OHHHHHH THAT'S IT! @ChitoVeraUFC spoils Pickett's finale and gets the head kick KO! #UFCLondon on @UFCFightPass NOW! pic.twitter.com/f8XcslXu9Q
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2017
Brad Pickett made one last walk down to the octagon at “UFC Fight Night 107” as his fight with late-replacement Marlon Vera would be his last. Vera hoped to play the role of party-pooper while Pickett hoped for one last highlight-reel finish in his retirement bout.
Pickett picked up the momentum early on with a massive takedown in the first minute of the fight, but Vera was able to pop right back up to his feet to make it a striking bout. Vera was busier on the feet, landing more strikes but you wouldn’t have been able to tell as the fans erupted whenever Pickett came close to landing a strike.
Another massive slam from Pickett in the first minute of the second would keep the fight on the ground. Instead of Vera popping right back up to his feet, Pickett would keep him on the mat where he would batter him with elbows and knees in between posturing up and picking his spots. The fight would eventually make it back standing near the end of the round and Pickett gained a lot of momentum as he charged forward and peppered Vera with wild hooks.
Vera turned up the pace in the final round, catching Pickett off guard at the start of the round by changing levels, keeping him guessing where he would strike next. The jab of Vera landed repeatedly on the nose of Pickett whose hands hung low early on in the third.
Vera’s attack on the body of Pickett started to visibly take its toll as his punches became more labored and breaths became deeper. A headkick from Vera would finish Pickett’s career with a loss, giving Vera the biggest victory of his career.
Marlon Vera def. Brad Pickett by way of TKO (Strikes) 3:50 of Round 3
.@ChitoVeraUFC really turning it on in round 3 & starting to pick One Punch apart! #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/8qaStHsvuz
— UFC (@ufc) March 18, 2017