• UFC 138

Brit Pickett gets home UFC debut

ESPN staff
July 20, 2011
Chris Leben will be heading to Birmingham in November © UFC
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British bantamweight Brad Pickett will fight in front of his home fans when he makes his UFC debut, after being confirmed for UFC 138 in Birmingham.

ESPN revealed on Tuesday that Chris Leben and Mark Munoz would be the top billing at Birmingham's LG Arena on November 5, and now Pickett has been added to the card. Pickett, who moved across from the WEC, will face Brazilian Renan Barao, who has a 26-1-1 record in MMA.

"In a huge fight for the bantamweight title picture, top contenders Brad Pickett and Renan Barao are going to collide in Birmingham," UFC President Dana White told the Telegraph. "Pickett is one of the very best fighters to ever come out of the UK but Barao hasn't lost a fight since May 2005. Both guys have verbally agreed to the fight and this is a huge fight for the division."

Pickett, who missed the chance to fight Miguel Torres at UFC 130 in Las Vegas through injury, is delighted to have the chance to fight on home soil.

"I've wanted to fight in the UFC for so long," Pickett said. "I was gutted that injury kept me from fighting at UFC 130 in Las Vegas but making my Octagon debut in front of my family and friends is just as good. I've got a massive test at UFC 138, but I want to be the first ever British UFC champion and I'm going to beat Barao and then go on from there. I can't wait!"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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