Aaron Pico is formally a UFC fighter.
The featherweight contender secured his launch from the PFL and signed a deal to affix the roster on the UFC. Sources near the scenario confirmed the information to MMA Preventing on Tuesday.
Pico later confirmed his signing with a submit on Instagram.
“After years of exhausting work, dedication, and unwavering perception, I’ve formally signed with the UFC!” Pico wrote. “That is greater than only a dream come true; it’s the start of a brand new chapter. Thanks to my household, my supervisor Ali Abdelaziz, coaches, coaching companions, and everybody who has supported me on this journey. Your perception in me has fueled my hearth.
“The final word objective? To develop into the UFC champion. I’m able to work more durable than ever earlier than to make {that a} actuality.”
The deal comes collectively after Pico was technically out of contract with the PFL however the promotion nonetheless maintained matching rights. Pico later advised MMA Preventing that he planned to sit and wait out those matching rights if that’s what it took for him to lastly be capable to pursue his dream to compete within the UFC.
In the end, PFL let Pico go and he’s now signed with the UFC along with his debut battle anticipated to be booked within the close to future.
The 28-year-old fighter was one of many prime prospects to ever transition to MMA after he grew up with each a wrestling and boxing background. Pico signed with Bellator MMA whereas he was nonetheless a teen however continued pursuing his wrestling goals earlier than finally developing simply brief from making the 2016 Olympic workforce.
He lastly made his transfer into MMA however confronted some early struggles after struggling a loss in his debut battle.
Pico finally turned issues round and teamed up with coaches like Brandon Gibson and Greg Jackson earlier than he went on a 9-1 run in his closing 10 fights between Bellator and PFL. His solely loss got here after Pico suffered a freak shoulder harm in a battle towards Jeremy Kennedy that prevented him from persevering with previous the opening spherical.
He shortly bounced again from that battle with three extra wins together with a knockout over Henry Corrales in early 2024, which helped him avenge an earlier loss in his profession.
Pico now joins the UFC roster with hopes to make a quick stand up the featherweight ranks with the promotion about to crown a brand new champion on Saturday when Alexander Volkanovski faces Diego Lopes within the UFC 314 essential occasion.
