Rivalries: Aaron Pico

Miscast by many as a bust, Aaron Pico has started to fulfill his sky-high promise inside a Bellator MMA organization that continues to show unwavering faith in his ability.

The Jackson-Wink MMA product will draw his first assignment of 2022 when he confronts Adli Edwards as part of the Bellator 277 main card on Friday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Still just 25 years of age, Pico climbs into the cage with the wind of a five-fight winning streak at his back. He has delivered eight of his nine career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, five of them in the first round.

As Pico moves ever closer to his three-round battle with Edwards at 145 pounds, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped chart his course to this point:

Justin Gonzales

Pico overwhelmed the former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion with speed, athleticism, technique and sheer force of will, as he captured a unanimous decision in their three-round Bellator 271 featherweight showcase on Nov. 12, 2021 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26. Gonzales connected on occasion but spent the vast majority of his time playing defense. Pico unleashed lightning-quick body-head punching combinations and a few sneaky head kicks but did his best work with takedowns, scrambles and positional advances. The variety kept Gonzales guessing, and he often guessed wrong. Pico struck for multiple takedowns in all three rounds, sliced through the Dana White’s Contender Series alum’s guard and made everyone aware of the fact that he was the superior martial artist.

Adam Borics

The undefeated Hungarian became the latest fighter to use Pico as a steppingstone when he blew up the hyped prospect with a flying knee and follow-up punches in the second round of their Bellator 222 featherweight attraction on June 14, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The end came 3:55 into Round 2. Taken down and stifled for much of the first five minutes, Borics waded through considerable difficulty and sprang into action when the opportunity presented itself. The Sanford MMA managed to get to his feet, moved into open space and took flight. His knee impacted on Pico’s jaw and resulted in his collapsing downward. From there, the finish was a formality, as he was in no condition to withstand the burst of rapid-fire blows that followed.

Henry Corrales

The former King of the Cage champion wiped out Pico with punches in the first round of their Bellator 214 co-main event on Jan. 26, 2019 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. It took just 67 seconds. Corrales withstood a savage right uppercut from the hyped prospect, gathered himself under fire and lured his gifted but green adversary into close quarters. Punching out of the single collar tie, the Fight Ready export froze Pico with a blistering right hook and caught him with two more punches as he collapsed to the canvas. Referee Jason Herzog arrived on the scene moments later to prevent any further damage.

Leandro Higo

Quick, powerful punches carried Pico over what was at the time his most difficult hurdle to date when he disposed of the former Resurrection Fighting Alliance champion with punches in the first round of Bellator 206 featherweight feature on Sept. 29, 2018 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Higo bowed out 3:19 into Round 1. A thudding overhand right drove the Brazilian to the canvas and marked the beginning of the end for the longtime jiu-jitsu black belt, as Pico swarmed with an unyielding barrage of punches until the job was done. Higo, now three-plus years removed from the ill-fated encounter, has not lost in three appearances since.