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SHAWN ENNIS, MMATORCH SENIOR COLUMNIST
The bantamweight division is kind of a shark tank right now. Pickett is a good fighter, no doubt. But he's won two straight since his loss to Barao, and that's not exactly the longest streak in the division. Barao only has four UFC fights, so if he's able to beat Dominick Cruz for the undisputed title it's not as if he's cleaned out the whole division and needs to start rematching guys. And with potential contenders out there like Michael MacDonald and up-and-comers like Bryan Caraway, Mitch Gagnon, and Mike Easton, it may be a while before Pickett's turn comes again. Of course, this all depends on what the others end up doing along with how they decide to match Pickett up with the rest of the division. He's a top ten fighters, and if he keeps fighting the upper echelon and winning, there won't be much choice other than to put him in there with the champ. How's that for a non-answer?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
A lot of this depends on the definition of Ranan Barao's "Interim Championship." If by "Interim Championship" the UFC means that it is something to be defended, then Michael McDonald's getting that shot, and Pickett is in a group with Eddie Wineland, Brian Bowles and (GASP) Urijah Faber. Assuming that Barao-McDonald happens and the winner gets Cruz in the summer, one of the four guys in Pickett's group should get a shot by the end of 2013.
Now, if the term "Interim Championship" gives Renan Barao license to sit on his ass and rest on his laurels, then it's going to be even longer that that. Considering Pickett's age, I'd be kind of surprised if he ever gets a title shot.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Pickett is still a couple of fights away, and I don't expect him to fare any better against Barao in a second fight, but he has alot of competition to make it through before he can get to that point anyway, it's a very well guarded division as far as gate keepers go, hello Urijah Faber. Pickett has all the talent to make it back to a title fight, but I just don't see it being a victorious effort from him as it stands. One more big win and he could get into a title eliminator, otherwise he's still 3-4 fights out depending on the opponent and how well he performs in the cage.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I'd say he's about two quality wins away from getting a title shot. He still needs to separate from the pack.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Pickett is 3-2 in his last fights and has beat some good fighters. He also beat Demetrious Johnson back in 2010. I think his win at UFC on Fuel 5 against Barbaro, and the previous win against Johnson, make him a likely challenger for the Bantamweight Title in 2013 if he can earn another victory against another top five fighter.
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I'd give Brad Pickett one more top fight before putting him up against Barao again. We've seen time and time again, just because you've lost to a fighter previously (as little as one fight ago; see Tim Sylvia and Urijah Faber), there's still room for you to get another opportunity. Pickett just needs one more solid win to get back there.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
Whether he's close or not, I love watching Brad Pickett fight. By far the stand out highlight for me this weekend. As much as he could have easily been knocked out himself, he kept pressing forward and landed a devastating right uppercut that blew the roof off of the arena with such a loud cheer.
Renan Barao destroyed Pickett last year, and for me, it's only ever going to end up the same way if they fight again. However, like everyone else if they continue to win, he deserves a shot. I'd like to see him face Michael McDonald in a No 1 contender fight, to maybe co-main event a FUEL card, in England early next year.
MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
In a still relatively thin and starved-for-title-contenders bantamweight division, getting a highlight reel KO light Pickett got against a known name like Yves Jabouin is always a plus. Not many people are clamoring for a Pickett-Barao rematch just yet considering the way Barao absolutely tooled "One Punch" in their first fight, but if someone can get the belt off of Barao (Michael McDonald, a returning Dominick Cruz?) it'll accelerate Pickett's ascension towards a title shot at 135. Considering both of those previously mentioned guys are ahead of Pickett in the pecking order, he's probably a minimum of two more wins away regardless.
JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
The bantamweight division seems a lot more shallow than it really is these days. Brad Pickett may have electrified the crowd in Nottingham last weekend, but he was still blown away by Renan Barao last year.
Francisco Rivera has been really impressive lately, Mike Easton has a big win streak going, Eddie Wineland is coming off a big knockout, and of course Michael McDonald is likely the next in line after Renan Barao. It should also be mentioned that Urijah Faber is still near the top of the division, seemingly always perched on the precipice of title contention.
I feel like "One Punch" is going to have to live up to that moniker one or two more times to really jump the line and lay claim to a title fight.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_14559.shtml
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