Aaron Pico Hopes Champ Volkanovski Keeps Underestimating Him

Chicago — Aaron Pico used to tell people he was an artist when asked what he did for a living, and if they got down to it, that he was a fighter. That would inevitably lead to questions of whether he was in the UFC, and since he wasn’t, whether he would make it there some day.

Now, he can finally say that yes, he’s a UFC fighter.

It’s been a long journey for Pico (13-4), who spent basically the entirety of his career with Bellator MMA, debuting at Madison Square Garden in a loss in 2017. He’d been scooped up by the Scott Coker-led promotion after a storied amateur wrestling career, while also building himself a reputation as a Junior Golden Gloves boxer.

“I haven’t had an easy road to get here. I really had to dig deep and ask myself, is this something I really wanted to do? And the answer was always yes. There was never an option to quit,” he said during the UFC 319 media day on Wednesday, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press.

“I always knew I was going to be in the UFC, I just didn’t know when.” Everything aligned from the beginning of his career to where he’s at now, Pico added. “I have a lot of work ahead of me, but mentally and physically, I’m ready for all of it.”

Pico makes his debut not against Movsar Evloev, as was originally planned for a July card in Abu Dhabi, but opposite the undefeated Lerone Murphy. On Murphy, Pico was complimentary. “What I think is he’s 16-0 for a reason. Undefeated in the UFC. He’s fought some really tough guys. My team and I have our work cut out for us Saturday. I’m not coming in here taking him lightly.”

“I’ve been on the big stage my whole career. I’m ready for this moment. I just have to do my job Saturday, and take care of business,” Pico later added.

Aaron Pico was long considered a title hopeful in Bellator, but the promotion sold to the PFL before he could get there. Now that he’s in the UFC, there’s already talk of him in a fight with featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. Who, as it turns out, claims he would “mop the floor” with Pico, in response to Pico saying he’d knock the champ out.

“Well, it would be five rounds, so I think I’m going to land a left hook or a right hand, so I can put him out,” responded Pico. “But I’m the new guy in this organization. I’m just going to be up front, and to have his attention, that’s a good thing. But I have to take care of Lerone Murphy, that’s all I’m focused on.” He’d continue by saying that “Volkanovski has it coming; he’s not an easy guy to fight, and I’m aware of that.” On the other hand, he added, “I look at who he’s fought as far as high-level wrestlers, he’s never fought a high-level wrestler like me.”

“Your time is coming,” he finished.

Nothing has exactly been said to Pico about a title fight with a win over Murphy. “No. The only thing is, go out there and do your job, and there may be big things ahead of you. That’s all I’ve been told, and that’s what I’m focused on.” Still, it wouldn’t be unheard of. Kai Asakura received an immediate title shot at flyweight upon entering the UFC from RIZIN last year. And Pico suggested he most certainly would not turn it down.

Plus, it’s “actually music to my ears to hear him say, ‘yeah I’ll mop the floor with you,’” he exclaimed. “Keep with that mindset, to be honest with you. Keep underestimating me.”

Watch the full UFC 319 media day appearance by debuting featherweight Aaron Pico above. The card takes place this Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, IL.