Dana White addresses the UFC’s potential interest in Patricio Pitbull and Aaron Pico
The PFL’s loss could soon become the UFC’s gain.
Just days after former Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull received his release from the PFL along with top contender Aaron Pico hitting free agency following the conclusion of his contract, both fighters could potentially end up on the UFC roster.
Pitbull made it clear that it’s UFC or bust for him after vocally expressing his displeasure with the way PFL was treating him following a lengthy layoff with no clear sign about when he would compete again. His disdain towards the promotion eventually led to Pitbull asking for his release and a very public campaign ended with PFL co-founder Donn Davis granting his wish.
At 37, Pitbull is undoubtedly in the later stages of his career but his body of work in Bellator is unmatched but it remains to be seen if the UFC is interested in picking him up.
“I don’t know,” UFC CEO Dana White said about possibly signing Pitbull during the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “We’ll talk to the boys about that and we’ll see where we’re at.”
White may not have been ready to commit to anything where Pitbull is concerned but that’s not exactly the case when it comes to Pico.
The former Olympic wrestling hopeful turned MMA prodigy has long been considered a future champion and he’s currently riding three-fight win streak with a 9-1 record in his past 10 fights with his only loss coming after he suffered a freak shoulder injury in a fight against Jeremy Kennedy in 2022.
Pico also has one advantage over Pitbull and that’s his age.
At only 28 years old, Pico is arguably just now entering the prime of his career and that’s why White wasn’t afraid to express the UFC’s attraction in possibly signing him to a deal.
“I definitely know the boys are interested in him,” White said about Pico.
Davis told MMA Fighting during a recent Town Hall appearance that Pico doesn’t actually have any fights left on his contract but the PFL was still trying to re-sign him to a new deal.
Unfortunately for the PFL, Pico’s exclusive negotiating window is reportedly closing soon, which means he’ll be able to field offers from any other promotion interesting in signing him.
Clearly that includes the UFC and it’s possible that Pico ends up signing there sooner rather than later with hopes to resume his career in the very near future.