Aaron Pico`s eagerly awaited UFC debut, initially set for July, has been postponed following an unexpected turn of events. The promising fighter won`t be stepping into the octagon as scheduled.
On Thursday, the former Bellator standout officially confirmed the circulating rumors: Movsar Evloev has withdrawn from their featherweight clash at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26. This news is a significant disappointment, as their five-round co-main event was anticipated to be a major highlight of the card. The bout`s delay is now confirmed.
Despite the setback, Pico quickly hinted at a potential rebooking of the fight against Evloev. He suggested that their bout could instead take place at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16. That card is already generating buzz, featuring a middleweight championship showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Expressing his strong displeasure on Instagram, Pico stated:
“Not going to sugarcoat it. I’m pretty disappointed you pulled out of this one. I get that things happen, and I truly hope whatever’s going on, you recover quickly.”
Pico didn`t stop there, emphasizing his significant investment and readiness to compete, while directly challenging Evloev:
“That said, my camps aren’t cheap, and I’m ready to get in there and put on a show sooner rather than later. I understand there’s an opening for us on August 16th in Chicago. We don’t get promotions for calling in sick. I’ll see you in Chicago, Movsar Evloev.”
As of now, the UFC has remained silent on the situation. They have not officially commented on the withdrawal, nor have they confirmed any plans to rebook Pico and Evloev for the Chicago event. Similarly, Movsar Evloev himself has yet to acknowledge his withdrawal from the card or provide any explanation for his inability to compete against Pico.
Pico is understandably anxious for an official update, holding onto the hope that he can still face Evloev in his highly publicized UFC debut, a significant milestone after signing with the promotion as a free agent.
The 28-year-old fighter is widely acclaimed as one of the most promising talents to transition into mixed martial arts, thanks to his extensive and decorated background in both wrestling and boxing from his youth. Pico is currently riding an impressive three-fight winning streak, with his two most recent victories coming by knockout. He boasts an outstanding 9-1 record in his last ten professional fights, with his sole loss in that period occurring in 2022 against Jeremy Kennedy due to a shoulder injury that forced a stoppage.
Movsar Evloev, on the other hand, is widely considered a top contender in the featherweight division, maintaining an unblemished professional record. His impressive resume includes notable victories over formidable opponents such as Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Despite reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski having expressed interest in a title fight against Evloev, the promotion ultimately chose to book him against Pico instead, highlighting the significance of this matchup.
Uncertainty now looms over the highly anticipated clash. It remains unclear how quickly the UFC will move to rebook Pico vs. Evloev for a new date, or if the matchup will unfortunately be scrapped altogether following its removal from the Abu Dhabi card.
