Aaron Pico has officially joined the UFC and is determined to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
After spending his entire professional career with Bellator, Pico recently signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC. In a conversation on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Pico revealed that the UFC had shown interest in him earlier in his career.
Pico explained that while the UFC made an offer when he was transitioning to MMA, he was not aware of it at the time and ultimately signed with Bellator. He expressed gratitude for his time in Bellator, where he developed as a fighter. However, he emphasized that joining the UFC was a long-term goal, taking eight years to materialize.
“Now I`m here, and the real work begins. I`m not here just to be another fighter in the UFC. I want the championship belt, and I won`t stop until I get it,” Pico stated.
Considered a top prospect in MMA, Pico transitioned to the sport in 2017 after a successful wrestling and boxing background. During his Bellator tenure, he achieved a 13-4 record, establishing himself as a prominent featherweight. His focus now is firmly on UFC gold.
“I`m driven by competition. I want to prove that I`m on a different level. I want the opportunity to compete with the best,” Pico said. “The UFC belt is the ultimate goal. I want to make my mark in history.”
Pico acknowledged Patricio Pitbull`s achievements in Bellator but questioned the significance of those accolades without a UFC title. He believes the UFC belt represents the highest level of achievement in MMA.
Despite rumors of a fight against Movsar Evloev, Pico is currently awaiting his UFC debut opponent. He plans to make a strong impression in his first fight to quickly move into title contention.
“I set a goal about eight or nine months ago to become UFC champion by 2026,” Pico shared. “I believe I can achieve this if I get the right fights and perform to my potential.”
Pico mentioned Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling as potential opponents he would like to face before challenging for the title, expressing his ambition to fight for the championship soon, especially if he secures an impressive knockout victory.
