Pico

[hwkwrestlingaddiction]

I'm assuming I missed some news and I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but did Pico hang up the wrestling shoes for MMA? I follow him on Twitter and I see he recently did some photo stuff for Bellator. What's the latest on him? Haven't read/seen anything for a while. Thanks in advance.

 

[TS568]

I'm assuming I missed some news and I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but did Pico hang up the wrestling shoes for MMA? I follow him on Twitter and I see he recently did some photo stuff for Bellator. What's the latest on him? Haven't read/seen anything for a while. Thanks in advance.

He signed a Bellator contract probably a year ago, which just means he will fight for them when he's done wrestling. It also provides him some good sponsorship $$ for training and traveling right now.

 

[so cal hawkfan]

He certainly hasn't hung up wrestling as he just competed in the Junior World's and won a bronze. He did hang up his folk style shoes however.

 

[lookleft goright]

It seems like folk style would help him more than freestyle in an MMA career. The ground wrestling skills are kind of what separates a lot of the wrestlers, at least that is what I have always thought.

 

[TS568]

It seems like folk style would help him more than freestyle in an MMA career. The ground wrestling skills are kind of what separates a lot of the wrestlers, at least that is what I have always thought.

That seems right, being able to keep someone down to do damage or look for a submission is as important as the takedown or throw. Yoel Romero (Cuba) and Cejudo are winning big right now but most wrestlers in the UFC at least are definitely folkstyle based.

 

[Azchief32]

Never thought I'd see a Pico thread again...F*ck.

I am on the edge of starting a Grothus thread.

 

[bman546]

Wrestlers in the UFC that are "folkstyle based" only appear that way because they are Americans. In reality, the wrestlers that have done the most in MMA have strong Greco backgrounds; Couture, Henderson, Jon Jones,
Lindland... That is because of the hand fighting, and fighting from the clinch--deemed "Dirty Boxing." I do agree that folkstyle may emphasize controlling your opponent on the mat better than freestyle for MMA, but do you guys really believe that Pico, Cejudo, or any other American wrestler doesn't have enough folkstyle experience to control on the mat even if they abandoned that style years ago? They still have 10 years of folkstyle experience under their belt. If they never wrestle folkstyle ever again (they won't) it won't hurt their MMA at all. Besides, Kalika was a Greco guy.

 

[Sidenote]

It's a shame he signed with non-UFC company. Probably won't see him on the TV for a decade.

He's going to be fun to watch. Elite boxing skills paired with elite wrestling skills sounds like a winning combination.

 

[TS568]

It's a shame he signed with non-UFC company. Probably won't see him on the TV for a decade.

He's going to be fun to watch. Elite boxing skills paired with elite wrestling skills sounds like a winning combination.

Bellator is on TV all the time, they air on Spike TV.

 

[TS568]

Wrestlers in the UFC that are "folkstyle based" only appear that way because they are Americans. In reality, the wrestlers that have done the most in MMA have strong Greco backgrounds; Couture, Henderson, Jon Jones,
Lindland... That is because of the hand fighting, and fighting from the clinch--deemed "Dirty Boxing." I do agree that folkstyle may emphasize controlling your opponent on the mat better than freestyle for MMA, but do you guys really believe that Pico, Cejudo, or any other American wrestler doesn't have enough folkstyle experience to control on the mat even if they abandoned that style years ago? They still have 10 years of folkstyle experience under their belt. If they never wrestle folkstyle ever again (they won't) it won't hurt their MMA at all. Besides, Kalika was a Greco guy.

Couture, Jones, Lindland and Henderson all wrestled folkstyle through college (at least NJCAA in Jones's case) but I agree Pico, Cejudo et al certainly have enough experience to win a fight on the mat. I guess I was thinking a folkstyle wrestler vs. an exclusive FRECO (non-American) guy.

 

[SansSouci]

He has plenty of wrestling skills to be successful in MMA. GSP is one of the better MMA wrestlers and he is nowhere near Pico status, he just picked it up early in his career.

What's his name from Missouri with the chin, long hair, and the mouth is a Hodge Trophy winner and is completely irrelevant in MMA...and wrestling now. A thousand paper cuts didn't work for dipshit. He has dominated the minor leagues, so he does have that. He's not getting paid though, because he can only wrestle.

Point being a couple more years of folk style is a waste of time for Pico. Defend a takedown, get a takedown and ground and pound or submit. I'm sure he's fine on the TDs it's the latter he needs to work on.

 

[bman546]

Ben Askren is the guy you are thinking of. Dana White says he's boring etc.

 

[PapaBearSLIM]

Ben Askren is the guy you are thinking of. Dana White says he's boring etc.

I don't think he had trouble recalling his name.

 

[winwithdignity]

What has Pico done boxing wise to have some one say he is a world class boxer?

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

I don't know about "world class", but here's what Wikipedia says about his boxing accomplishments:

Boxing Accomplishments:

• 2008 Desert Showdown Champ – Indio, CA
• 2008 California State PAL Champ - Oxnard, CA
• 2008 National PAL Champ – Tournament Outstanding Boxer Award– Oxnard, CA
• 2009 Desert Showdown Champ – Indio, CA
• 2009 National Junior Golden Gloves Championship Champ – Mesquite, NV Tournament Outstanding Boxer Award

Sounds pretty impressive for a young boxer -- if nothing else, a very solid foundation for MMA and much more than most former wrestlers bring with them into the sport.

 

[moosemonster]

Not only Junior Golden gloves champ but Outstanding boxer award for all weights.

 

[so cal hawkfan]

There are a couple you tube videos of Pico displaying his boxing skills, he's pretty amazing. World class probably a bit of a stretch, but if he put his mind to making an Olympic boxing team, he'd be right there

 

[winwithdignity]

So his boxing pedigree is from when six years ago when he was what 12 or 13 years old? I am not buying his hype in boxing or wrestling quite yet.

 

[255]

In my opinion Pico is serving too many interests. If he wants to be a Olympic champ, he has to focus and get a situation that he can 100% focus on wrestling. His phenom time is running short as he gets older and he need to make a sr U.S. team. I know why college was out of the picture but he could still put more into it. If MMA is where he wants to go then that should be his focus. He is a great wrestling talent and could be one of the greats. Don't blast me. It is just an opinion. It is just hard to be a world champion with your head "wrestling/MMA". It must be one or the other.

 

[Azchief32]

I'll buy Pico's elite boxing skills. He trains with boxing all the time...shows up in his amazing hand fighting skills with heavy hands. Also, most wrestlers don't have that background and seem to do pretty well. He is also a standout in Pankration which is a combo of both. Kid is a warrior.

 

[bman546]

I don't think he had trouble recalling his name.

Oops, I'm still trying to figure out each posters sense of humor and sarcasm. My bad. I actually prefer referring to him as Ol' what's his name, with the chin, hair and the mouth...

 

[zwick99]

Don't forget politics. His great, great, great, great grandfather was the last Governor of California when it was part of Mexico.

 

[grappler6]

I wish I was as "irrelevant" as Ben Askren.