Daniel Cormier believes the UFC’s newest star could’ve been an Olympic champion.
‘DC’ will be in the broadcast booth with Joe Rogan and Jon Anik at UFC 319 on Saturday night.
Everyone is excited about the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, which will headline at Chicago’s United Center this weekend.
However, Daniel Cormier is also interested in seeing a man who’ll make his debut in the co-main event.
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLCDaniel Cormier excited about Aaron Pico’s UFC debut
Former Bellator contender Aaron Pico will make his UFC debut against Lerone Murphy this weekend.
The 28-year-old was a teenage prodigy in boxing and wrestling before making his MMA debut in June 2017.
Cormier believes Pico would’ve made it to the very top if he had stuck with his wrestling.
The 13-4 MMA star was on the cusp of making the US Olympic team when he was still in school.
“Aaron Pico, if this guy wasn’t fighting right now, I believe he’d be Olympic champion,” Cormier said during the UFC 319 Weigh-In Show.
“Wrestled in the Olympic trials final as a high school kid. Lost in the final.
“It’s unbelievable what he’s done as an athlete. This guy has a ton of potential.”
Aaron Pico upsets Alexander Volkanovski
Aaron Pico has put himself in the crosshairs of the UFC featherweight champion before his debut.
The UFC 319 newcomer caused a rare display of trash talk from Alexander Volkanovski earlier this week.
Pico backed himself to beat Volkanovski, who issued a ruthless response to the plucky fight prediction.
“You’ve gotta think that. That is perfectly fine,” he said. “Everyone has a puncher’s chance.
“He is an all-American wrestler, but I’ll tell you right now, what’s the bet if we were to wrestle, I’d embarrass him there anyway. A lot of people want to be like, ‘I did this, I did that,’ like I haven’t faced them guys in the gym. I’ve faced really good wrestlers much heavier than him, and trust me, I do alright.
“He’s gotta have that confidence, right?” Volkanovski continued. “I am not gonna really take it seriously until he goes and shows me something. You’ve done stuff in your other promotions…come over here, do it here, and alright, I’ll look into it more.
“He’s only got a puncher’s chance, I’ll leave it at that. … I reckon I would honestly — it excites me because I reckon I’d crumble him in the wrestling department…I mop the floor with him.”
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC