Aaron Pico explains move to JacksonWink MMA

Aaron Pico is one of the most highly touted prospects on Bellator’s roster. And, ahead of his upcoming fight at Bellator 222, he changed camps from Team Body Shop to JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque.

The 22-year-old says there is a simple reason for this change.

“Back home all my coaches were great and I still keep in contact with them. But, I really need to be in a place where I can learn how to fight and really put it together,” Pico said to BJPENN.com. “Not do so much traveling and just being in one location. I can’t express how good it feels to be [learning] under Greg Jackson. It blew my mind when I stepped in there and had a meeting with him. The way I look at fighting is completely different now, the way I watch film is completely different now. Being around those guys, that is what they think about day in and day out. It is simply learning how to fight and that is why I’m here.”

Aaron Pico is coming off of a knockout loss to Henry Corrales, where he had his foe hurt in the first moments of the fight and even dropped him. However, the surging prospect went for the finish a little too aggressively, which ended up costing him the fight. Many thought the 22-year-old should have used his elite level wrestling, but instead he stayed in the pocket and traded shots with Corrales.

Now, looking back on the fight with Greg Jackson, Mike Winkeljohn and others, Pico says he finally has a game plan and a strategy for his fight.

“There is a lot of strategies that go into it now with Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn. I’m really excited to show the world the real Aaron Pico,” Pico concluded.

On June 14 at Madison Square Garden, Pico will take on Adam Borics in his first fight under the JacksonWink banner.

Do you think we will see a better Aaron Pico now that he has changed camps?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/10/2019.