“One Punch” Brad Pickett is a UFC and WEC veteran and does not coach the next-generation fighter jets in the UK’s top team. We sit for interviews to discuss WEC, coaching, Nathanial wood and more. With a keen understanding of the exciting performance-character and the technical nuance required in the lightweight class, Pickett focuses on nurturing the next generation of fighter jets. In this interview, he shares insights into coaching philosophy.
Interview with Brad Pickett
Now, all the stars are in MMA, so WEC was far ahead of that era. All sports today are 135-145.
Brad Pickett: When I was competing in the WEC, they had more than light weight, but in the UFC it was more than light weight. I remember everyone being constantly and constantly enthusiastic about how good a WEC card is. The battle was very exciting to watch. That’s why Dana White wanted to bring these weight classes to the UFC. Since then you have seen so many stars coming from those departments. People like Cowboy Theron, Anthony Pettis, Ben Henderson, Aldo, Ulia Faber, Cub Swanson – he’s very talented.
I always say this because I’m a little guy fan. When you’re young, you have to rely on technique and speed. When you’re big, you don’t need to rely so much on those things. Yes, light weight, you have to be technically sharp, fast and tough.
You guys were far ahead of your time. Ian McCall, demetrious Johnson, it’s insane to see how many talents your own talents are. Does it have to be strange to know that you were defeating him 15 years ago and that he is still fighting?
Brad Pickett: He was much younger than me at the time. I started playing sports quite late – I was 26 years old when I started fighting. And I think I was in my early 30s and around 31 when I fought him. In my head, I hope I was still fighting, my body didn’t let me, do you know? But yeah, he was much younger than me at the time. I’ve had a picture of me since the day before we fought, and yeah, he still looks young and crazy.
Nathaniel Wood developed very rapidly after he gained weight. He is very talented. Why did raising the weight class make such a difference for him?
Brad Pickett: For me, size isn’t everything. Size is only important to some extent. It’s important whether you’re a wrestler and you want to work with people — that’s when you need the benefits of size. But if you’re like Nathaniel, the person who’s quick, punching, kicking – size doesn’t really matter. You can become a little guy, but use your speed and footwork for your benefit. So I feel size isn’t that important to him.
Now, if he’s more of a wrestler and wants to constantly get people off, he’ll say he needs the advantage of size because he needs that physical fitness. But Speed kills him. That’s why, in my opinion, he’s working well on weight classes.
People try to match his work rate – he starts fast and they keep up. But they realize, “Oh, he’s not slowing down,” and they get tired. And that’s when the battle began to go down his path. He looks a bit like me too. It’s always an exciting fighter. He always has good scraps!
How high do you think the ceiling of Nathaniel Wood is? He’s been having a very win-win battle this weekend and I think he’ll be fighting for the title in the next two years.
Brad Pickett: That’s exactly what I mean to me. I hope he will be a little more active this year than last year. Hopefully he will leave this fight and not be injured unharmed. And we can go again soon. I think this is a big fight for the European MMA, two former Cage Warriors world champions and the extremely tough opponent Morgan Charliere. But I believe Nathaniel should win.
Obviously, he doesn’t underestimate him, but I feel like a good victory, wins with style and can push him into a top 10 or at least top 15 opponent. And that’s what we’re continuing, right?
The UK top team you are coaching is all different and you have so many talents. What do you do as a coach to make all these champions? What is your philosophy?
Brad Pickett: I’m building a team, and this is something that a lot of people don’t realize. I understand sports from top to bottom. Of course, if I’m in my first amateur fight, that’s the most important thing on my journey. If you’re making your Cage Warriors debut, that’s important on my journey. If you’re making your UFC debut, that’s important. I understand that everyone is at another stage of their journey.
But you have to start somewhere, right? So I know very much to give people the right amount of attention.
As explained earlier, MMA is a team sport. To prepare, you need a solid team around you. You need people to be there and to help people. And that’s why I really focus on building a strong team. We need to push each other. You are as good as the training partners around you.
We have really good heavyweights and light heavyweights, but our core group is small. And I think that comes from being a fighter, retired and having a pool of fighters preparing for Nathaniel and Ashley Grimshaw. Now they’re where I was and it continues in that cycle.
It also has an incredible 11,000 square feet facility, with cages, rings and everything you need. It is clean, hygienic, works very well and structured. That’s something that many gyms don’t have. Some people show up at the gym and then go to another gym the next day. But my gym has a structure. You know exactly what you are doing and when you are doing it.
I realized early that I had to move to the US to get training because I couldn’t access the right facilities here. But now I have made such a place in the UK and we have a very good fighter in my gym. You don’t need to travel to America anymore – of course, if possible, it’s always a good experience. That’s one of my things as a coach. I’m not the type to hold my fighter jets and stop them from going anywhere else. No, go! For a little, I go to Thailand, train in Spain, train in France, train in various places. This is your home, but experience and experience other things.
I’m not someone who feels the need to tie my fighters down – I don’t know everything, do you know? So it’s good that they come back and say, “This is what I’ve learned.” nice! show me. This sport is constantly evolving and it would be stupid to keep you out of the outside world.
It used to be everything about this GI, but now there are people who are pulling away from crazy techniques. I look at these things and say, “What the heck are they doing?” Then there’s more wild techniques popping up, like submitting an electric chair. New techniques are coming out every week, and if you don’t stay above them, you’ll soon be behind.