I was the number one ranked boxer and wrestler growing up in Chicago. I won a Chicago Park District title as well as taking fifth in the Illinois College wrestling open in Champaign as a frosh at NU. Pico was a National Golden Gloves champ! Very hard to do,as well as almost making the Olympic team. Kid has all the tools and I think he will do much better than most think. Likely title contender in two years.
Pico in MMA? How will he do?
- Thread starter Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan
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They just released his first matchup. He'll be fighting on the main card at Bellator against an opponent with an 8-2 pro record. Based on this kind of match up for a first bout, I think Bellator is pretty confident in the kid. He's on the fast track for a title shot. I haven't ordered a pay per view mma for several years (Jon Jones v Cormier) but I think I'll be getting this one.
Nice video! His long arms will help in MMA! He would smoke Darrione Caldwell! I think he would beat Green this weekend also.
I read an article one time where a respected MMA analyst called him the best prospect he has ever seen.
Bellatore isn't big enough to have pay per views so lucky for you you it'll be on spike
Huh?
Yes they do.
No it won't be on Spike. Wrong!!! Looks like Pico fights in the prelims on Spike. I was guessing they would use him to up the ppv numbers but apparently exposure of the new phenom took president.
I do find it interesting that Pico signed (early?) with Bellator.
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I hate admitting I'm wrong but in this instance I am but it looks like this is the company's first pay per view as all their events have usually been on tv. Yes @el dub he did sign early. Bellator had an amazing run at the top wrestlers in the US the last year or so. Still as I'm sure you all know their overall talent doesn't match up to the UFC
Not the company's first pay per view. They had one with Muhammad Lawal vs Rampage Jackson as the main event. As for Pico, he has alot of the tools necessary to be an excellent MMA fighter. However, we have no idea how good his jiu-jitsu is or if he has anything in the standup besides punches and I imagine he'll be a stud. But until we actually see him in the cage in action, we can only speculate.
MMA is crazy and there are so many ways for a fight to end that it's nearly impossible to predict even the biggest "squash" matches.
MMA is crazy and there are so many ways for a fight to end that it's nearly impossible to predict even the biggest "squash" matches.
Why is jui jitsu important? If you can outwrestle em,just choke em out! I imagine their are a few elbow holds,but not too much
LOL Those chokes are taught in jui-jitsu class, not wrestling practice.
Elbow holds?
Wrestling is a great base for any MMA fighter but even a world champion wrestler will need to become proficient in jiu jitsu, even if only to defend himself. An entry level jiu jitsu competitor will very often force a submission on an AA level wrestler with no jiu jitsu experience.
Have watched this scenario take place many times. In the early days of MMA the Brazilian jiu jitsu guys dominated the sport. After some years and several generations of fighters later American wrestlers are now the dominant foundation of many of the top fighters.
To be successful, MMA fighters need to be proficient in multiple disciplines (wrestling, jiu jitsu, kick boxing, karate, etc) to have a reasonable shot at reaching the top levels of the sport.
The good news for wrestlers is that their learning curve to become proficient in jiu jitsu is much shorter than for a jiu jitsu practitioner to learn wrestling. As a result most top MMA training centers have hired former AA wrestlers to teach wrestling skills. Prior to becoming a coach at UNC Kenny Monday was coaching at one of the top MMA teams. Mocco is currently coaching wrestling at another top MMA team in Florida.
Could not have said it any better. I was a slightly above average wrestler through high school, wrestled since 5yo and I picked up Jiu-Jitsu VERY quickly due in large part to my wrestling base. I was however, very obsessed with submission grappling and that's where some wrestlers/boxers are more stubborn, as most people don't like going through the process of getting tapped 30× a day in training.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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I'm very excited to see Aaron Pico compete in MMA. He's an absolute beast, and was the most exciting wrestler at the olympic trials, as well as the overall fan favorite. The trials were in IC, but Pico was getting the loudest cheers out of any non Hawkeye.
He has a great mentality and is very level headed considering how young he is. Even in his loss at the trials, he showed great maturity and sportsmanship. It's amazing to me that he's been training like a professional athlete since before he even started high school. Yet he shows no signs of burn out. He was on the recent MMA hour podcast hosted by Ariel Helwani, and it sounds like he had a great family life and experience growing up. Seems like a really well rounded person.
Goodluck to him!
He has a great mentality and is very level headed considering how young he is. Even in his loss at the trials, he showed great maturity and sportsmanship. It's amazing to me that he's been training like a professional athlete since before he even started high school. Yet he shows no signs of burn out. He was on the recent MMA hour podcast hosted by Ariel Helwani, and it sounds like he had a great family life and experience growing up. Seems like a really well rounded person.
Goodluck to him!
One thing we know, he can wrestle, I'm guessing he will be on top most of his bouts. No one can match his wrestling skills.
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One thing people need to understand is that there is a HUGE difference between folk/free/greco wrestling and MMA wrestling. I can't emphasize the difference enough...
What needs to be emphasized about Pico, he is just not a wrestler you just labeled. Right? Gracie style MMA is not what it was back years ago. Here is what you need to know- Pico is not going to give his arms up and have them extended. He is not going to be over extended.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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Wtf you talking about. There have been a ton of highly successful folk/free/greco wrestlers in MMA. It translates very well. You're right that there is some difference, but it's not hard for a high level folkstyle/freestyle wrestler to adapt their style to work in MMA. Look at Yoel Romero, Daniel Cormier, Ben Askren, Tito Ortiz, Chael Sonnen, Cain Velasquez, Jon Jones, King Mo, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Pico isn't going to have any issue with the wrestling side of MMA.
Pico will be the greatest mma fighter of all time. He was built and made for this sport. He will get better each time out, and once you see him next month you will understand. That is down right scary...Trust me
You may be right. Physically I am not so sure he is there now, but if he isn't, I am sure he can get there( keep in mind he is still a very young man). Technique he can definitely learn what he doesn't know now. Natural mat skills that some guys never learn, well he already has them, in spades.
What we don't know is how he will handle that first big punch or kick to the head. Or more over, the second and third blow to the head etc.
I know I had a BLAST watching him at the Olympic trials and I'm sure in this as well
Johnny Hendricks was thoroughly outwrestled in his fight with Rick Story. GSP never wrestled in high school or college and outwrestled Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Matt Hughes, etc. Amateur wrestling doesn't always translate to MMA wrestling. And Yoel Romero has been taked down numerous times in fights, Derek Brunson alone took him down 4 times I believe. DC has been taken down by Rumble Johnson and Alexander Gustafson. It very much depends on your style of wrestling as well. Some guy that has great par ter and not much else is going to struggle. Greco guys usually have a little more adaptability as they are used to looking for the clinch, tie-ups, over-unders, etc.
I am in NO way saying that Pico will not be successful. However, we should probably wait until after his first fight to anoint him the GOAT.
Any of them Golden Glove champs? Any of them fight MMA style before they were a state champ in high school? I think Pico did it over seas.
NO, we shouldn't probably wait. I will bet you 1K Pico wins. Put your money down.I'm not really meaning a bet, but PM m$
Fight MMA style??? Anyhow, there are no sanctioned bouts on his record. I don't care how many "smoker" fights he's done in the gym. And yes, the Golden Gloves on top of his outstanding wrestling are a great base, but he has never FOUGHT in front of a giant crowd on PPV. He's never fought MMA "live". There's plenty of fighters who are killers in the gym, but can't apply it in their actual fights for whatever reason(s). I don't bet on anything, you should just send that 1000 to HWC if you feel so inclined.
I myself am a Professional Mixed Martial Artist with a 3-0 record with 3 first round submissions. I understand as well as anyone what Pico is capable of, it doesn't however mean that he will meet that potential. Hell, he could surpass what we believe he's capable of, but until we ACTUALLY see him compete in the cage I will reserve my judgement.
No shit, no one truly knows, but until he fights all we can go by is his potential. Fights are hyped by the potential, not by the ACTUAL results. When/if you get a title fight, should we not be excited that an Iowa dude may win, or do we have to wait until after the fight to be excited?
Pico has boxed as long as he has wrestled. He can throw hands pretty well and I'm sure he has taken some punches over the years.
I agree.
Pico might have more technical striking and grappling skills than most MMA fighters, even with with 0 professional bouts. I'm guessing he'll dominate guys in the transition game. (Btw, the kid has been eating punches for breakfast all of his life.)
That said, I'm curious to see his kicking ability and ground game.
Never said anyone couldn't or shouldn't be excited for his debut, but that's what it is. His debut. He is unproven in the cage yet. That's basically the only point I'm trying to make. Golden Gloves, HIGH level wrestler, trains at a great academy(American Kickboxing Academy) are all AWESOME indicators, but fighting for the first time or really any time in that cage is another ballgame. That's all...
And I would love to be cheered on as an Iowa boy when I get a Title Fight and have you guys be excited about it, but I've had documented bouts already in MMA so the question then becomes different as Pico has had none.
This was essentially my point from the beginning. He has all the potential, but until we see him actually fight we can only ponder. Doesn't mean we can't be excited at the idea of him being the next big thing, we should idle down a bit until after his first actual fight. I'm just trying to let you guys know that stepping in that cage, especially on such a BIG stage is a whole 'nother ballgame.
Really man, "in the cage"? You sound like an All Star Wrestler. It is NOT that big of a leap! Do you remember when UFC was one weight class? No you don't kid.
I don't believe Ed Ruth had any pro/amateur fights when he signed to bellator and he's undefeated. pick will be fine, someone here did say he could be the greatest in MMA of all time that's very bold although I'm not saying it couldn't happen. I was ready to say that Jon Jones was on his way to that title (and very likely still could be) before his outside the octagon mishaps
Boy, you're touchy friend. Have you ever had an amateur/professional MMA fight? If you haven't, then you have no idea what kind of "leap" it is. Also, I'm closer to 30 than 20, not exactly a spring chicken fella. Although am coming into my athletic prime very soon as far as MMA goes realistically. Also, my knowledge of MMA is adequate.
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anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb
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The reason DC beat Rumble twice is because his vastly superior wrestling skills. For you to use Rumble taking down DC for a quarter of a second as an example just doesn't make sense.
