New times ahead for Pico.<\/p>\n
Former Bellator standout-turned No. 14-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Aaron Pico returns to action against red-hot contender<\/a> Losene Keita in the UFC 333<\/a> main card opener this weekend (Sat., Oct. 24, 2026) inside Etihad Arena on \u201cFight Island\u201d in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n For as long as Pico has competed in mixed martial arts (MMA), he has fought like a wild man.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old has essentially operated with a kill-or-be-killed mentality<\/a>, relentlessly hunting for an early finish \u2014 sometimes at the expense of his defense. UFC fans received the complete Aaron Pico experience in his promotional debut when he found plenty of success against Lerone Murphy before getting flattened by a spinning elbow (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n Pico noticeably dialed back that all-out aggression in his second Octagon appearance against fellow Bellator veteran Patricio Pitbull. That more patient approach was not accidental.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter my debut, I came in with the mindset that I wanted to have a beginner\u2019s mentality,\u201d Pico told reporters during UFC 333 media day. \u201cI wanted to learn and gain experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I say I needed to be humbled, it\u2019s not about how I walked or carried myself \u2014 not that type of humble,\u201d Pico continued. \u201cI needed to humble myself in the way that I fought. I was fighting too out of control. When I went into a fight, the mindset was, \u2018I just want to get this thing over with.\u2019 I wanted to do what I had to do to get the win and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n The adjustment paid off against Pitbull, with Pico securing his first UFC victory while displaying considerably more patience and control than he showed in his chaotic debut.<\/p>\n Now, Pico wants to continue building upon that performance instead of immediately turning every fight into a firefight.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve switched the mindset, and now I want to enjoy and cook the fight,\u201d Pico said. \u201cI want to add a little salt and a little pepper. I don\u2019t have to just blast the heat and let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCook the fight, enjoy it, use all my skills and have fun,\u201d Pico continued. \u201cMy mindset before was getting me in trouble, especially against higher-level competition, as you saw in my first fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Keita represents another dangerous test for that newfound patience.<\/p>\n