Aaron Pico is considered one of the potential best prospects in mixed martial arts and the American Kickboxing Academy product has signed a long-term promotional contract with Bellator.
The signing was announced by Bellator MMA President Scott Coker during the Bellator 131 broadcast on Saturday night.
“Simply put, Aaron has all the makings of MMA’s next great superstar, and to have him here at Bellator is something special,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “Like many of us in the MMA community, Aaron is someone we’ve been watching closely over the last few years, and after sitting down with Bob Cook and his team, getting a chance to meet Aaron, and hearing his long-term aspirations, the fit became very obvious. I’m not only excited to see what Aaron is going to be able to do in our cage, but also watching him represent our country in 2016 at the Olympics.”
Pico is 18-years old and has already captured a FILA World Championship along with prestigious national titles in boxing and pankration. He is currently preparing for a 2016 United States Olympic run in wrestling, he is happy to be a part of the Bellator organization.
“When it comes to any big decision I make, I sit down with my family, my management team at Zinkin and the people that are around me that I trust,” Pico said. “We wanted an opportunity to achieve my dreams in the 2016 Olympics and transition into MMA, and when we sat down with Bellator, Viacom and Scott Coker, everything just sort of fell into place and I couldn’t be happier to be here and be a part of the Bellator family.”
When Pico makes his Bellator debut at an undetermined date, it’s expected that he will compete in the Bellator featherweight division.