UFC Fight Night 38 Preview
Pickett vs. Seery
Brad
Pickett will try his luck at 125 pounds for the first time. | Ryan
O'Leary/Sherdog.com
Flyweights
Brad Pickett (23-8, 3-3 UFC) vs. Neil Seery (13-9, 0-0 UFC)The Matchup: Pickett was originally expected to make his flyweight debut against the world-ranked Ian McCall, but “Uncle Creepy’s” ongoing injury woes nixed those plans. Instead, Pickett gets Seery, the reigning Cage Warriors Fighting Championship flyweight king. Seery began his professional career an underwhelming 7-8, but the Irishman has posted a 6-1 mark over the past three years.
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While McCall would have been a better measuring stick, the matchup with Seery at least has the potential to be exciting. Seery relies primarily on his boxing, and he throws punching combinations with speed and power. He has a good chance of holding his own in exchanges and could even get the best of Pickett on the feet. However, “One Punch” sets a tremendous pace inside the cage and has a durable chin that allows him to trade in the pocket with confidence.
What sets him apart from Seery is his ability to transition between striking and wrestling. When Seery is on the attack, he will often leave himself vulnerable for takedowns as he moves forward. Pickett should be able to execute timely level changes to ground the Cage Warriors champ. From there, the Englishman is good in scrambles and will seize the opportunity to secure a choke if Seery gets reckless trying to return to his feet.
Seery could make things interesting by implementing more kicks into his arsenal. He does not throw them all that often, but he is accurate when he does. Pickett is more varied in a close-quarters firefight, as he also has the capability to land knees and elbows.
The Pick: Pickett’s grappling and wrestling give him the edge. “One Punch” wins via submission in round two.
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