Bellator 295: Aaron Pico Seeking Dominant Win Following Shoulder Injury

‘I’m not taking this lightly.’

On the cusp of a featherweight title shot, Aaron Pico sustained a shoulder injury last October at Bellator 286. He dislocated his shoulder on his very first punch, and though he finished the round, he was not allowed to start the second. The bout ended via doctor stoppage, and was awarded to Jeremy Kennedy by TKO.

“On paper, he won,” says Pico (10–4). “We all know it wasn’t legit. A win is a win, but nobody in their right mind would say he outclassed me. I truly believe I would have won that fight with one arm, but the referee wouldn’t let me. I’ll see him again.”

Following the loss, Pico underwent shoulder surgery, a slight delay in his journey to gold. But there is no rush for the 26-year-old, who needs an impressive showing Saturday at Bellator 295. He matches up against James Gonzalez, a late replacement for Otto Rodrigues.

Pico’s postshoulder recovery was aided by his two horses, Corleone and Canelo, back on his ranch in Albuquerque.

“I was on Corleone two weeks after the surgery,” says Pico. “Once I was on the horse, people aren’t going to believe this, it felt like I was healed.

“Being around horses calms my mind. Anytime I’m on a horse, I’m a happy man. It brought me back to a really good place after the surgery.

“He is a really tough guy,” says Pico. “I need to stay disciplined, and I can’t get too greedy. So I’ll pick my shots and it will be onto the next one. But I’m not taking this lightly.

“He’s tough, and anything can happen in the fight game, but I’m in a good place. This shoulder injury is common for wrestlers. It needed to be fixed, and now I’m back stronger and ready to fight.”

Still underrated, Curtis Blaydes wants his title shot

All that stands between Curtis Blaydes and a shot at the heavyweight title is a bout against Sergei Pavlovich at tomorrow’s UFC Fight Night.

“This is a title eliminator in my mind,” says Blaydes. “That’s how I’m approaching this.”

Of course, this win is easier said than done. Pavlovich (17–1) won three fights in 2022, with a finish coming all three times in the first round (and twice in the opening minute). He enters on a five-fight win streak, and despite stating he plans to display patience, every indication points to him simply unloading on Blaydes at the start of the fight.

“I am ready for wherever the fight goes,” says Blaydes. “I have no expectations for where this fight will go. I’m prepared for everything and I’m going to do me.”

Blaydes (17–3, 1 NC) is a world-class fighter, but the jury is still out whether he is elite. His only defeats were suffered against Francis Ngannou (twice) and Derrick Lewis, where he entered a favorite but lost after eating a ferocious knockout blow.

For all of Blaydes’s success, his losses were against opponents with outrageous power. Pavlovich also fits that description. Yet Blaydes can strike and grapple, and stands beside heavyweight champ Jon Jones as the best wrestler in the division. A victory here should finally place him in discussions for a title bout.

“I’m still underrated,” says Blaydes. “If I was louder and more boisterous, I’d be overrated. I don’t mind being underrated. That’s fine with me.”

This bout is critical for Blaydes. A title shot may not be within this close of reach again, so he needs to seize the opportunity.

“If he comes at me like a bear, or holds off and there is more of a feeling-out process, either way, I’ll be ready,” says Blaydes. “If he sprints at me, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Upcoming slate for UFC features Belal Muhammad against Gilbert Burns

UFC president Dana White announced yesterday that a five-round pitting Belal Muhammad against Gilbert Burns will serve as the co-main event of UFC 288 in May, replacing the Charles Oliveira–Beneil Dariush that was postponed due to Oliveira’s injury.

This will be a welterweight bout, and it will likely have title ramifications. If Burns wins, he will have a victory at UFC 287 against Jorge Masvidal, then another at 288 against Muhammad. Given the circumstances and his willingness to fill in on short notice, it would appear that he would then be next in line for a shot against reigning champ Leon Edwards. If Muhammad wins at 288, he also has a strong case for the next title shot. His fight against Edwards in 2021 was stopped after he was unable to continue after getting poked in the eye, and he has not lost in his past nine fights. A win should put either man at the top of the contenders.

Where that leaves Colby Covington is another question. From the UFC’s perspective, the intrigue surrounding Covington was centered on a fight against Edwards this summer in London. Now that that possibility is dwindling, it opens up an opportunity for Burns and Muhammad.

The Pick ’Em Section:

UFC Fight Night heavyweight bout: Curtis Blaydes vs. Sergei Pavlovich

Pick: Sergei Pavlovich

UFC Fight Night lightweight bout: Jared Gordon vs. Bobby Green

Pick: Bobby Green

Bellator 294 women’s flyweight title bout: Liz Carmouche (c) vs. DeAnna Bennett

Pick: Liz Carmouche

Bellator 295 interim bantamweight title bout: Raufeon Stots (ic) vs. Patchy Mix

Pick: Raufeon Stots

Bellator 295 featherweight bout: Aaron Pico vs. James Gonzalez

Pick: Aaron Pico

Last week: 3–2

2023 record: 41–23

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.