Henry Cejudo believes Aaron Pico has the tools to become a UFC featherweight champion, provided he continues displaying the patience that helped him secure his latest victory.
Pico delivered one of the standout performances at UFC 333, stopping Losene Keita in just 74 seconds at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The emphatic finish marked his second consecutive victory since joining the UFC and strengthened the belief that he can eventually compete for the division’s biggest prize.
Henry Cejudo Explains Why Aaron Pico Can Become UFC Champion
Pico arrived in the UFC with considerable expectations following an impressive run outside the promotion. However, his journey has included several setbacks, most recently a devastating knockout defeat to Lerone Murphy in his promotional debut.
The 30-year-old responded with a decision victory over Patricio Pitbull before producing a much quicker finish against Keita. Cejudo believes the difference is becoming increasingly clear, pointing to Pico’s improved composure and willingness to be patient during exchanges.
A patient Aaron Pico will become world champion. A lot of people are not seeing the patience that this guy has. It’s something that he’s always damn needed, but a lot of people are not talking about a little bit of what he did against the cage to be able to soften his opponent up. First, he started to wrestle, then all of a sudden, he was using his chain wrestling,” Cejudo said in a video posted on Instagram.
The former two-division UFC champion also broke down the sequence that led to Pico’s latest knockout, highlighting how he used wrestling and pressure against the cage before finding the opening with a left hook. A follow-up right hand then put Keita away.
“Triple C” believes Pico’s next move should be a rematch against Murphy, who handed him his first UFC defeat. Pico has also expressed frustration with ranked featherweights whom he believes are avoiding challenging matchups.
What’s next for Aaron Pico? He made it clear: Nobody wants to fight him,” Cejudo said. “No Aljamain (Sterling), no Arnold Allen, but there’s somebody he wants that he has on his damn hitlist, and that is Lerone Murphy. Dana White, Hunter Campbell, give him that damn rematch.
Pico is now 15-5 overall and 2-1 inside the Octagon. A third consecutive victory, particularly against a ranked opponent, could strengthen his position in an increasingly competitive featherweight division.
