British UFC star Brad ‘One Punch’ Pickett returns to SunSport with his UFC Hamburg fight camp blog

I’m back here at ATT, and very happy to be back on SunSport, blogging my way through fight camp once again.

You can follow my ups and downs on the way to UFC Hamburg, where I’ll be taking on Henry Briones. We were supposed to face each other at UFC London in February, so this one’s a little bit overdue.

I think anybody who saw my fight with Francisco Rivera in London could see how much that win meant to me. The build up to it was intense and the winning meant so much more, and went so much further than simply another W on my record.

As I said then, I was fighting for my job, my wife and most of all, my son, Buddy.

I had to prove to myself – and my fans – that I was still capable, that I could still do this. There’s not many of the old guard left, and I’m proud to be representing those of us who forged the way for this to become a real career.

I got asked a lot, last time out, if I was nearing retirement, if this would be my last fight. When that time comes, I’ll know – and it will be difficult – but that time isn’t yet!

If anything, my win in February has lit a fire under me. Not just to prove I can win, but that I can win in style, and give you all a good show.

I never let myself get out of shape, as I think it would be much harder to come back from. I take it easy for a week after a fight, but I’ll be straight back in the gym again – coaching as well as training.

I’ll never think I’m too old or experienced to pick up new tricks or tips, so the guys I train with at Titan in London and ATT out here in Florida give me plenty to think about.

I’m proud to be representing those of us who forged the way for this to become a real career

Brad 'One Punch' Pickett

The bigger guys seem to stick it out a bit longer in the UFC, but us tiny men have to stay light on our feet – we have to stay fast! It’s harder on our bodies at the lighter weight classes, we have to be athletic and fit. Ironically, this isn’t often a one punch division!

In all my years of training and competing, I’ve seen the course that other people’s careers have taken and learnt from that. Training smart is just as important as winning if you want to have a long career.

This is an exciting time to be a UFC fighter – and I’m incredibly honoured to still be here, representing my fans, my family and my country.

I’ll talk more about my fans in another post sometime, but I’ve got supporters who have followed me from Cage Rage, through WEC right up to today: the One Punch Army! That means the world.

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled, as I’ll be blogging my way to the Octagon in September!