• UFC 138

Pickett ready to stamp his mark all over the UFC

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Brad Pickett plans to put on a show for the UK public on Saturday night in order to put his name firmly on the MMA map in his home country.

It is widely recognised within MMA circles that, based on talent alone, Pickett should carry a similar reputation to that of British MMA figurehead Michael Bisping. However, the UFC has only just adopted a bantamweight division, meaning UFC 138 represents Pickett's UFC debut.

The Brit arrives as one of the contenders from the old WEC bantamweight scene, having previously beaten Demetrious Johnson, who was the last man to fight champion Dominick Cruz.

A back injury delayed Pickett's UFC bow against Miguel Torres, but now he gets the chance to make up for lost time against the dangerous Renen Barao. In an ideal world, Pickett is aiming for a dominant victory so that he can quickly return to the Octagon in the future.

"I believe that I have more fans in America [than in the UK] because I've been fighting in the WEC for so long. People who just follow the UFC don't know who I am," Pickett told ESPN.

"I've got a good opportunity and a massive stage to show them what I'm about. Hopefully everything goes to plan and I put on a good show, which is what I plan to do.

"It sucks being out for a long time [due to injury], nobody wants to be injured and if you're fit you want to keep fighting. But I'm just grateful I'm back fit, and hopefully I come through this unscathed so I can fight again pretty soon."

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