Longtime bantamweight contender Brad Pickett is set to make his flyweight debut against Ian McCall at a UFC event in London, England on March 8.
Pickett (23-8) made the decision to move down a weight class following an August submission loss to Michael McDonald.
This will be Pickett’s first fight in his native country since a knockout win over Yves Jabouin in September 2012. In his 10 fights under the Zuffa banner, the 35-year-old has won five Fight of the Night bonuses, plus one Knockout and one Submission bonus.
McCall (12–4–1) is coming off his first career UFC win, defeating Iliarde Santos in a Fight of the Night performance at UFC 163.
The former No. 1-ranked flyweight and Tachi Palace Fights champion will be fighting with a heavy heart, as he is dealing with the recent death of his friend and teammate, UFC heavyweight Shane del Rosario, who died at age 30 following a heart attack.
Also at the event, which takes place at the O2 Arena, unbeaten welterweight prospect Gunnar Nelson will return to the Octagon after a 13-month layoff when he takes on Omari Akhmedov. Nelson (11-0-1) has UFC wins over Jorge Santiago and DaMarques Johnson, while Akhmedov (12-1) is coming off a stunning KO of Thiago Perpétuo in his UFC debut in Brazil on Nov. 9.
England’s Danny Mitchell will make his UFC debut against veteran Igor Araujo on the card as well.
In other UFC matchup news:
— Welterweights Mike Pyle and TJ Waldburger will both look to bounce back from knockout losses when they face each other at UFC 170 on Feb. 22.
— TUF Live cast members Daron Cruickshank and Mike Rio will meet in a lightweight bout at UFC on FOX 10 in Chicago.
