Pico (14-5) is scheduled to face Losene Keita (17-2) at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the matchup, the former Bellator fighter said he wants to gain experience rather than rush to finish.
Aaron Pico explains new fighting mentality ahead of Losene Keita matchup at UFC 333
Pico was knocked out in his UFC debut last year before earning his first promotional victory against Patricio Freire. He said he has since adopted a “beginner mentality.”
Pico, who has finished 11 of his 14 professional victories, has worked with coach Roberto Barreiro to develop a more measured approach. Instead of trying to end fights as quickly as possible, he now wants to settle into the action.
“When I say I needed to be humbled, it's not in the fact that I walked or carried myself… I needed to humble myself in the way that I was fighting,” Pico said at the UFC 333 media day. “I was fighting just too out of control. When I would go do a fight, the mindset was to get this thing over. I just want to go in there, do what I have to do, get the win and go home. I’ve really worked with coach Roberto Barreiro a lot in Morocco to switch the mindset a little bit. Now I want to enjoy and cook the fight.”