Aaron Pico’s Stand for Freedom
Aaron Pico, a highly touted featherweight contender, is at a pivotal moment in his career. He has recently become a free agent after the expiration of his contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), but the promotion retains matching rights. This means Pico could sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)—his preferred destination—but the PFL could match the offer, forcing him back into their ranks. On Tuesday, PFL co-founder Donn Davis confirmed the organization’s intention to hold onto these matching rights, saying, "Love Aaron Pico, rising star fighter and great person. To be clear, PFL is not holding him back. Pico as a free agent can sign today with UFC and then PFL can decide whether to match the offer. That is the standard MMA contract Pico signed and how the MMA industry works.” Despite this, Pico is resolute in his decision to move on, willing to wait out a year to secure his freedom.
Pico’s Dedication and Resilience
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Pico made his stance unequivocally clear: “I will say this — I’m not fighting for the PFL. If I have to wait out a year to be free and clear, then I’ll do it. Honestly. I’m fine. Money’s good, but this is what I love to do. Thank God I have good investments, and everything is going well. I just want to fight. This is what I was born to do, when I was wrestling at 4 years old, I was pretty much a baby and I wrestled and then I boxed and this is what I’ve always wanted to do. I just want to show people that I’m the best fighter in the world.” Pico’s passion for the sport is palpable, and his willingness to forego immediate financial opportunities underscores his commitment to achieving his full potential in the UFC, where he believes the best competition and recognition await.
The Road to Free Agency
Pico’s journey to free agency has been fraught with challenges. His last appearance was in February 2024, where he secured a win over Henry Corrales in the PFL Champions Series card in Saudi Arabia. Following this victory, Pico met with Davis, who promised him a title shot against then-Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull in September. However, as the fight drew closer, Pico received no updates and was eventually informed that the match was off. He then agreed to fight Jesus Pinedo in Saudi Arabia on the Francis Ngannou card, only for this to be cancelled as well. A third attempt to face Jeremy Kennedy was also scrapped. Each time, Pico dedicated himself to the fight, only to be let down. “It’s just been three cancelled fights, and it’s very, very unfortunate because you don’t get paid for training camps. You put in long weeks and hours, and you don’t get a paycheck,” Pico lamented.
Contractual Disputes and Legal Concerns
The roots of Pico’s current predicament lie in the details of his contract. He signed a seven-fight deal over 30 months, but was only given five fights. In Pico’s view, this constitutes a breach of contract, and he has been trying to negotiate a full release from the PFL. “I want to let people know that I signed a seven-fight deal, 30 months, and it’s expired, and they only gave me five fights. In my eyes, and I believe it’s a breach of contract, but I just don’t want to go down that road and go to court and get held up in that. I think the most simple way is to just give me my full release without the matching clause and let me go,” Pico explained. The PFL’s decision to enforce the matching rights has left Pico in a difficult position, one that he finds frustrating and unjust.
UFC’s Interest and Pico’s Future
At 28, Pico is at the peak of his career, boasting a 9-1 record in his last 10 fights, with his only loss coming after a shoulder injury in 2022. The UFC, recognizing his talent and potential, has expressed interest in signing him. When asked about Pico, UFC CEO Dana White stated, “I definitely know the boys are interested in him.” Pico’s goal is to test himself against the best featherweights in the world, and he believes the UFC is the only platform that can provide this opportunity. He is prepared to wait out the remaining year on his PFL contract if necessary, but his hope is that the PFL will see the value in letting him go amicably. “I’m not here to badmouth the PFL or Donn Davis. That’s not what I’m here to do. I want PFL to succeed. I have friends that are in the PFL, I want them to do good and make money. I just don’t want to be part of the organization. It’s as simple as that,” Pico said.
A Waiting Game and Personal Commitment
For now, Pico remains in a holding pattern, continuing to train and maintain his focus on his ultimate goal. He is prepared to wait, hoping that the PFL will eventually release him without the need for a legal battle. “Just sounds like the ex-girlfriend that doesn’t want to let you go,” Pico remarked, drawing a poignant analogy to his situation. Despite the uncertainties, Pico remains committed to his craft, his family, and his dreams. “I did my time. I did everything that was asked of me, and it’s not like I just signed a contract and now I’m asking OK, I want out. I did what a man does, I honored it and I still had two fights left on my contract and I told them hey listen, I told Ali, let me get my fights in and we’ll do what we have to do but they were booked three times and they cancelled on me three times. That’s beyond my control. Like I said, I don’t want to go to court. I don’t want to have to do that because I feel that it’s a breach of contract, and let’s just do it the easy way and let me be a true free agent,” he concluded. Pico’s resolve and dedication to his future are evident, and he hopes that the PFL will recognize and respect his position.
