Aaron Pico received’t be making his lengthy awaited debut in July as scheduled.
On Thursday, the previous Bellator fighter confirmed latest rumors that Movsar Evloev was dropping out of their scheduled battle at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26. It’s unlucky information with the featherweights anticipated to function a marquee, five-round co-main occasion on that card however now the bout has been no less than delayed.
That’s as a result of Pico additionally hinted at rebooking the battle in opposition to Evloev at UFC 319, which takes place three weeks afterward Aug. 16 when the promotion lands in Chicago for a card headlined by middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis taking over Khamzat Chimaev.
“Not going to sugarcoat it. I’m fairly dissatisfied you pulled out of this one,” Pico wrote on Instagram. “I get that issues occur, and I actually hope no matter’s occurring, you get well shortly.
“That mentioned, my camps aren’t low cost, and I’m able to get in there and placed on a present sooner somewhat than later. I perceive there’s a gap for us on August sixteenth in Chicago. We don’t get promotions for calling in sick. I’ll see you in Chicago, Movsar Evloev.”
The UFC has but to deal with the scenario a lot much less confirmed if there are plans in place to probably rebook Pico and Evloev for the cardboard in Chicago.
Evloev additionally hasn’t acknowledged his withdrawal from the cardboard or what precisely occurred to pressure him to drop out of the battle with Pico.
Clearly, Pico is anxiously awaiting phrase with hopes that he can nonetheless get the battle in opposition to Evloev in his extremely publicized UFC debut after signing with the promotion in free company.
The 28-year-old fighter has broadly been thought-about the most effective prospects to ever transition into MMA after he competed in each wrestling and boxing throughout his youth. Pico is at present using a three-fight win streak together with back-to-back knockouts in his most up-to-date appearances with a 9-1 file in his previous 10 fights along with his solely loss coming after he suffered a shoulder harm that compelled a stoppage in his bout in opposition to Jeremy Kennedy in 2022.
As for Evloev, he’s broadly thought to be the highest contender within the featherweight division with an unblemished resume together with wins over Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes and Aljamain Sterling. Regardless of reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski pushing for a title battle in opposition to Evloev, the promotion finally determined to present him Pico as a substitute.
There’s no phrase but how shortly the UFC may transfer on rebooking Pico vs. Evloev for a brand new date or if the matchup will get scrapped all collectively after falling off the cardboard in Abu Dhabi.
