One of MMA’s best overall prospects, Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico has set the world on fire. Now he will be making his return to the cage on Jan. 26.
Sources confirmed the news with BJPenn.com earlier today. The card is set to take place at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Pico’s opponent is expected to be Henry Corrales.
“(He) is excited to fight again here at home,” the source told BJPENN.com.
*Update: The LATimes has confirmed the report.
BREAKING: Sources tell me that Aaron Pico will be fighting Jan 26 at the Forum, the card is headlined with Fedor vs Bader. #Bellator
— Cole Shelton (@ColeShelton91) November 7, 2018
BREAKING: Sources tell me that Aaron Pico will be fighting Jan 26 at the Forum. The card is headlined with Fedor vs Bader. #Bellator
Currently, the only fight on the card is the main event matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in the finals of Bellator’s heavyweight Grand Prix. Adding Pico to the card just adds another draw to the event that will be going up against UFC 233 that takes place just miles away.
Pico last fought at Bellator 206 where he defeated Leandro Higo in the first round by TKO. The 22-year-old phenom is currently 4-1 as a professional and riding a four-fight winning streak. Pico has won all his fights by TKO or knockout in the first round.
Arguably the top prospect in all of MMA, Pico has continued to get better with every fight. With that, Pico could be one to two fights away from a title shot.
“If I win with no injuries and it is a great fight and I do what I need to do if I can fight right away then for sure,” Pico told BJPENN.com before his fight against Higo at Bellator 206, “I am always open to fighting if I am healthy. I just have to see with the organization because there is so much going on immediately after the fight with the cards and fights being booked. Yeah, I would love to fight again more time [before the end of the year]. The main thing is to stay healthy and get through this fight and when it is also said and done.”
Obviously, Pico did not meet his goal of fighting before the end of the year. However, he is fighting early enough in the year that fighting four times in 2019 is a realistic goal.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 11/7/2018.