The UFC has added another former Bellator MMA star to its roster.
During the same week Bellator legend Patricio “Pitbull” Freire is set to make his debut at UFC 314, fellow featherweight Aaron Pico announced he has joined the biggest mixed martial arts organization in the sport.
“After years of hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief, I’ve officially signed with the UFC!” Pico wrote on social media Tuesday night. “This is more than just a dream come true; it’s the beginning of a new chapter. … The ultimate goal? To become the UFC champion. I’m ready to work harder than ever before to make that a reality.”
The 28-year-old standout signed with the UFC after parting ways with the Professional Fighters League, the organization that acquired and enveloped Bellator in 2023.
Pico is 13-4, with all his pro bouts coming as a Bellator fighter. He has fought only once in the past 18 months and was one of the fighters openly asking to be granted his release by the PFL.
The Whittier, Calif., native entered MMA as a blue-chip prospect in 2017 following a credentialled amateur wrestling career, however, he lost his first pro bout as a lightweight before making the move down to featherweight.
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Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes compete for the vacant featherweight title and Michael Chandler faces Paddy Pimblett in a five-round co-main event. Watch UFC 314 on Saturday, April 12 with prelim coverage beginning 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
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Back-to-back knockout losses to Henry Corales and Adam Borics in 2019 slowed Pico’s progression, but he has gone 9-1 since then, with his lone loss being due to a shoulder injury.
It’s unclear when Pico’s UFC debut will happen and against whom. However, it’s clear the UFC must think highly of Pico because the fighter told MMAJunkie the UFC initially proposed a May bout with Movsar Evloev for his debut.
Evloev is 19-0 in MMA, 9-0 in the UFC, and the No. 4-ranked contender at 145 pounds with wins over Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling and Arnold Allen among others.
Pico added the Evloev matchup isn’t happening but that he’s interested in potential matchups with Sterling or two-time title challenger Brian Ortega.
