Aaron Pico's Rocky Road to UFC 333: Missed Fights and a New Challenge
Aaron Pico faces Losene Keita at UFC 333, but his path to this fight was anything but smooth.
Initially, Pico was slated to fight Arnold Allen. However, Allen's injuries prevented the bout from happening. Keita is considered a significant challenge for Pico, potentially impacting his standing in the UFC featherweight rankings.
Aljamain Sterling, a former UFC bantamweight champion, was also a potential opponent for Pico. He revealed this himself in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, explaining that the fight with Sterling never materialized.
"It’s been a crazy few months," Pico stated. "I thought I was going to fight Aljamain Sterling. That fight didn’t happen. Then they offered me Arnold Allen, and I was really looking forward to it. He's ranked fifth, and it would have been a step up. But honestly, my current rank, whether it's 12th or 13th, doesn't concern me much."
"I'm not focused on rankings unless I'm the champion," Pico continued. "I don't shy away from fights to protect my rank. My goal is simply to improve and gain experience. Sitting around waiting for a ranked opponent isn't my plan. I want to fight, learn, and eventually become a champion. I accept any opponent the UFC offers."
Pico enters his Oct. 24 bout against Keita with a 1-1 record in the UFC. He suffered a knockout loss in his debut against Lerrone Murphy but later secured a unanimous decision win over Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.
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