Sports

Aaron Pico Joins UFC, Set for Explosive Featherweight Debut

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2025

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Featherweight Aaron Pico has officially signed an exclusive deal with the UFC, marking a significant career shift after a decade with Bellator MMA. Pico’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, confirmed the news to ESPN on Tuesday, though a debut date remains unannounced.

Pico, 28, leaves Bellator with a professional record of 13 wins and 4 losses. Known for his impressive background in wrestling and boxing, Pico’s early career in mixed martial arts was challenging, with a 4-3 record in his first seven fights against experienced opponents. However, he rebounded with a strong performance history, winning nine of his last ten bouts and nearly securing a title fight before Bellator’s operations ceased this year.

UFC CEO Dana White expressed interest in signing Pico earlier this year, highlighting his potential as a top fighter in the sport. “Aaron is one of the best fighters outside of our promotion; we knew we had to bring him in,” White said.

With an impressive nine of his thirteen victories coming via knockout, Pico is poised to dive into the competitive waters of the UFC’s featherweight division. He is expected to face undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in his debut, further intensifying the excitement around the matchup.

Pico gained notoriety as a highly touted prospect ahead of his professional debut at Bellator NYC in 2017, where he faced Zach Freeman and suffered a quick submission loss in just 24 seconds. This setback prompted a string of four consecutive first-round stoppages, but he faced a setback again after facing tougher competition like Henry Corrales and Ádám Borics.

A six-fight win streak was halted by injury in a 2020 bout against Jeremy Kennedy, but Pico made a comeback, securing victories against notable Bellator fighters James Gonzalez and Pedro Carvalho before avenging his previous loss to Corrales with a first-round finish last February.

The announcement of Pico’s UFC debut on May 17 coincides with buzz around UFC 314, where Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will compete for the vacant featherweight title. The anticipation surrounding Pico’s matchup with Evloev has grown, especially after Evloev’s recent victory over former Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling.

If Evloev can defeat Pico in the upcoming event, it could open the door for him to challenge for the UFC title, solidifying his standing within the featherweight ranks.

The fight card for the May 17 event is shaping up with exciting matchups, including: