Author: Garrett Derr

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but Brad Pickett was pretty darn close.

“I believe that if I would have beaten Renan Barao I might have gotten a title shot,” Pickett told Bleacher Report.

“I had a really close fight with Scott Jorgensen who earned a title shot in his next fight. I went the distance and lost to Demetrious Johnson who also ended up getting a title shot. I beat Ivan Menjivar and he’s getting close to a title shot,” said Pickett. “The bantamweight competition is stiff.”

Unfortunately for Pickett (20-6), he fell short to Barao by rear-naked choke at UFC 138, ultimately eliminating himself from any title contention.

But Picket is back and ready for yet another run at things.

However, before Pickett can put his eyes on the prize, he’ll need to defeat a highly dangerous Damacio Page (12-6) when the two meet in a 135-pound contest at UFC on FUEL in Sweden.

Pickett believes he’s the more complete fighter, but will have to prove so when action begins in the lone bantamweight matchup of the evening on Saturday, April 14th.

“To be honest, I think technically I’m better than him in almost everything. However, but not by a massive margin. He’s good in several ways,” said Pickett. “I’ll probably have the edge but it’s a crazy sport.”

“He throws hard and he’s dangerous. Anything can happen. It’s going to be a dangerous first round for me with how fast he comes out,” said Pickett. “I have to have my defense ready and hopefully nothing crazy happens.”

While Pickett may hope nothing crazy happens, history doesn’t necessarily support his hopes.

Of their 44 combined fights, only nine times have they made their way to the judge’s scorecards.

Pickett’s first priority will be slowing down the haymaker-attempts by Page.

“We both have the ability to finish one another. I know he’s going to come out fast so the finishing component is right there in front of us,” said Pickett. “We’re not guys who necessarily grind out our fights.”

With that being said, Page isn’t in for a walk in the park either.

He’ll be facing one of the more well-rounded mixed martial artists—not only in the bantamweight division—but in the entire UFC.

A well-rounded fighter with the skills to take the fight anywhere he pleases.

Pickett concluded by stating,

“I’m just as dangerous in the third round as I am in the first.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Sometimes Christmas presents come a little early.

For UFC newcomer Simeon Thoresen (16-2-1), that present didn’t come in wrapping or even in a gift bag.

Instead, it came by a simple phone call.

“It was just before Christmas when my manager broke the news to me,” Thoresen told Bleacher Report.

“I had found out that I would be joining the UFC for a multi-fight contract. It feels great to be a part of the super league of MMA,” said Thoresen. “I feel that I am ready to step into the Octagon and show what I am capable of.”

Thoresen won’t have an easy task at hand when he arrives in Sweden for his UFC debut.

The Norwegian will meet Sweden’s own Besam Yousef (6-0), who will also be stepping inside the Octagon for the very first time.

Not only will Thoresen be stepping in Yousef’s home country, but he’ll be battling a man who’s never been defeated before.

However, according to Thoresen, an undefeated record doesn’t mean an opponent is unbeatable.

“I have fought in Sweden before,” said Thoresen. “That aspect of it doesn’t really concern me at all anymore.”

“I have fought 20 times in my career, so the days of being worried about an undefeated fighter are long gone,” said Thoresen. “Any fighter can be dangerous and it’s completely irrelevant to what their record is.”

Where there’s confidence, there’s also respect. Thoresen knows more than anyone that you can’t approach a fight overconfidently.

Doing so could lead to a quick departure from what he refers to as the super league of MMA.

“I know [Yousef] will be very determined to kick off his UFC career with a win. He’s seems like a strong guy with good all around skills. I am happy with the matchup,”said Thoresen. “Then again, I would be happy to fight anyone at my weight.”

“I’m an all-around fighter, too, and feel that I can dominate the fight. I’m not concerned about any particular area because it’s MMA and any area can be dangerous,” said Thoresen.

At the end of the night, Thoresen will do whatever it takes to have his hand raised. However, fans and those in attendance shouldn’t expect Thoresen to be overwhelmed with the amount of pressure involved with a UFC debut.

Instead of looking for the early knockout, Thoresen plans to control the pace of the fight and simply win at all costs.

“If I could give an answer to how I’m going to win, then I could give everyone the future lottery numbers,” said Thoresen. “I’m not bothered by which way I win.”

“As long as I win, I’ll be happy.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

In order to be the best, you have to beat the best.

If you’re UFC veteran Mike Ciesnolevicz (19-4), the best is current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones.

“If Jon Jones is the best guy right now, then that’s who I want to fight,” Ciesnolevicz told Bleacher Report.

“Everyone wants to be the best and, if you’re telling me he is the best, then that’s the guy I want to compete against.”

The only challenge for Ciesnolevicz is getting that opportunity.

As we know, these opportunities come few and far between.

For Ciesnolevicz, the hardest part isn’t necessarily getting in the Octagon with the youngest champion in UFC history, but the long journey back to the UFC.

“The hard part isn’t fighting Jon Jones at all. The hardest part is climbing back up the ladder,” said Ciesnolevicz. “In order to get to the top, I’d have to beat the 20 guys in front of me.”

“If I got in the Octagon with Jones, I would have nothing to lose. Everyone would expect me to get massacred. I have absolutely no fear of Jon Jones. He is a human like anyone else,” said Ciesnolevicz. “He can be beaten.”

Now four months post-surgery, Ciesnolevicz will begin his road to recovery in hopes of getting back to the premier stage of MMA.

It’s likely we could see “Mike C” squaring off as soon as the end of June into July if all goes as planned.

“I will be back competing by mid-summer and hope to fight two or three times by the end of the year,” said Ciesnolevicz. “I’m finally feeling healthy for the first time in a year.”

“Right now, I’m just focusing on me and getting healthy.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

It wasn’t the UFC.

But it was still one of the best fights we’ve seen all year.

“I was super stoked from the second the weigh-ins began,” Lloyd Woodard (12-1) told Bleacher Report.

If you haven’t caught on yet, Woodard is coming off one of the greatest Bellator performances of all time where he defeated Patricky Freire via Kimura at Bellator 62.

“I wanted to fight bad and I know he wanted to get out there and get things started too,” Woodard said. “We both wanted another shot at Michael Chandler and we both thought we could beat him.”

“I knew he was going to bring it. He’s a great striker and I pride myself in my striking as well. I knew it was going to be a battle and that’s why I brought it the way I did. I always try and bring the heat,” Woodard said.

Woodard certainly brought it in the opening frame but a series of strikes from Freire would quickly change the pace of the fight.

Instead of a dominating first round, Woodard found himself on his back as the opening round came to an end.

“The announcing always makes it sound much worse than it is. He’s got good hands so I can see why they were like that but I wouldn’t say I was badly hurt. But I did get hit,” Woodard said. “The number one mistake was that I started going backwards and I’m a fighter who comes forward.”

“He caught me but I was able to rebound. I went for the knee to return the favor to take him out and all of a sudden he went to taking me down. I didn’t expect that at all. I didn’t think he’d want to go to the ground. It probably scored him some points,” Woodard said.

After the action-packed opening round, just one question remained.

Who won the round?

“When I was fighting I thought he won the first round just because he ended up on top of me at the end of the round,” Woodard said. “I actually went back and watched it and I thought I won due to my striking, my aggression and when I was on top I did a lot more damage than what he did when he was on top.”

1:46 later, Woodard earned the 12th win of his career, pushing him one step closer towards his desired rematch with current lightweight champion, Chandler.

However, “Cupcake” Woodard will now take some additional time to enjoy his first win of 2012 and reminisce on what many consider one of the greatest fights of all time.

“I’m a fight fanatic so I know all of the great fights. That’s such an honor to even be considered in that category. You begin to think about it and you have your Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar fight, the Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo bout,” Woodard said. “There are so many great moments like that and I think it’s impossible to pick just one.”

“It’s just an honor to be apart of one of the best fights of all time.”

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The greatest fear in mixed martial arts is awaiting the judges’ scorecards.

The only thing worse is actually hearing the decision announced.

And if you’re on the receiving end of that bad news, it could stick with you for a long, long time.

Enter Paul Bradley (18-4).

“I’d be lying if I said losing that split decision to Mike Pierce doesn’t still bother me right now,” Bradley told Bleacher Report.

“It sucks. The fight was so close that it could have gone either way. But at the same time his next fight was against Koscheck,” said Bradley. “That gives me confidence knowing that I’m where I need to be.”

But Bradley wasn’t where he needed to be at all as he was surprisingly released from the UFC just days later.

Instead of contemplating where to turn next, Bradley left his homestead in Minnesota and hit the road.

“After the fight I spent 55 days training in San Diego and after the new year I spent 30 more days at Team Takedown. I’m putting everything I have into this. If I go broke then I go broke,” said Bradley. “It’s a sacrifice I need to make.”

Bradley’s goal is as simple as can be.

Get back to the UFC.

Before Bradley can return to the big stage, he’ll need to prove he’s worthy of another chance beginning Saturday, April 7.

And according to Bradley, the games are over.

“I’m not messing around anymore,” said Bradley. “From now on I’m getting in there looking for a quick finish and then move on to my next opponent.”

“I’m going to be looking for the finish right away. I’m not trying to play around in these small shows and get caught. The goal is to go in and dominate by submission or knockout from here on out,” said Bradley.”

There’s no timetable for when fans can expect to see Bradley back in the UFC, but when he does return—watch out.

“If all goes well, I would say at the very least two fights, but it’s hard to say. Realistically I would like to think between two and five fights. Saying that, there also aren’t any guarantees,” said Bradley. “I’m thankful for all my sponsors that have stuck by me.”

“Once I get back in the UFC I’m going to stay there.”

To learn more about Paul Bradley or possible sponsorships opportunities, follow him on Twitter.

 

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com