Aaron Pico is now officially part of the UFC.
The highly-regarded featherweight fighter has been released from his PFL contract and has signed with the UFC, sources confirmed to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.
Pico himself announced the signing on Instagram.
“After years of intense work and dedication, I am thrilled to announce I have signed with the UFC!” Pico stated. “This is a dream come true and the start of an exciting new chapter. I want to thank my family, manager Ali Abdelaziz, coaches, training partners, and all my supporters. Your belief in me has been my motivation.”
“My ultimate goal is to become the UFC champion. I am committed to working harder than ever to achieve this.”
This agreement follows Pico becoming a free agent after his PFL contract ended, although PFL had the right to match any offers. Pico had previously mentioned his willingness to wait out this period to pursue his UFC ambition.
Ultimately, PFL allowed Pico to leave, clearing the way for him to join the UFC. His debut fight is expected to be scheduled soon.
The 28-year-old Pico was considered a top MMA prospect due to his wrestling and boxing background. He initially signed with Bellator MMA as a teenager while also aiming for the 2016 Olympic wrestling team, narrowly missing qualification.
He transitioned to MMA but faced initial setbacks, losing his debut fight.
Pico later improved significantly, training with coaches Brandon Gibson and Greg Jackson, achieving a 9-1 record in his last 10 fights across Bellator and PFL. His sole defeat was due to a shoulder injury against Jeremy Kennedy.
He rebounded with three consecutive wins, including a knockout victory over Henry Corrales in early 2024, avenging a previous loss.
Pico now enters the UFC featherweight division aiming for a rapid ascent, as the promotion prepares to crown a new champion at UFC 314 when Alexander Volkanovski faces Diego Lopes this Saturday.
