Aaron Pico says he will be in championship form at UFC 333, prepared for any last-minute changes.
Since returning to the win column with a decision win over Patricio Freire at UFC 327, Pico (14-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) thought a former champion would be his next assignment. However, the UFC matched him up with fellow contender Arnold Allen at UFC 333, which takes place Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately, Allen suffered an injury, making way for Losene Keita to step in.
For Pico, it's all about rolling with the punches and being ready for whatever may come his way inside and out of the cage.
"It's been a crazy few months, because I thought I was going to fight Aljamain Sterling," Pico told MMA Junkie Radio. "That's the fight that I thought I was going to get,
but that didn't go through. So, they told me I was fighting Arnold Allen, and I was really excited. I mean, he's No. 5, and it's one step closer up the rankings, but it doesn't really matter to me to be quite honest with you. What am I even ranked right now, 12 or 13? To be honest with you, I don't even know.
"If I'm not champion, I'm not really focused on that. I'm not really one of those guys that's like, 'Well, I need to protect my ranking and not fight, or I need to fight this guy.' All that matters to me is to get better, and sitting around and waiting for a ranked guy is not in my agenda. I just want to fight, get experience, and ultimately become a champion. So, whoever they have, I say yes, and I fight."
Keita (17-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) brings a powerful striking style, which is a contrast to the other fighters he was initially expecting to face. While Pico can't control who he ends up sharing the octagon with, he can ensure that his toolbag is full so he can handle whatever challenger awaits.
"The obvious is he's a power puncher, swings really, really hard, and he's very, very good," Pico said. "He's a dangerous opponent, but part of being a world champion, you have to be able to take on guys that have a different arsenal. Sometimes you're gonna fight grapplers, and you gotta be able to adjust your style and being OK with fighting a grappler. You may fight a tricky muay Thai guy or a boxer-heavy fighter like him.
"Part of getting to that level of mastery like a (Alexander) Volkanovski, a Islam Makhachev, is just fighting all different styles, and one day you just want to be able to go in the cage and say, 'OK, I'm fighting a guy that's a heavy puncher. No problem. I can bring out my playbook, I know what works for me.' That's what I'm striving to get to, that level, and he's just a part of my journey, and we gotta take him out."
Pico stepped onto the scene as a highly touted prospect when he debuted in Bellator. He's had his share of ups and downs over the years, and yet he finds himself among the top 15 in the UFC's featherweight division. At 30, Pico feels his best years are approaching, and aims to make the most of his upcoming opportunities as he makes a run toward the title. That includes weighing in on championship weight at UFC 333 if something were to happen with the matchup in the main event between champ Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Movsar Evloev.
"Yeah, for sure. I want to be championship weight in case anything happens. My last fight, I weighed in at 145. So, we'll just keep it going."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Aaron Pico embracing UFC 333 changes as he eyes championship opportunity
