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Aaron Pico has signed with the UFC. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Cooper Neill via Getty Images
Aaron Pico can finally call himself a UFC fighter. The 28-year-old featherweight finalized the long-rumored move on Tuesday, Uncrowned confirmed, inking an exclusive deal and marking the latest top Bellator talent to end up with the UFC following PFL's acquisition of the Bellator roster in late 2023.
Pico ultimately competed only once for PFL following the merger of the two brands, avenging a 2019 loss to Henry Corrales with a highlight-reel first-round knockout of the veteran at the PFL vs. Bellator event in February 2024. Pico has not fought since.
In February, Pico publicly announced his intentions to wait out PFL's contractual matching rights if he was unable to secure his way to the UFC following the conclusion of his Bellator/PFL deal.
A blue-chip talent who was once hailed as one of the greatest MMA prospects of all time, Pico (13-4) has been on a tear for the past half-decade following an up-and-down road early in his professional run. The California native has won nine of his past 10 bouts over that span, with his only loss coming in a 2022 battle against Jeremy Kennedy that ended prematurely between rounds due to a Pico shoulder injury.
UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly expressed public interest in Pico throughout 2025.
Pico now joins a UFC featherweight division already populated by another longtime Bellator stalwart, former two-division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull, who took a similar path of disgruntlement following PFL's acquisition of the Bellator roster. Pitbull makes his promotional debut this Saturday against former UFC interim champion Yair Rodriguez on the pay-per-view card of UFC 314.
A proven finisher with power in his hands and a decorated wrestling background to boot, Pico has finished nine of his 13 professional wins, including seven stoppages over his current 9-1 run since 2020.
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