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.”
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