Aaron Pico is set to join the greatest mixed martial arts promotion on the planet.
Aaron Pico makes Jump To UFC
Following a successful run in Bellator, where he picked up a 13-4 professional record with seven first round finishes, Aaron Pico is gearing up for a monumental debut in the UFC (reported first by ESPN).
Aaron Pico has officially signed a contract with the UFC, per his manager @AliAbdelaziz00. Huge addition to 145!
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 8, 2025
Considered to have been one of the now defunct promotion’s top blue chip fighters, Aaron Pico’s addition to the roster has been met with widespread fanfare. Taking to Instagram, the 28-year old made it official that he was now a UFC athlete, making it clear that his eyes are firmly set on becoming champion.
“After years of hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief, I’ve officially signed with the UFC!,” Aaron Pico began. “This is more than just a dream come true; it’s the beginning of a new chapter. Thank you to my family, my manager Ali Abdelaziz, coaches, training partners, and everyone who has supported me on this journey. Your belief in me has fueled my fire. The ultimate goal? To become the UFC champion. I’m ready to work harder than ever before to make that a reality. “
Aaron Pico: The Bellator Years
Before he even stepped foot into a cage, Aaron Pico was already a highly-vaunted prospect in MMA. Prior to signing with Bellator, the California native had racked up a decorated background in various other combat sports such as wrestling and boxing, achieving numerous accolades in both. Skipping the amateur ranks entirely, Pico made his professional debut at Bellator 180 in 2017, where he lost in 24 seconds to Zach Freeman by submission.
Learning from the mistakes in his freshman outing, he quickly built up a four-fight winning streak before suffering two back-to-back defeats to Henry Corrales and Ádám Borics. From here, Aaron Pico began to develop into a dominant force in the organization, as by the time Bellator had ceased operations, he had won nine out of his next ten bouts, including a first- round stoppage over Corrales in a rematch.
Aaron Pico vs, Movsar Evloev Tilt Not Happening for Pico’s UFC Debut
Ahead of his first walk to the Octagon, rumors began to circulate that Aaron Pico was reportedly being targeted for a showdown with the undefeated Movsar Evloev in May. However, those rumors have been put to rest, as Pico has confirmed (per MMA Junkie) that he will not be fighting the ranked Russian, though he does appreciate the UFC offering him a reputable opponent like Evloev for his debut match.
https://twitter.com/MMAJunkie/status/1909795653775135005
“It’s not happening, but it was a good sign they were entertaining that idea of fighting a guy so highly ranked,” Aaron Pico posted.
