New times ahead for Pico.
Former Bellator standout-turned No. 14-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Aaron Pico returns to action against red-hot contender Losene Keita in the UFC 333 main card opener this weekend (Sat., Oct. 24, 2026) inside Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
For as long as Pico has competed in mixed martial arts (MMA), he has fought like a wild man.
The 30-year-old has essentially operated with a kill-or-be-killed mentality, relentlessly
hunting for an early finish — sometimes at the expense of his defense. UFC fans received the complete Aaron Pico experience in his promotional debut when he found plenty of success against Lerone Murphy before getting flattened by a spinning elbow (watch highlights).
Pico noticeably dialed back that all-out aggression in his second Octagon appearance against fellow Bellator veteran Patricio Pitbull. That more patient approach was not accidental.
“After my debut, I came in with the mindset that I wanted to have a beginner’s mentality,” Pico told reporters during UFC 333 media day. “I wanted to learn and gain experience.”
“When I say I needed to be humbled, it’s not about how I walked or carried myself — not that type of humble,” Pico continued. “I needed to humble myself in the way that I fought. I was fighting too out of control. When I went into a fight, the mindset was, ‘I just want to get this thing over with.’ I wanted to do what I had to do to get the win and go home.”
The adjustment paid off against Pitbull, with Pico securing his first UFC victory while displaying considerably more patience and control than he showed in his chaotic debut.
Now, Pico wants to continue building upon that performance instead of immediately turning every fight into a firefight.
“I’ve switched the mindset, and now I want to enjoy and cook the fight,” Pico said. “I want to add a little salt and a little pepper. I don’t have to just blast the heat and let it go.”
“Cook the fight, enjoy it, use all my skills and have fun,” Pico continued. “My mindset before was getting me in trouble, especially against higher-level competition, as you saw in my first fight.”
Keita represents another dangerous test for that newfound patience.
The explosive Belgian has the speed and power to punish Pico if he reverts to his old habits, but Pico possesses one of the most well-rounded skill sets in the Featherweight division when he remains disciplined.
There has never been much doubt about Pico’s physical tools. His decision-making inside the cage has always been the bigger concern.
If he has genuinely learned to “cook the fight,” the rest of the 145-pound division could be in serious trouble.
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