Aaron Pico

Pico rebounded from his UFC debut loss by turning in a disciplined, high-level decision over Patrício Pitbull at UFC 327. Pitbull had a few early counters and leg kicks, but Pico settled in quickly, mixed sharp boxing with takedowns, and pulled away over the final two rounds for his first UFC win.

Key moments

• Recovered after Pitbull's early counter left hand and leg kicks interrupted his opening pressure.
• Found a cleaner rhythm with combinations and takedowns as the fight moved into the second half.
• Won by unanimous decision on scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for his first Octagon victory.

Pico's UFC debut ended abruptly when Lerone Murphy knocked him out with a spinning back elbow late in the opening round. Pico had encouraging stretches with body work and takedowns, but one defensive lapse in open space changed the fight immediately.

Key moments

• Started well enough to land body shots and force wrestling exchanges in his promotional debut.
• Murphy stayed poised and capitalized when Pico overcommitted in the striking phase.
• The fight ended at 3:21 of round one when Murphy landed the spinning back elbow clean.

Pico avenged an earlier knockout loss to Corrales by controlling the rematch with pressure, takedowns and cleaner striking before the late stoppage. Corrales kept getting back to his feet early, but Pico stayed on him, mixed in jabs and low kicks, and eventually broke him down against the fence.

Key moments

• Opened the fight by pressing forward and forcing Corrales to work back up from takedown attempts.
• Shifted from wrestling-heavy control to sharper boxing and low kicks as the round developed.
• Closed the rematch with punches at 4:53 of round one to avenge the 2019 loss.

Pico overwhelmed Carvalho in Dublin by immediately turning the fight into a pressure-and-wrestling problem. He forced multiple body-lock takedowns, kept Carvalho pinned near the fence, and finished the job with punches before the first round expired.

Key moments

• Drove Carvalho to the cage and landed a body-lock takedown within the opening half-minute.
• Repeated the takedown and clinch-control sequence after Carvalho worked back to his feet.
• Scored the stoppage at 3:05 of round one after sustained pressure and follow-up punches.

Pico returned from the Jeremy Kennedy shoulder-injury loss and banked a clean three-round decision over short-notice replacement James Gonzalez at Bellator 295. It was not his most dramatic win, but it did prove he could come back healthy, handle 15 minutes, and control a fight from start to finish.

Key moments

• Fought a short-notice replacement after the original Bellator 295 booking changed late.
• Won every round on all three judges' cards, sweeping the fight 30-27 across the board.
• Used the bout as a successful return from the injury loss to Jeremy Kennedy.

Hatley was finished quickly when Pico locked up a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Key moments

• Won by rear-naked choke in round one.
• The submission came at 2:10 of the opening frame.
• Added another inside-the-distance win during his 2020 resurgence.

Corrales shocked Pico by stopping him with punches just over a minute into the first round.

Key moments

• Lost by first-round knockout.
• The fight ended at 1:07 of the opening round.
• Marked the first knockout setback after a string of Bellator wins.

Pico overwhelmed Higo with first-round pressure and punches, earning another stoppage against a respected Bellator name. Beating a more established opponent that decisively added real weight to the hype around him.

Key moments

• Won by first-round TKO.
• The stoppage came at 3:19 of round one.
• Added a notable Bellator name to his early win column.

Morrison lasted little more than a minute before Pico stopped him with punches in another rapid Bellator win.

Key moments

• Won by first-round TKO.
• The finish came at 1:10 of the opening frame.
• Continued his stretch of quick Bellator stoppages.

Pico secured his first professional win by knocking Linn out in the opening round at Bellator 183. It was an immediate corrective performance after the debut loss to Freeman and showed why Bellator had invested so much attention in him.

Key moments

• Won by first-round knockout.
• The finish came at 3:45 of round one.
• Recorded his first pro victory in his second Bellator appearance.