me over. Its alot more hassle with all the work Visas so it took a lot longer but I was always talking about it with Sean Shelby (WEC matchmaker) , who I get on with really well with and Reed Harris (General Manager) and Dave who are really great guys who you would be friends with anyway.
SHORTLY AFTER YOUR SIGNING WAS ANNOUNCED REED HARRIS SAID HE WANTS TO BRING THE WEC OVER HERE. I GUESS YOUR PROGRESSION WILL BE PARAMOUNT IN THAT DEVELOPMENT?:
Yeah if it ever happens, if they bring the WEC here I want to be on that card. The next big thing for them is to get on pay per view and then after that who knows
YOU HAD BEEN COMPETING AT 145 FOR A LONG TIME, WHAT WAS BEHIND THE DECISION TO MAKE THE DROP DOWN TO 135?:
The decision was the WEC. Mike Brown is a good friend and he was the champion and they won't bring someone in unless it's with a view to make a run at the champion and Mike was the champion, he's my best mate and we said we would never fight.
HOW DID YOU FIND MAKING THE WEIGHT? WAS IT COMFORTABLE?:
I actually find the cut to 135 easier than some of the cuts to 145. I'm alot leaner now. I literally just lost body fat. I have taken everything down with me and I've got better cardio.
IT CERTAINLY DIDNT SEEM TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM YOUR GAME SO IS IT A PERMANENT MOVE?:
100percent! When I look at my body type and how I feel and the cut and everything. I was always a smaller guy at 145 I was fighting guys and training with guys all bigger than me. And now i'll be the bigger guy for once.
YOU TRAIN WITH AMERICAN TOP TEAM OVER IN THE STATES, WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF THE FIGHTERS AND TRAINING AT THAT CAMP?:
The best in the world! I don't train with all the weight classes but they have several top ten fighters in every weight class. They have alot of 125 pounders as well.
YOU HAVE MENTIONED MIKE BROWN A FEW TIMES, I KNOW HE'S A CLOSE FRIEND AND THAT YOU CORNERED HIM FOR HIS FIGHT LAST WEEKEND. HOW MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE HAS MIKE HAD ON YOUR CAREER?:
Massive. I mean the biggest of all. He was the one who first suggested to me to move to 135 he said you could make that weight. I wasn't so sure. He's been a big influence.
I GUESS HE WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE WINNER OF ALDO vs. FABER AFTER HIS WIN LAST WEEK?:
Yeah he will probably fight on the same card with the view of fighting the winner for the belt.
TALKING OF TITLE SHOTS, HOW LONG UNTIL YOU WANT YOUR NAME THROWN INTO THE MIX FOR TITLE CONTENTION?:
I don't think of it like that I just look at what's next. I don't like to temp fete. Winning the next two in the WEC is no easy feat. So if I win both of them let's see what happens next.
WHO DO YOU IMAGINE WILL BE THE CHAMPION IN TWELVE MONTHS TIME?:
Dominic Cruz. I think he's gonna beat Brian Bowles and I think he'll defend and defeat Miguel Torres. Miguel is a great fighter and he can bounce back but I do think Cruz will beat him. Really good striking, really good wrestling he's a great athlete.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE QUALITY AND THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THE 135 AND 145 DIVISIONS OFFER MMA, DOESNT THAT MAKE A MERGE WITH THE UFC A NATURAL PROGRESSION?:
This is what I say. I think they should , they know what they're doing but the UFC is a massive massive brand name and look when say Coca Cola came out with a new drink they still kept the brand name. Alot of fans don't know about the WEC so why not use the UFC to promote the WEC and if they still want to keep it separate, then call it UFC: Light.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SO MANY SHOWS NOW, THEY COULD USE UFC:Light IN A SIMILAR WAY TO THE WAY THEY PUT ON A FIGHT NIGHT: Yeah because if you don't know they are owned by the same people you may assume they are competitors so why would you try and steal fans from yourself. Use the biggest assets (UFC brand name) and use it for the WEC.
AS FAR AS COVERAGE IS CONCERNED IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT ESPN UK SHOULD BE AIRING WEC EVENTS. THE DEAL IS IN PLACE FOR THEM TO HAVE UFC SO IT'S CRAZY THAT THESE SHOWS ARE GOING UNSEEN HERE. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT ALL?:
I believe it should be especially if they want to bring the live show over here, the UFC when it came over here was on Bravo for a while and build up a fan base the WEC would benefit in the same way. The run of the mill guy who likes the UFC might not know what the WEC is.
WHATS YOUR WHOLE TAKE ON THE BOXING vs. MMA THING?:
I come from a Boxing background but I believe MMA is a natural progression in combat sports it is boxing! It's Kickboxing its wrestling why would people not want to see everything? The progression over the last ten years has been massive when I first started I explained what I did and people were like "really? Is that legal?" But now everyone knows what it is.
THE LOWER DIVISIONS DO SEEM TO GENERATE A HUGE AMOUNT OF EXCITEMENT. I THINK IT WAS FRANK MIR WHO SAID THE FIRST 30 SECONDS OF YOUR SECOND ROUND WAS THE MOST EXCITING HE HAD SEEN UP CLOSE. WHAT MAKES THESE DIVISIONS SO EXCITING?:
Most people who I speak to say they love WEC over the UFC, just the excitement of the fights. The UFC have some amazing fights but on the whole you do sometimes have slow big guys where the pace in the WEC is something else. We are so much faster than a Heavyweight. We still knock each other out, we still submit there's more reversals more scrambles and Cardio.
WHO HAS THE BEST CARDIO YOU HAVE EVER TRAINED WITH?:
Clay Guida, he's phenomenal I mean like unreal. Domestically Luke Smith he's got a really good natural cardio, he's tall and lean not too much bulk so his body don't suck up.
BRIAN BOWLES SAID RECENTLY THAT GROWING UP THERE WERE NO "BIG SHOW" OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIGHTERS HIS SIZE AND SO IT WAS MORE FOR THE LOVE RATHER THAN THE BIG DREAM. HAS WEC BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO MMA BY PROJECTING SMALLER FIGHTERS?:
Defiantly, with the WEC it's brought a lot of people like myself who are natural at low weight a chance without fighting at a higher weight class. They could even bring a 125 class in as well as alot of thirty fivers could drop and do what I've done from 45. They should all be proper weight classes in this country as well.
YOU WERE AWARDED "SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT" AGAINST DIETZ AND THE $10K BONUS. WERE THE DRINKS ON YOU AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR?:
Would have been drinks on me but because I get paid in American cheque I came back to England and put the money in my bank and with all the complications with it being and American cheque they had to send the cheque back to America and then they sent it back here and it takes 8 weeks biggest load I've ever heard. That was for everything my bonus, I haven't received my money as of yet I've been paid but haven't got my money as of yet. I can't moan about it too much as its forcing me to save up, I could have blown it all out over Christmas.
OBVIOUSLY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO WIN YOUR DEBUT BUT TO WIN IN SUCH STYLE AND THEN GET THE SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT. MUST BE A VERY SWEET FEELING?:
Its weird I always seem to do well I won a load of bonuses in Bodog, when alot of pressure is on I seem to do well.It is quite a rare submission, (Peruvian Necktie) Mike Brown showed me it. I do it alot in training I find it quite a routine move. It was the first one in WEC ever and there's only ever been one in the UFC.
WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU WILL NEXT COMPETE?:
March?
WHO DO YOU THINK/WANT TO BE FACING NEXT?:
Anyone in that weight division. Anybody. You don't pick your fighters. Obviously you can say hey i'll fight him, you can put ideas in their head but you can't say I want him.
MMATORCH EDITOR JAMIE PENICK HAS SENT ME A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU:
JP: UK FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN PEGGED AS BEING BEHIND THE CURVE WHEN IT COMES TO WRESTLING AND GRAPPLING, BUT YOU'VE BEEN A DEFINITE EXCEPTION TO THAT PERCEPTION. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT GENERAL PERCEPTION UK FIGHTERS HAVE?:
Very true we do have alot of ground guys here but in America you Wrestle in college, in school I love the way America do their sports with scholarships. In England it's hard. School never helped now I think it's only one hour a week for P.E no wonder kids are getting fat, it pisses me off.
JP: YOU MADE A HIGHLY EXCITING DEBUT IN THE WEC LAST MONTH AND YOU'RE STEPPING INTO THE DEEP WATERS OF THE WEC'S BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION. RIDING AN EIGHT FIGHT WIN STREAK, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FIGHTING IN THE WEC AND HERE IN THE U.S?:
This year? Stay unbeaten and I set myself many goals, achievable goals. The first is to win my next fight!
(Brad Pickett was speaking exclusively to MMATorch UK Specialist, Chris Park.)
OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF
-Paul Daley looks set to square off with Josh Koscheck. Rumours are circulating with either a co-main event slot at UFC: 113 or at the first ever UK Fight Night, as the main event.
-Terry Etim looks set to make the trip to Abu Dhabi with no opponent named as of yet. One rumour has been Dennis Siver who was last in action at UFC 105, taking out Etims team mate Paul Kelly with a vicious kick to the body.
-Michael "The Count" Bisping has told The Daily Telegraph that he is not interested in the past of Wanderlei Silva or any of his achievements in Pride. While Wanderlei has joked about the suggestion he is afraid of Bisping, Bisping barked back "I'm not afraid of him either". This one is going to be a war.
-The Wolfslair Gym are looking for sparring partners in various weight classes. Interested applicants should email Michael@mmabay.co.uk after reading the full requirements at that website.
-If a Fight Night really is headed for our shores this will be the perfect stage for Pearson, Winner, Hathaway and Osipczak to really kick on their UFC careers.
-UFC 115 looks to be the next event to hit the main stage in the UK with the London O2 the likely destination.
Thanks again for joining me for The UK Scene. I would love nothing more that to have the first UK Fight Night happen this year. We most definitely have enough talent in this country to warrant one and if Marshal Zelaznik's idea of six trips in 2010 is going to even come close then Fight Nights could well be the way forward.
Special thanks to Brad Pickett who was the perfect person for our first interview here. He was extremely insightful and I wish him huge success in his WEC career.
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Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist. Please email any comments to Chris at mmatorchpark@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk, our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK fans!
[WEC fighter Brad Pickett and MMATorch Specialist Chris Park photo (c) MMATorch]
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