Report: Brad Pickett Returning to Bantamweight, Wants Bout with Takeya Mizugaki

---

After a 1-2 stint at flyweight, Brad Pickett has decided to return to 135 pounds.

The 36-year-old London native recently informed The Telegraph of his plans. Pickett debuted in the flyweight division with a victory over Neil Seery in March but has since dropped consecutive bouts to Ian McCall and Chico Camus.

“I’m going to go back up a weight class,” Pickett said. “The weight cut was tough for me to make but also the matchups in the weight class are just not that interesting to me. It’s not fun chasing a guy for 15 minutes in the hope he’ll fight you.

Pickett experienced his greatest success at 135 pounds in the WEC and UFC, scoring notable triumphs over the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Ivan Menjivar, Damacio Page, Yves Jabouin and Mike Easton. For his return to the division, “One Punch” would like a fight against Japanese veteran Takeya Mizugaki, who is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Dominick Cruz at UFC 178.

“I want to be involved in good fights,” Pickett said. “A fight I’d like to have at bantamweight is someone like Mizugaki. He’s an old veteran, I’m an old veteran and we’d both slug it out and put on a great fight for the fans. That’s what it’s all about for me now.”