Thomas Almeida vs. Brad Pickett On For UFC 189 In July
UFC 189, which is set to go down on July 11, 2015 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, just keeps on growing with exciting bouts. Already being headlined by dual title fights, with the blockbuster showdown between featherweight king Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor in the main event slot, while welterweight boss Robbie Lawler puts his strap on the line against Rory MacDonald in the co-main event, it looks as if the promotion has now added a bantamweight bout to the lineup.
The UFC has announced (confirmed by MMAFighting) that veteran Brad “One Punch” Pickett will take on rising Brazilian Thomas Almeida in July.
“One Punch” competed in the 135-pound division up until 2014 when he decided to cut down to 125-pounds. However, he was not very successful in his flyweight run, going just 1-2 in three bouts. He was most recently seen dropping a split-decision loss to Chico Camus at UFC Fight Night 57 last November. Pickett will look to rejuvenate himself as he moves back up to meet the surging Almeida.
In a division where many of the upper echelon of contenders are injured, Almeida could potentially be a force in the future. The Brazilian has been dominant throughout his mixed martial arts (MMA) career boasting a perfect record of 19-0, and a record of 2-0 inside of the Octagon. Not only is Almeida undefeated, but he is a pure finisher, finishing 18 of his 19 opponents. Come July, he will look to extend his winning streak and secure a win over a well-known opponent.
Which fighter do you see rising up the bantamweight rankings?
