Aaron Pico has officially become a UFC fighter.
The featherweight contender was granted his release from PFL and has signed a contract to join the UFC roster. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed this news on Tuesday.
Pico later confirmed his signing in an Instagram post.
“After years of dedication and unwavering belief, I’ve officially signed with the UFC!” Pico stated. “This is more than a dream come true; it’s a new beginning. Thank you to my family, my manager Ali Abdelaziz, coaches, training partners, and everyone who has supported me. Your belief has fueled me.”
“The ultimate goal? To become the UFC champion. I’m ready to work harder than ever to achieve that.”
This agreement follows Pico being technically out of contract with PFL, though they retained matching rights. Pico had mentioned he was prepared to wait out these rights to pursue his UFC ambition.
Ultimately, PFL allowed Pico to leave, and he has now signed with the UFC. His debut fight is expected to be scheduled soon.
The 28-year-old fighter was considered a top prospect in MMA, coming from a wrestling and boxing background. Pico initially signed with Bellator MMA as a teenager but continued to pursue wrestling, narrowly missing the 2016 Olympic team.
He then transitioned to MMA, experiencing some initial setbacks with a loss in his debut fight.
Pico eventually turned things around, working with coaches Brandon Gibson and Greg Jackson, achieving a 9-1 record in his last 10 fights across Bellator and PFL. His only defeat was due to a shoulder injury in a fight against Jeremy Kennedy.
He rebounded from that loss with three subsequent wins, including a knockout victory over Henry Corrales in early 2024, avenging a previous loss.
Pico now joins the UFC roster aiming to quickly climb the featherweight rankings, as the promotion prepares to crown a new champion on Saturday when Alexander Volkanovski faces Diego Lopes at UFC 314.
