UFC bantamweight star Brad Pickett checks in from UFC 204 fight week in Manchester

THIS blog is coming to you from my hotel room in Manchester on the Thursday of fight week!

I travelled up on Tuesday with Mickey (Papas, my boxing coach) and checked in with the UFC in the afternoon.

I signed posters and tried on my fight shorts – all the admin side of things is taken care of nice and early! I’ve been doing media this week and have more to do this afternoon, but overall things are quite chilled out.

I’ve actually been training later at night and trying to sleep in a bit to alter my body clock so Saturday isn’t such a shock.

Nothing too full on for the late-night training. I did some pads with Mickey and rolled with Mike – worked up a sweet, but didn’t do anything too crazy. I’ll be weight cutting tonight – on the treadmill and in the sauna! This is my first time doing a morning weigh in but I think it’s going to work out well. I’ll have more time to rehydrate and recover and I’m not worried about the cut anyway.

I’ve seen my opponent around the hotel – we’ve shaken hands and wished each other luck. No animosity here! I’m feeling confident and mentally, I think I’m in a better place than before my last fight. Coming in off a win does boost my confidence although I always put myself under pressure. These days that pressure comes from providing for my family, but I don’t mind – the more I win, the more I can provide for Buddy.

I’ve been a bit overwhelmed by the support of my fans this time around. I’ve met a few of you guys around the hotel so far this week (including a guy who won one of my new shirts!), but the messages, pictures, videos etc that people have been sending me has been great. A lot of people seem excited for this card, and everybody’s buzzing!

My brother is traveling up on Friday, and other friends and family will be arriving throughout the day and into Saturday. Unfortunately Buddy can’t make it up this time; the timing and distance make it hard. I’m not sure what we’ll do after the fight – probably sleep! And then perhaps Mike and I will indulge in some retail therapy before he gets his flight home on Sunday! It’s hard to predict how I’ll be feeling – but I’m confident things are going to go my way!