Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Manuwa vs. Anderson’

Bantamweights

Brad Pickett (25-13) vs. Marlon Vera (8-3-1)

THE MATCHUP: Pickett plans to retire after this fight, and he has earned it. After debuting in 2004, Pickett was for many years one of the best bantamweights in the world. He rarely enjoyed a winning streak after making his way to World Extreme Cagefighting, but for half a decade only the best in the world could beat him. He notched wins over Demetrious Johnson, Yves Jaboin and Neil Seery while dropping close fights to Scott Jorgensen, Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland. Pickett has slowed down considerably in the last years of his career, losing to a lower level of competition while still maintaining the ability to hold his own against the best in the world on a good night. Enrique Briones was supposed to be Pickett’s final test, but an injury has slotted in Vera as a short-notice replacement.

Vera is a very young fighter who, despite notching a few impressive wins in the UFC, has struggled to build a consistent fighting style for himself. With four wins by submission, Vera is at his most dangerous on the ground. Unfortunately, he does not always go there of his own volition. Vera can shoot a decent single-leg, but he lacks drive and physicality in the tie-ups, which means he frequently fails on a shot only to be taken down himself. Vera’s guard is dangerous, but he remains a little too willing to stay on his back. In the striking department, Vera’s game resembles that of Anthony Pettis, only without the insane athleticism and coordination that makes “Showtime” so great. Vera can throw a snappy left hand and a slashing left kick, but he is liable to endure long stretches of inactivity; and because he only sidesteps and retreats rather than cutting angles and closing distance when necessary, Vera constantly allows himself to be backed into the fence.

Pickett should be able to handle this style. The moniker “One Punch” may have started as a ruse, but Pickett really does have some technical, dangerous boxing. He is a fairly aggressive fighter, but he tends to restrain himself from leading with power punches, choosing instead to slip his way into the pocket before using them as counters. Pickett is not a superb pressure fighter -- opponents who move well and enforce a long distance give him trouble -- but Vera will give him opportunities to lead and set up takedowns, which have always been the bread and butter of Pickett’s game.

THE ODDS: Pickett (-190), Vera (+150)

THE PICK: Vera is a promising young fighter, but he is a might too emotional and inconsistent to beat a fighter like Pickett, even in faded form. Pickett should have comparatively little fear of the knockout and thus should be able to forge a path forward into the pocket, where his tight boxing and practiced takedown game will give him the advantage. The pick is Pickett by unanimous decision.

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