“One Punch” Brad Pickett is a veteran of the UFC and WEC who will not be teaching the subsequent era of fighters at Nice British Prime Group. We sit down for an interview to debate the WEC, Teaching, Nathanial Wooden and rather more. With a profession marked by thrilling performances and a eager understanding of the technical nuances required within the lighter weight lessons, Pickett now focuses on nurturing the subsequent era of fighters. On this interview, he shares insights into his teaching philosophy.
Brad Pickett Interview
With all the celebrities now in MMA, the WEC was means forward of its time. It’s all of the 135-145 that’s the game now.
Brad Pickett: After I was competing within the WEC, that they had light-weight and beneath, whereas within the UFC, it was light-weight and above. I simply keep in mind everybody consistently raving about how good the WEC playing cards had been – the fights had been simply so thrilling to look at. That’s why Dana White wished to deliver these weight lessons into the UFC. And since then, you’ve seen so many stars come from these divisions. Guys like Cowboy Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Ben Henderson, Aldo, Uriah Faber, Cub Swanson – a lot expertise.
I at all times say this as a result of I’m a fan of the smaller guys. Once you’re smaller, it’s a must to depend on approach and velocity. Once you’re larger, you don’t need to depend on these issues as a lot. So yeah, on the lighter weights, you’ve bought to be technically sharp, quick, and difficult.
You guys had been means forward of your time. It’s insane to see how a lot expertise you guys had – Ian McCall, Demetrious Johnson, your self – and Johnson a decade later, he’s nonetheless energetic. It have to be bizarre him realizing you beat him 15 years in the past and he’s nonetheless combating?
Brad Pickett: He was so much youthful than me on the time. I began the game fairly late – I used to be 26 once I began combating. And once I fought him, I believe I used to be round 31, early 30s. As a lot as, in my head, I want I used to be nonetheless combating, my physique simply wouldn’t let me, you understand? However yeah, he was so much youthful than me again then. I’ve bought footage of me from again within the day earlier than we fought, and yeah, he nonetheless appears to be like loopy younger now.
Nathaniel Wooden has developed so shortly since going up in weight. He’s so gifted. Why did going up a weight class make such a distinction for him?
Brad Pickett: For me, dimension isn’t the whole lot. Dimension solely issues to a sure extent. It issues when you’re a wrestler and also you need to wrestle individuals – that’s once you want the scale benefit. However when you’re extra like Nathaniel – somebody who’s fast, punches and kicks – then dimension doesn’t matter as a lot. You will be the smaller man, however use your velocity and footwork to your benefit. That’s why I really feel dimension doesn’t matter as a lot for him.
Now, if he was extra of a wrestler and wished to take individuals down on a regular basis, then you definitely’d say he wants the scale benefit as a result of he’d want that bodily power. However velocity kills. That’s why, in my view, he’s completed so properly shifting up a weight class.
Individuals attempt to match his work fee – he begins quick, and so they attempt to sustain. However then they realise, ‘Oh, he’s not slowing down,’ and so they get drained. And that’s when the battle begins going his means. He’s additionally a bit like me – at all times an thrilling fighter. He’s at all times in good scraps!
How excessive do you suppose the ceiling is for Nathaniel Wooden? I believe he has a really winnable battle this weekend and shall be combating for a title throughout the subsequent two years.
Brad Pickett: Precisely that, for me. I’d like him to be a bit extra energetic this 12 months than he was final 12 months. Hopefully he comes out of this battle unscathed, no accidents, after which we will go once more fairly shortly. I believe it is a huge battle for European MMA, two former Cage Warriors world champions, Morgan Charrière, a really powerful opponent. However I do consider Nathaniel ought to win.
Clearly, he’s not taking him frivolously in anyway, however I really feel like a very good win, and a win in type, might possibly push him into the highest 10 or a minimum of a prime 15 opponent subsequent. And that’s the place we preserve going, you understand?
Nice Britain Prime Group the place you’re teaching simply does the whole lot totally different and you’ve got a lot expertise. What are you doing as a coach to make all of those champions and what’s your philosophy?
Brad Pickett: I’m constructing the group, and that is what lots of people don’t realise. I perceive the game from prime to backside. In fact, if I’m having my first newbie battle, that’s crucial factor in my journey. If I’m making my Cage Warriors debut, that’s vital in my journey. If I’m making my UFC debut, that’s vital. I perceive that everybody is at a special stage of their journey.
However you’ve bought to start out someplace, proper? So, I’m very conscious of giving individuals the correct amount of consideration.
Like I defined earlier, MMA is a group sport – you want a strong group round you to prepare. You want individuals to assist out, to be there. And that’s why I actually deal with constructing a robust group. We have to push one another. You’re solely nearly as good because the coaching companions round you.
We do have some actually good heavyweights and light-weight heavyweights, however our core group is smaller guys. And I believe that comes from me being a fighter, then retiring, and having my pool of fighters that I’d prepare with in Nathaniel and Ashleigh Grimshaw. Now, they’re the place I used to be, and it continues in that cycle.
We even have an incredible facility – 11,000 sq. ft, with a cage, a hoop, and the whole lot you want. It’s clear, hygienic, very properly run, and structured. That’s one thing loads of gyms don’t have. Some individuals flip as much as a gymnasium, then go to a different gymnasium the subsequent day. However in my gymnasium, there’s construction – you understand precisely what you’re doing and once you’re doing it.
I understood this early on that I needed to transfer to America to get my coaching in as a result of I didn’t have entry to the proper services right here. However now, I’ve created a spot like that within the UK, and we’ve got excellent fighters in my gymnasium. You don’t have to journey to America anymore – although, after all, when you can, it’s at all times a very good expertise. That’s one factor about me as a coach – I’m not the sort to carry onto my fighters and cease them from going elsewhere. No, go! Go to Thailand for a bit, practice in Spain, practice in France, practice somewhere else. That is your house, however go and expertise different issues.
I’m not somebody who feels the necessity to preserve my fighters tied down – I don’t know the whole lot, you understand? So it’s good once they come again and say, ‘That is what I realized.’ Cool! Present me. This sport is consistently evolving, and also you’d be silly to close your self off from the skin world.
Again within the day, it was all about gi this gi that, however now you’ve bought individuals pulling off loopy methods – the wrong way up banana splits, buggy chokes. I see this stuff and suppose, ‘What the hell are they doing?’ Then you definately’ve bought much more wild methods popping up, like the electrical chair submission. New methods are popping out each week, and when you don’t keep on prime of it, you’ll fall behind fairly shortly.
