Brad Pickett Signs with the WEC

The WEC continues to add to its stacked bantamweight division as the Zuffa-owned promotion recently announced the signing of British fighter Brad Pickett to a multi-fight contract. News of the signing was first reported by Fighters Only.

The WEC is already in the process of finalizing Pickett's first opponent, as he is in talks to make his debut with the promotion against Kyle Dietz in December at World Extreme Cagefighting 45: Cerrone vs Ratcliff, according to MMAWeekly.com. According to the report, the bout hinges on Pickett securing a working visa in the United States.

The WEC bantamweight title is currently held by Brian Bowles, and he certainly has his work cut out for him, having fighters like Dominic Cruz, Takeya Mizugaki, Damacio Page, and now Brad Pickett targeting him for a title shot.

Pickett will be making his first-ever cut to bantamweight as he has spent the majority of his career fighting in the 145-pound featherweight division. He is a former Cage Rage featherweight champion and the current Ultimate Challenge UK featherweight champion.

Pickett enters the WEC on a seven fight winning streak, most recently defeating UFC veteran Dave Lee at Ultimate Challenge UK: Payback in August. He has not suffered a defeat since losing to Hideo Tokoro in June 2007 at K-1: Dynamite USA.

Pickett has put together a 17-4 MMA record during his five year professional career. He has shown a knack for finishing fights as he has scored stoppage wins in 14 of his 17 career victories. Picket holds notable career wins over the likes of Robbie Olivier and Hiroyuki Abe. Also of note, he splits his training time in Florida with American Top Team and in England with his own team.

Dietz is coming off the first loss of his young career, which occurred in his WEC debut against Rafael Rebello at World Extreme Cagefighting 41: Brown vs Faber 2 in June. Prior to the loss, he caught the WEC's eye by winning the first five fights of his career, including a 4-0 mark in the Extreme Challenge promotion. Dietz has finished all but one of his five career wins including three coming by submission.

The WEC's year-end event, World Extreme Cagefighting 45: Cerrone vs Ratcliff, takes place on Dec. 19 in Las Vegas, NV and the main card will air live on Versus. The event is headlined by a lightweight bout between Donald Cerrone and Ed Ratcliff.

Source: www.fiveknuckles.com