The prodigy is back.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight and former Bellator standout Aaron Pico is officially returning to his roots, set to compete at Real American Freestyle (RAF) 10 against former two-time PFL champion Lance Palmer on Sat., June 13, 2026, inside Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.
Long before Pico became
one of MMA’s most hyped prospects, he was a bona fide wrestling phenom. He began wrestling at just four years old and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the first American teenager in decades to win a Junior World Championship in freestyle wrestling. He also dominated the national circuit and came within a single point of making the 2016 Olympic team at only 19 years old — defeating seasoned, world-class veterans along the way.
To put his talent in perspective: Pico’s talent was so advanced that he famously bypassed the NCAA system altogether, with many believing his ceiling was firmly set on Olympic gold.
However, after falling just short in Olympic qualifying, Pico pivoted to MMA, where he built a reputation as one of the sport’s most explosive athletes.
Standing across from him is another all-time wrestling great
Palmer brings an elite wrestling resume of his own, compiling a 121–33 collegiate record, earning four NCAA Division I All-American honors, and capturing a Big Ten title. He also owns a notable win over Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs.
Palmer is currently 1-2 in RAF competition, with losses to Austin Gomez and Arman Tsarukyan, but rebounded in his most recent outing with a win over Cayden Henschel.
RAF heads to St. Louis after its upcoming RAF 09 event in Texas, headlined by Gable Steveson vs. Alexandr Romanov.
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