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By Jim Edwards



Brad Pickett is scared, and his fear has nothing to do with an opponent he must face inside the UFC Octagon.



This fear is internal. The 37-year- old Englishman knows he's nearing the end of his competitive career, and that realization has sparked a mental battle he's become entrenched in.



"It's a bit weird, and I've asked myself a lot, ‘What do I do afterwards?'" Pickett said. "I'm still kind thinking, 'Yeah s***', what am I going to do?' Don't get me wrong, I've got plenty going on and I've planned for the future, but still, it's a very scary thing to me what I do after I'm done."



In addition to his own conflicts, Pickett is also dealing external pressures attached to his possible retirement. Pickett had endured a rough stretch leading into his bout with Francisco Rivera at UFC Fight Night 84 in February—a drought that caused many in the MMA community to question whether he still “had it.”



And while the bout with Rivera started off in the negative, Pickett rebounded to break his three-fight skid and get back into the win column. Pickett overcame adversity to claim victory, but that still didn't serve to silence his critics.



"They just don't get it," Pickett said. "Think about it like this, if you are a doctor or a lawyer or say a tradesman, when you get to my age you are likely owning your own business, or you are, like, nearing the top of the management of where you work.



"So put that in my context” I've built my way up all this way in the UFC and now people are like, 'You should retire.’ Think about it from my perspective, I'm now like, ‘S***, I've got to start all over again.’ Add that to all the responsibilities I now have in my life and you're now telling me I got to start a new career? Trust me, that's a daunting thought."



Pickett has indeed been competing at the highest level for over seven years, having first fought in the WEC in 2009 and then later the UFC since 2011. Quitting now while he is still winning fights is something he believes he would live to regret.



"I love my job," Pickett said. "I've worked so hard to get to where I am I can't quit now. I've been around for decades, and when I very first started there was absolutely no money in the sport. I've started earning good money now, and it would be silly to walk away.



"Don't me wrong, I don't want to be the guy that sticks around too long and just gets beat. I want to be able to compete and to win at this level. When I can no longer do that, then don't worry, I will pack it up. I had a lot of pressure on me going into that last fight having lost two in a row, and I didn't perform well. But, I still won so that proves to me that I don't even have to be at my best and I can still win."



While money, winning and glory remain big motivational pulls for Pickett to continue his professional fighting career, one thing, or one person, above all else keeps the fire burning inside of him stronger than ever before.



"Through your life you change, and when you first start it's all about proving yourself and getting your first big shot," Pickett said. "Then it moves onto things like getting your first title shot and your first title, but these things change with your life outside of fighting as well. I've got responsibilities now, I've got a son now, and above all else, I want to provide for him now.



"If anyone has children they will understand. My life isn't about me anymore—it's about my family. Me, I want to win my fights now, not just for me, but I want to earn more money for my son. I'm very 'son' motivated now, so everything I try and do now is for the sake of trying to better his life."



Where job security is concerned, it's never a bad idea to have a good relationship with the boss. It's widely known that Pickett has that with UFC President Dana White, but with rumors circulating that the UFC is about to be sold, there is a small risk that his close relationship with UFC management could be under threat.



Pickett, however, wasn't concerned whatsoever with the potential of Dana White moving out of his position of power.



"If Dana White goes on and sells his part of the business, fair play to him," Pickett said. "I have a good relationship with Dana White and I'd like to think I'd have a good relationship with the new bosses if they did come in. It doesn't worry me at all.



"Don't get me wrong, it'd be weird to see a UFC without Dana White. He's like a part of the furniture. It would be strange to see that, but I'd wish good luck and all the best to him if he did that and moved on."