Friday’s CFFC 128 sees bantamweight Tom Picciano return to action, competing for the first time since a June win over Hunter Starner.
Picciano told Cageside Press ahead of the bout that he had hoped to return to action a little sooner. And he’s always ready to do so, in fact.
“I was trying to get on the October card that just passed. I had a couple of opponents turn me down, just couldn’t get anybody to stick,” explained Picciano (4-1). “And I was ready, I wasn’t just sitting around waiting, I was acting like I had a fight. That’s just how I operate, I’m always in camp 365. That’s just how I live.”
When he’s not training for a fight himself, Picciano is also teaching martial arts. And he sees that as a way to supplement his training in the end. “Teaching is definitely a form of training too, because you have to really break it down, step-by-step, movement by movement so the whole class can get it. Because Long Island MMA, yeah we’ve got a sick fight team, but it’s also like, anybody can come down here and train and feel welcome. We have people that, it’s the first time they’re throwing a punch ever, then we’ve got guys in the UFC, about to be in the UFC, fighting for world titles, and everything in between.”
Picciano has found that in teaching, he can take his own advice, and apply techniques he’s breaking down to his own fights. “I just take my own advice. It seems obvious, like ‘I know that, I’m a professional’ but sometimes if you don’t say it, you don’t actually think about it. I kind of just remember what I tell the class when I’m doing certain things, and then it helps me out as well.”
On Friday, Picciano is paired up with Michael Billups, who might arguably have the edge in experience. But Tom Picciano sees past that record.
“I think he’s pretty mid, to be honest. He’s not trash, obviously, because he’s a pro fighter, he’s got however many fights. He’s fought two dudes with nine fights, he’s got some experience. But he’s fighting out in Oklahoma, all of his fights are in the same promotion,” Picciano pointed out. “If you watch his fights, they don’t shut up about him. So it’s pretty clear that he is their guy. They’re trying to push him, so they’re giving him these less than reputable competitors. And he’s having wars with them, he’s not smoking them. I watched a few of his fights with my coaches. It’s not like he’s a can, that’s for sure, but there’s definitely levels to this sh*t, and if this fight goes the distance, I will be thoroughly disappointed.”
With that in mind, Picciano made a bold prediction for the fight. “He’s going to sleep whether it’s me striking at him, or I squeeze the life out of his neck. But either way, he will be woken up by somebody affiliated with the New Jersey state athletic commission or the CFFC staff.”
Watch our full interview with CFFC 128 bantamweight Tom Picciano above.
