WEC 48 Preview: The Prelims

Brad Pickett vs. Demetrious Johnson

The Breakdown: The intrigue is off the charts for the debut of bantamweight blue-chipper Johnson, a prospect almost universally tabbed to be the WEC’s next big find. Just one problem: He’s fighting the walking identity crisis known as Brad Pickett, a guy who calls himself “One Punch” but is best known for his nasty arsenal of front chokes.

Putting aside Pickett’s ongoing obsession with a one-note Guy Ritchie character, he’s got a wealth of experience and has really come into his own over the past two years. Not the sort of opponent a monster prospect usually gets for his major league debut, but it speaks volumes about the kind of upside Johnson has.

Already preternaturally well-rounded with people-plowing power in his strikes and surprisingly fluid mat work, Johnson has a diversity of skill rarely seen in 5-0 prospects. It is that well-roundedness that puts this fight firmly in his favor. Pickett is essentially a pure grappler with a silky front headlock series. The other factor working for Johnson is his training with Matt Hume’s AMC Pankration, a team known for its dedication to studying tape and producing cerebral game plans. As long as Johnson is properly prepared for Pickett’s submissions, there really isn’t much else for him to worry about.

The Bottom Line: Johnson was turning heads as a featherweight, a division far more developed than the still nascent bantamweight class. All the hype will be justified as he takes a surprisingly dominant decision win.