Pico Reveals Ideal UFC Opponents After Keita KO

Aaron Pico wants a ranked opponent after knocking out Losene Keita at UFC 333, but the featherweight contender is not planning to wait around if the UFC has other ideas.

Pico told MMA Fighting that he would welcome a shot at either Aljamain Sterling or Lerone Murphy — the latter of whom knocked him out in his UFC debut — but rankings are not his focus. When asked who he hoped to face next, Pico named anyone ahead of him in the division, calling out Sterling's upcoming bout and the possibility of facing that fight's winner. He also mentioned a rematch with Murphy, saying he fought poorly in their first meeting and believes Murphy got lucky.

Pico's All-Comers Mindset After UFC 333

Still, the former Bellator fighter made clear he is not interested in cherry-picking matchups. Pico was originally slated to face ranked contender Arnold Allen before drawing Keita, a newcomer with just two UFC appearances. He took the fight anyway and delivered a first-round finish. That willingness to accept tough stylistic matchups, regardless of ranking implications, drives his approach to booking.

Pico said he does not pay much attention to where opponents sit in the standings and told MMA Fighting he wants to look back from his ranch at age 60 and know he fought whoever the promotion put in front of him. He acknowledged some fighters avoid opponents ranked below them, but added that he truly does not care about those calculations. His manager handles most of the negotiation, and Pico sees himself as a beginner still learning against the best competition available.

The 27-year-old admitted he gets nervous heading into camps and knows fighting elite opposition carries risk, but said he is comfortable with that reality. He believes the title will come sooner if he maintains that mindset rather than waiting for the perfect stylistic matchup.

Pico is 2-1 in the UFC and has not indicated a preferred timeline for his next fight.

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• MMA Fighting — Aaron Pico reveals ideal next opponents but admits ‘I really don’t give a sh*t’ who UFC gives me