Exciting news for MMA fans as Aaron Pico has officially become a UFC fighter.
The talented featherweight contender has successfully negotiated his release from the PFL (Professional Fighters League) and inked a deal to join the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed this news on Tuesday.
Pico himself later confirmed the signing through a post on Instagram, expressing his enthusiasm and gratitude.
In his post, Pico stated, “After years of intense training, dedication, and unwavering belief in myself, I am thrilled to announce my official signing with the UFC! This moment is more than just a dream realized; it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my career. I want to thank my family, my manager Ali Abdelaziz, my coaches, training partners, and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. Your belief in me has been my driving force.”
He further emphasized his ambitions, saying, “My ultimate goal is to become the UFC champion. I am fully committed and ready to work harder than ever to achieve this dream.”
The agreement comes after Pico`s contract with PFL technically expired, but the organization retained matching rights. Pico had previously indicated his willingness to wait out these rights to pursue his long-held aspiration of competing in the UFC.
Ultimately, PFL granted Pico his release, paving the way for him to sign with the UFC. His debut fight in the UFC is expected to be scheduled in the near future.
At 28 years old, Pico was considered a highly touted prospect in MMA, owing to his extensive background in wrestling and boxing from a young age. He initially signed with Bellator MMA as a teenager while still pursuing his wrestling goals, narrowly missing out on a spot in the 2016 Olympic team.
He transitioned to MMA but faced initial setbacks, including a loss in his debut fight.
Pico subsequently turned his career around, collaborating with renowned coaches Brandon Gibson and Greg Jackson. This led to a successful run of 9 wins and 1 loss in his last 10 bouts across Bellator and PFL. His sole defeat during this period was due to a shoulder injury sustained in a fight against Jeremy Kennedy, forcing him to stop after the first round.
He demonstrated resilience by recovering quickly and securing three subsequent victories, including a knockout win over Henry Corrales in early 2024, avenging an earlier defeat in his career.
Aaron Pico now joins the UFC roster with aspirations of rapidly climbing the featherweight rankings. The division is currently anticipating the crowning of a new champion at UFC 314.
