Ali Abdelaziz won’t allow Aaron Pico to compete again in 2025.
Pico (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was knocked out by a Lerone Murphy spinning back elbow in his octagon debut less than two weeks ago at UFC 319 at United Center in Chicago.
Despite the setback, Abdelaziz has full confidence that his client will eventually realize his potential.
“He’s doing good. He’s very positive,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio of Pico. “This can happen to the best of them. It’s a game of inches. It can happen to everyone. But one of the things I know about Aaron, he’s been there before many times, and he always came back on top. I have no doubt in my mind he will come back. He will fight for a championship one day. I have no doubt he will fight for a UFC belt one day.”
However, don’t expect that return to come anytime soon. Abdelaziz finds it mandatory for his client to take some time off after getting stopped like that.
“I have rules, man,” Abdelaziz said. “When guys get knocked out like that, I’m not going to book him a fight for at least six months. After six months, he can fight. But (he needs to take off) at least six months. It’s not healthy for a fighter to go out like that and just try to come back early.
“We see it over and over happen to many guys, and it doesn’t work like (it did for Alexander Volkanovski). It doesn’t work good for them when the guys come back this early. They say health is the most important, and he’ll be back. I’m not worried about it, honestly. He’s good. His health is good.”
