There are certain stereotypes that come with competing in the UFC.
For the uninitiated, a mention of the UFC or MMA conjures up images of two tall, hulking men beating each other senseless until one goes limp without much thought for their opponent.
But when you meet British mixed martial artist Brad Pickett, you are forced to leave such ideas at the door.
At 5ft 6in, Pickett is a whole three inches below the national average. But don’t let his lack of height fool you, ‘One Punch’ is among the fiercest competitors in the business.
We caught up with the British bantamweight ahead of the launch of MMA drama Kingdom on Virgin Media to get his thoughts on all things UFC.
Born in London, Pickett pursued a career in football with Rushden & Diamonds before a knee injury cut short his playing days:
“I used to play a lot of football, and that was my main sport growing up as a kid. I used to play for Rushden & Diamonds – not a bad level. I was very athletic as a kid. I loved all sports. I played football, cricket, rugby, basketball; you name it. I was a competitive kid.
“But even within those sports, the worst injury I’ve ever had is that I’ve got no ACL in my right knee. I did that playing football when I was 21 and that’s when I had to stop playing football. I played Sunday morning football when I shouldn’t have done and I did my knee.
“I had more injuries playing football than I have done in my whole 12-year career of fighting. I’ve had my share of injuries because it’s a very competitive sport. But the muscular injuries, like tearing your hamstring, you’re out for months.
“Don’t get me wrong, you can still sustain them with what I do, but the more common things you get are like cuts, bruises, bumps – they’re very superficial. People see blood and they’re like ‘Oh my god, someone’s dying’ and it’s not the case.”
It’s for this reason that Pickett says he is not afraid to “go beyond” and fall unconscious to a choke-hold. While one armbar could end his career, he describes the process of being choked out as a “therapeutic” experience:
“Getting choked out doesn’t affect me at all. It’s a case of just passing out,” he says.
“If I pass out from a choke, I wake up in ten seconds an I’m like ‘Where am I?’ and that’s literally what it’s like. You feel like you’re waking up from a dream.
“The first time, you see a lot of people get really afraid. They’re scared of the beyond. I’ve been choked out many times in training and actually, in a weird therapeutic way, I kind of enjoy it.”
But not everyone seems to agree with Pickett, with Conor McGregor coming under immense criticism for tapping out to Nate Diaz’s rear naked choke in the second round of their UFC 196 meeting.
Pickett, who has defended McGregor online in the past, says he understands the Irishman’s thinking behind tapping out.
“Sometimes you think you can get out of a choke and you’re fighting and fighting like Holy Holm. She thought ‘Oh, this ain’t that bad’ and then before you know it, it catches up with you and boom, you’re asleep. It’s happened to me many times,” he says.
“But also I remember fighting Renan Barão [at UFC 138] and he put me in a rear naked choke. I just knew ‘This is on, I’m not getting out of this’. I was already going to that dizziness state where I could feel myself going to sleep so I tapped.”
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At 37, Pickett knows he doesn’t have too much time left at the highest level, and he’s not taking any of it for granted.
“[UFC London] was very big for me because I was coming off a couple of losses. When you do that and you’re very competitive, you start thinking to yourself ‘Maybe I’m done’. I’m old within the sport now – I’m 37 – and I’ve just had a kid. I’m a lot more precious now, it’s not about me any more, it’s about fighting for my child.
“Even though the UFC said if I lost the fight, they would keep me for me as a competitor, I don’t want to be losing fights. I’m not in this sport just to make up the numbers.
“I want to be someone within this sport. Not to just say to myself that I’m able to compete at this level, because I’ve always been able to compete, but be able to win at this level.”
For as long as he can, Pickett will remain in the UFC. But whatever’s beyond, you can be certain he won’t be scared of it.
