Pico Advises Steveson After UFC 331 Knockout

Aaron Pico has offered Gable Steveson a blueprint for bouncing back from a brutal knockout loss.

Steveson suffered a stunning upset at UFC 331 when Sean Sharaf knocked him out cold, derailing the Olympic gold medalist's UFC run before it could truly start. Pico, who absorbed a similar setback early in his own career, shared what worked for him in the aftermath.

Pico's Recovery Plan After His Own Knockout

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it: It sucks big time," Pico told MMA Junkie Radio. He recalled his own knockout on a Khamzat Chimaev card, fighting co-main event in the UFC. His response was to step away for a few months, travel with family, and do some soul-searching about whether he wanted to continue fighting. The answer came back yes, and he returned to the gym.

Pico emphasized the importance of blocking out outside noise and having honest conversations with people who care. "There's one person on the planet that's going to really tell you what you need to hear, and that's your dad," he said, per BJPenn.com. Those tough talks with his father helped him identify what was missing from his game.

The Bellator prospect acknowledged that social media and constant scrutiny make modern fight losses harder to digest than they used to be. But his advice to Steveson remains straightforward: get back in the work room and figure out what needs fixing.

Steveson trains with the same coaches as Pico, though the two fighters do not know each other well. No timeline has been announced for Steveson's return to the octagon.

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• BJPenn — Aaron Pico gives Gable Steveson some advice following knockout loss