Las Vegas, NV – UFC middleweight Jamie Pickett is involved in one of the more talked about bouts of UFC 285 where he will face Bo Nickal on the main card at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
“All the attention is on Bo. I kind of like it that way. I don’t really like, as you know, I don’t like cameras. All the attention is on him. I’m happy about it,” Pickett told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
It isn’t lost on Pickett that the hype is behind Nickal who has been thought of as the next great middleweight prospect.
“I see another athlete that’s ready to compete. I’m ready to compete he’s ready to compete. The UFC’s paying me for a test you know? That’s what I am. I’m a test for him. I’m not stupid,” Pickett said.
“People want to see if he can fare against somebody that’s good all the way around. I’m not really great at one thing, but I’m good everywhere. So they want to see how they deal with me. I plan on spoiling the party.”
Now that the bout is set Pickett knows that, while he feels he is a test for Nickal, that he fights his fight.
“I need to make sure that I remember who I am. The kind of athlete I am. Be athletic, be fast, be first,” he said.
Pickett has had to deal with a lot of Nickal fans on social media to the level that the “The Nightwolf” just can’t believe.
“These people are crazy. I mean I’ve never had this much hate mail. I was like dude, bringing my family in to it, I’m like it’s a fight guys calm down. He seems like a nice guy. I’m a very nice person so it won’t be any animosity or hate. We’re just two competitors we’re going to compete. The UFC wants to see where he’s at. I’m the test,” said Pickett.
“And in my humble opinion I don’t think he’s going to pass the test.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jamie Pickett above. Pickett faces Bo Nickal on the main card of UFC 285 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
