Riding a six-fight winning streak, including five by stoppage, top middleweight prospect out of North Carolina, Jamie Pickett, sat down with ProMMANow to talk about his success inside the MMA cage, a relatively inactive 2016 and his message for the UFC boss.
Are you the best unsigned middleweight on the planet?
By far. There’s not even a chance of anyone being close to me.
How did you get so good?
Derek Brunson and John Salter.
But what role have you played in this?
I’ve worked my tail off. I train three times a day by myself. The thing about me is that I live in a town where there’s no MMA. But I still train by myself three times a day. Every Saturday morning, I drive for two hours to train with Derek and John. Then I drive back home and do it all over again.
2016 featured only one win and a bunch of fights that fell through for you, unfortunately. Was 2016 a disappointing year?
It was very frustrating. We worked very hard to get fights. Nobody wanted to fight me. Nobody (laughs). Then when we finally did get a contract, my opponent has an excuse not to fight me, or the promotion has a new opponent. Nobody wanted to fight, except me.
What do you have to say to UFC president Dana White?
Dana White, please sign me! That’s all I’ve gotta say. If I’m not exciting in the first fight, cut me — I don’t want two chances! I just want one chance. All you’ve gotta do is give me one!
***
TRAINING TIPS:
Do you know the proper way to care and clean you MMA and boxing gloves? If you’re a trail runner, you want to make sure you’re wearing only the best and most supportive trail running shoes and here’s a good resource for that. And check this source out as a good resource for finding the best overall running shoes.