Brad Pickett is the latest British fighter to be added to the stacked UFC 189 event.
‘One Punch’ moves back up to Bantamweight to take on undefeated rising star Thomas Almeida on the undercard of Aldo vs McGregor.
Pickett (24-10) will make his return to the 135 lbs after a three-fight stint at flyweight.
The Londoner dropped to flyweight following a tough loss to Michael McDonald in 2013.
With a bantamweight win over undisputed flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson on his record, Pickett tried to earn a title shot rematch, but struggled in the lighter division.
After a gruelling close-win over Neil Seery in his flyweight debut, One Punch lost back-to-back decisions to Ian McCall and Chico Camus to take him out of the title frame..
Almeida (19-0) comes into this one off the back of a first round TKO over Yves Jabouin at UFC 186 in Montreal.
The 23-year-old phenom has finished all but one of his opponents, racking up 14 KOs and three submissions, with his only decision coming against Tim Gorman in his promotional debut.
Pickett’s granite chin means he hasn’t been finished by strikes since the second fight of his career, over 10 years ago.
With Almeida’s striking prowess, this has the potential to be a real war.
Pickett joins compatriot John Hathaway on UFC 189, who faces Icelandic-Irish fighter Gunnar Nelson in a welterweight clash.
The event is headlined by a featherweight title fight between acerbic-tongued Irishman Conor McGregor and undisputed champion Jose Aldo, while Rory MacDonald takes on Robbie Lawler for the welterweight strap in the co-main event.
Hat-tip to Bloody Elbow
