Aaron Pico says ranked fighters who protect their spots have a 'weak mentality'

Pico said he is embarrassed to be No. 11 and named Aljamain Sterling and Lerone Murphy among the fighters he wants next.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Mon 26 Oct, 15:53 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Typographic card: Pico, weak mentality — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Aaron Pico says fighters who sit on their UFC rankings and turn down lower-ranked opponents have a "weak mentality", and that he is embarrassed to be No. 11 himself.

Speaking at the UFC 333 post-fight press conference in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Pico said he had been due to fight Aljamain Sterling but was told the fight did not make sense because of the rankings. "I just don't get that thought process," he said. "If you're not a champion, the goal is to be a champion, so it doesn't matter if you fight No. 11-ranked or a guy that's not ranked. You're just fighting. I'll fight anybody. That's just my mindset."

"I think it's a weak mentality for these guys," Pico said. He added that he did not know whether Arnold Allen, his original UFC 333 opponent, was hurt when he pulled out. "Some of these guys just sit on the rankings, and I don't know if they feel good walking around town saying, 'Oh, I'm No. 5.' I'm embarrassed I'm No. 11. I'm not a world champion."

Pico named the fights he wants: "I'll fight Aljamain Sterling, I'll fight Lerone Murphy. I'll fight anybody in the top five. I just want to get fights and get closer to the championship."

Pico stopped Losene Keita with punches at 1:14 of the first round on the UFC 333 main card to move to 15-5, his second straight UFC win. Keita replaced Allen on the card. Manchester's Murphy knocked Pico out in his UFC debut, and Pico called for a rematch after the win.

In this story

Aaron Pico Aljamain Sterling Lerone Murphy Arnold Allen Losene Keita