Highly regarded mixed martial artist Aaron Pico has officially signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Pico, previously a prominent fighter in Bellator and most recently PFL, has been actively seeking a release from PFL to compete in the UFC. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz from Dominance MMA, confirmed on Tuesday that Pico has successfully reached an agreement with the UFC.
In a statement shared on social media, Pico expressed his excitement: “After years of dedicated training and unwavering determination, I am thrilled to announce my signing with the UFC! This marks a significant milestone and the start of an exciting new chapter. I am grateful for the support of my family, manager Ali Abdelaziz, coaches, training partners, and fans who have been with me on this journey. My ultimate ambition is to become a UFC champion, and I am committed to working harder than ever to achieve that goal.”
At 28 years old, Pico has been recognized as a prodigy in combat sports for many years. Even before his professional MMA debut in 2017, he had established an impressive background in wrestling, including national and international accolades, as well as championships in Golden Gloves boxing and PAL.
His MMA debut was met with an unexpected quick submission loss. However, Pico demonstrated resilience, securing four consecutive knockout victories before another setback against Henry Corrales. A subsequent loss to Adam Borics presented further challenges.
Following the loss to Borics, Pico experienced a turning point in his career. He achieved victory in nine out of his subsequent ten fights, with his only defeat resulting from a shoulder injury in a bout against Jeremy Kennedy.
Pico enters the UFC on a strong three-fight win streak, including wins against James Gonzalez, Pedro Carvalho, and Henry Corrales. He is expected to be a significant addition to the 145-pound featherweight division. The date of his UFC debut is yet to be announced. Pico last competed in February 2024, securing a TKO victory over Corrales, and has fought professionally only twice in the last two years.
