“It’s taken people like myself 10 years to master what works, and what doesn’t - it was about trial and error, but we’ve been through that now.”
Monday 13 March 2017 10:57, UK
London’s most rugged UFC veteran has reluctantly accepted it’s time to step out of the cage. Sky Sports met Brad Pickett to ask why the fight has slowly ebbed away from him…
"I'll still compete in other things. I might play my son at chess, here and there." Brad Pickett, 38 years young and sporting a wealth of battle scars, is trying to convince himself that retirement won't be all bad.
Thirteen years of professional MMA, dating back to a generation where Pickett concedes the sport was a dirty secret, have taken their toll yet the Londoner retains the wherewithal to decide his own fate before it is decided for him.
I don't like losing, I wouldn't want to keep losing. If I had been smoking everyone in my last few fights I wouldn't be retiring, but I'm realistic.
"A lot of people come back after they retire - for me, I have a lot of pride," Pickett exclusively told Sky Sports, his voice wobbling.
"I don't like losing, I wouldn't want to keep losing. If I had been smoking everyone in my last few fights I wouldn't be retiring, but I'm realistic. I haven't looked great, and the only thing I can put that down to is age. So, cool. I will retire of my own accord, rather than them cut me.
"I'm a very competitive person but I'm now coming into the gym with 22-year-olds, and it's tough!"
Pickett's 39th fight, at London's O2 Arena against Marlon Vera, will be his last. It is fitting that his signature trilby and accompanying Chas 'n' Dave entrance music will get its final fling just a stone's throw from the Roman Road in Bow, where his journey started seeking a sport that would cater for his 5'6'' frame. A new generation, for whom the journey is better signposted, are slowly forcing Pickett out.
"When it first started it was style against style, but now you're getting these full-on athletes who have been training from the grassroots level," he said.
"They're learning great techniques straight away but it's taken people like myself 10 years to master what works, and what doesn't. They're getting told the techniques that work. They're getting given great knowledge, but they're also young and athletic, so it's a harder sport to be involved in.
They're getting told the techniques that work. They're getting given great knowledge, but they're also young and athletic, so it's a harder sport to be involved in.
"They have a head start, although experience beats a lot of things. But it's quicker for them to close the gap between the top level and the lower level. If you're athletic with the right coaching, it's not hard to close that gap.
"Back then, I didn't have to cut too much weight. Nowadays, nutrition is such a big thing. The science has grown tremendously in all sports - footballers used to smoke and drink! The science has transferred over into MMA to create physically gifted athletes.
"In the smaller weight classes it's harder because it's all about speed and reaction times."
The disappointment that his sport is ruthlessly passing him by his evident in Pickett's voice, and also on his record which shows five defeats in his past six fights. It is to his credit that Pickett remains philosophical about passing the torch.
"The sport was about trial and error, but we've been through that now," he said. "We now know how to cut weight properly. There's still some areas that will never change - work ethic and charisma. But techniques change all the time. There's techniques we're learning now that will probably change in the next few years."
Did he spend years learning techniques that have now been disregarded? "I laugh about it now. It's no longer about one style versus one style, everyone is an ultimate fighter."
Pickett never became a world champion but was a mainstay in the upper echelons of the bantamweight division for over a decade, and was famously labelled a personal favourite of UFC president Dana White's.
The best opponent I beat was Demetrious Johnson. But at the time, nobody knew who he was, so I didn't get any credit!
His proudest win? "I have different favourites for different reasons. The best opponent I beat was Demetrious Johnson, who is now the pound-for-pound the best in the world, and that was his first loss.
"But at the time, nobody knew who he was, so I didn't get any credit! Winning my debut in Vegas, the fight capital of the world, with a rare submission was a highlight. Being ranked No 5 in the world, but even then I wasn't happy.
"I fought in Costa Rica, on the beach, at 10 o'clock in the morning which was a highlight. I fought in the LA Coliseum in front of 45,000 people so I've done some cool things.
"I'll still be in the gym, helping other guys. The only real 'last' is me fighting. I'll even do ring-walks with others. I will compete through others.
"It's bittersweet. I wouldn't be retiring if this wasn't in London, I want to retire in my hometown."
The curtain is coming down on Pickett, but his involvement is transitioning rather than ending.
