Pickett (Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog)UFC Bantamweight Brad Pickett Co-Founds New MMA Publicity Company José Youngs December 20, 2015 News, Spotlight, UFC UFC bantamweight veteran Brad Pickett, has co-founded a new mixed martial arts publicity company, Pioneer Sports Press. Teaming up with experienced publicist, Becky Laverty, the man knwon as “One Punch” has seected the company’s first clients, comprising of some of the sports up and coming athletes based in the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, Pickett launched his MMA promotion, Rise of Champions, alongside his coach, Mickey Papas. Citing a gap in the knowledge and experience of his teammates and coaches Pickett envisions his new business as a way to develop up-and-coming fighters. “When I launched Rise of Champions I said over and over that I was committed to helping the next wave of up and coming mixed martial artists, and in a way, this is an extension of that,” said Picket. “I’ve always done my best to be proactive at promoting myself, and I’ve pretty much taught myself along the way. Now I want to pass on some of my experience, and with Becky’s expertise in the mix, we’re working with – in my opinion – some of the best talent that the UK has at the moment.” The athletes represented by Pioneer Sports Press have fought across leading promotions including Cage Warriors, UCMMA, BAMMA and BCMMA. Upcoming events include Pickett’s own match up on UFC London in February 27, 2016. On that same day, Nathaniel Wood will be making a bid for the BAMMA bantamweight title in Dublin while earlier in the month, Bill Beaumont will return to UCMMA to defend his welterweight title. “The idea had been brewing for a year or so, and when I started to work with Brad [on Rise of Champions] and talk through the ideas I had, I realized they were much more possible than I’d perhaps thought,” said Laverty. Brad not only signed up to be my first client, he was as motivated as I was change things up, that we decided to work together on this.”
