Issue 131
August 2015
Athletes that were born and bred for the cage are hitting adulthood and offering the sport its first true MMA generation. FO investigates how sporting greatness is nurtured and answers the big question about MMA’s hottest prospect: Who the hell is Aaron Pico?
There is a point in every special athlete's career when they're given the tools to help them achieve greatness. It's a moment most won't be able to recall, because while many athletes will strive to become the best, for some it just comes naturally.
There was a time when LeBron James was just a normal kid from Akron, Ohio. But when someone slipped a basketball into his hands it put him onto a path to become a four-time NBA MVP and one of the greatest players of all time.
Likewise, Rory McIlroy was just a baby born in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland until his father, Gerry, bought him his first golf club at just 18 months old. From there he took to swinging the iron like it was embedded in his DNA, and now he's the most bankable star on the fairways.
The examples of sporting phenoms who were born into families or neighborhoods obsessed with one sporting pursuit or another run deep. But in MMA, a sport still in its infancy compared to many others, we’re yet to see an athlete born into a time when mixed martial arts was even a blip on the mainstream radar. But things have changed.
Of course, MMA has witnessed its fair share of talented young fighters burst onto the scene as forces to be reckoned with. A fresh-faced 22-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu virtuoso from Hawaii named BJ Penn made his MMA debut at UFC 31 in 2001 and went on to win both the welterweight and lightweight titles, carving out one of sport's finest careers in the process.
Dubbed 'The Prodigy', BJ was awarded his moniker based on his incredible talent. But it was his success on the jiu-jitsu mats and a penchant for street punch-ups that drew him towards the sport rather than a childhood raised in the glow of the Octagon.
Similarly, Jon Jones took his UFC bow at 21 years old – four months after his MMA debut. Just three years later, he became the organization’s youngest ever champion and embarked on one of the most impressive and devastating title reigns in history. But it's not like 'Bones' spent his youth sparring, rolling and hitting mitts with dreams of mixed martial arts success.
Truly, Penn and Jones were both naturally gifted athletes, but with MMA being such a young sport, we've yet to see an athlete enter the fray with the same buzz as McIlroy or James did during the beginning of their chosen careers... Perhaps, until now.
Enter Aaron Pico, the 18-year-old Californian who signed an exclusive long-term deal with Bellator last November despite never competing in MMA. So what is it about Pico that persuaded the Viacom-owned promotion to take a gamble on someone without any competitive mixed martial arts experience?
“I'm going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it”
LeBron James
With millions of young athletes around the world regularly competing in sports, finding an individual with ability beyond their years can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. And when one of these prodigious talents does appear, talent scouts and coaches have to act fast to ensure it isn't wasted.
LeBron was no overnight success. His brilliance as a player was noticed from the time he was a teenager and since then he was earmarked as someone who could be a force under the rim. Featuring on the cover of Sports Illustrated aged just 17, LeBron always stood out as something special.
Likewise, Pico began dominating the youth wrestling circuit before he'd even reached the age of 10. After winning two national wrestling titles in the Police Athletic League, the then 16-year-old went 42-0 during his freshman year in high school, earning the CIF state championship at 132lb.
Similarly, just as his own birthday card began to feature double digits, Rory McIlroy too was shooting his first hole-in-one and winning his first international golf tournament. While tennis prodigy Rafael Nadal was lifting both the Spanish and European under-12s championships aged just eight.
And wrestling is also just one skill-set required for a successful career inside the cage. Like most other sports, modern MMA requires a range of technical skills. With LeBron it was about dribbling, shooting and passing the ball; Rory had to perfect his drive, putting and swing; while Rafa focused on serving and volleying along with his forehand and backhand.
But Californian standout Pico is far from just a grappler. As well as being a gold medal threat at next summer's Olympic Games, he's also a Golden Gloves champion boxer. And much like how McIlroy looked up to Tiger Woods or how Lebron idolized Michael Jordan, Pico's biggest boxing influence is this generation's best.
“Mayweather is my favorite athlete on the planet. I've liked him ever since I was little,” says Pico, who started boxing aged 11. “I have my own little style where I like to get in there and brawl, but I also like to move around and time when to go in and go out.”
With world-class wrestling, boxing skills capable of impressing any fan of the sweet science, and even a background in pankration (a form of MMA practiced since ancient times) – Pico won the 2008 US nationals and 2010 Golden Cup European Pankration tournament – he certainly has the sort of base required to become a special kind of mixed martial artist.
And while the technical skills are clearly there, it takes much more than raw talent to become one of the greats.
“You have good days, you have bad days. But the main thing is to grow mentally”
Floyd Mayweather
If being the most technically-gifted athlete in any sport was all it took to be considered the next great, the term 'prodigy' wouldn't have quite same impact. There are plenty of talented sportsmen and women around the world, but what truly separates the good from the great is how they handle the expectations put on them.
Jon Jones' incredible fall from grace showed how talent can only get you so far in a sporting career. His near-perfection inside the cage didn't mean he was able to avoid the trappings that come with being a star. Ultimately, Jones defeated himself when he was stripped of his UFC title in April.
His misdemeanors serve as a cautionary tale to all athletes who believe their status can't be taken away due to success – especially for young rising talents, like Pico, who already boasts endorsement deals from heady sponsors like Nike and Dethrone.
So often it's family and childhood friends that play a role in keeping an athlete grounded, and that's one area Pico also has well and truly covered.
“Being cocky just isn't who I am, I'd rather sit down and get to work. If I'm acting like a jackass, my mom is going to put me in my place and say, 'Knock it off and go take out the trash.' No matter how good I am she still does that,” he says.
“I was raised to treat people with respect. Do your own thing and have fun but I'm not into that type of fun. If I ever did do that, I know my parents would pull me into the house and put me in my place really quick and get me back on track. It's just not my personality to go crazy.”
The pressures on the shoulders of sports people at the highest level can be both daunting and overwhelming. With millions of dollars of investment, sponsorships and prize money on the table, temptation is never too far away.
“Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work”
Jack Nicklaus
Mental maturity in young and gifted athletes isn't all about staying away from trouble. They also have to want to work and be willing to put in the time to make sure they're the best, even when they're not competing.
Both LeBron and Mayweather are well known for the amount of time they spends working on strength, conditioning and technique even in the off season, and the time they’ve put in has been vindicated by their successes.
There have also been athletes, like BJ Penn, who many believe could have achieved much more if they’d fully embraced training and hadn’t ‘coasted’ on their talent alone. Having the attitude to work, even when you're on top, is what true champions are made of.
Nick Curson – S&C coach to UFC 155lb champ Rafael dos Anjos and former WBO light welterweight boxing champion Ruslan Provodnikov – works with Pico and has been astonished by his determination to improve as an athlete.
“From the day I met him I was impressed with his dedication and willingness to make the necessary sacrifices one must make to become the best. Champions let nothing deter them, even if it's school, work, etc. If you're willing to sacrifice things that others won't, then you've got the champion mindset, and Aaron had that from day one,” Curson tells FO.
“He's improved immensely in terms of speed and coordination since we began working together. His fluidity with his movements has improved. His stamina was always good but we've added a few things that've taken his anaerobic conditioning to another level. He'll never lose a match due to conditioning.”
He adds: “He's got great wrestling, good hands, incredible stamina and an ability to break opponents mentally that sets him ahead of the pack. If there's a competition of any kind he'll be in contention and definitely in it to win.”
“You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that”
Michael Jordan
With technical, mental and physical skills all seemingly on point, it's now down to what any prodigy can do when the bright lights and millions of TV viewers are switched on and it's time to perform. Despite 344 wrestlers from a multitude of countries competing for gold medals next summer, special attention will be paid to Pico in Rio de Janeiro.
Gyms, courts and clubhouses the world over are filled with men and women who boasted exceptional talent, but fluffed it when it mattered most. In MMA, every gym has that guy who nobody wants to roll with in practice, but who can't string wins together inside the cage. Being mentally strong when the pressure is on is paramount to the success of any athlete.
With his MMA career seemingly mapped out in front of him, fight fans will be paying close attention to see if Pico is all he's being hyped to be. While wrestling on it’s own won’t tell the whole story, what he's able to accomplish on the mats in Rio could well determine how far his star will rise when it's time to swap the singlet for 4oz gloves and shorts.
Only time will tell whether Pico is indeed the first truly made-for-MMA prodigy. But one thing’s for sure, if it's not him then it will undoubtedly be somebody else from this generation of MMA lifers who are taking the sport to the next level in the decade to come.
Who the hell is Aaron Pico?
Mike Riordan, wrestling contributor for Bloody Elbow, says: “Pico is obviously a rare physical talent, and possesses a level toughness and aggression seldom found in a teenager. He’s stripped down his repertoire to just a handful of razor-sharp techniques, which shows a level of technical maturity most of the elite American wrestlers don’t reach until their mid-20s. His most impressive attribute, however, has been the refinement of his skill-set.
Scott Coker, Bellator MMA president who signed Pico last year, says: “This was a kid that needed no introduction, I was already familiar with his accolades and accomplishments. With Pico, you’re talking about a kid who is only 18 years old and he’s already heralded like a legend by the wrestling community.
“He’s constantly surrounded by fans who clamor for photos and autographs. I have no doubt that his popularity will translate well into the MMA world.”
Modern-day sporting prodigies
Rory McIlroy
18 months: Given his first golf club by his father Gerry.
2: Starts hitting 40-yard drives.
9: Wins his first significant international title in the 9-10 age group at the World Championships and records his first hole-in-one.
13: Wins the Ulster Boys Championship.
15: Member of Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup team which defeats the US squad at the Westland Center, Ohio.
16: Becomes the youngest player to win the Irish Amateur Closed Championship and the West of Ireland Championship.
18: Turns pro and begins to rise towards the world number one spot..
Rafael Nadal
3: First introduced to tennis by his uncle Toni Nadal.
8: Wins Mallorca under-12 regional tennis championships.
12: Wins both Spanish national and European titles in his age group.
15: Replaces an injured Boris Becker in an exhibition clay court match and beats former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash. Turns professional and becomes only the ninth player during the open era to win an ATP match before their 16th birthday, defeating Ramon Delgado.
17: Becomes the youngest man since Becker to reach the third round of Wimbledon. Picks up the prestigious ATP Star of Tomorrow award.
19: Wins 24 matches in a row, enters the top five rankings and becomes the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Pete Sampras by winning the French Open on his first try.
LeBron James
12: Begins making headlines as part of the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars ‘Fab Four’ in the Amateur Athletic Union.
16: While at St Vincent-St Mary High School, named Ohio Mr Basketball for the first time. Goes on to be only high school player to win the award three years in a row.
17: Becomes the first underclass high school player to feature on the cover of Sports Illustrated. During his second year in high school, James becomes the first junior to win the Gatorade Player of the Year award. He won it again in 2003, becoming one of three players to do so.
18: Eligible for the NBA draft, he’s signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers and is handed a $90 million endorsement deal by Nike.
20: Becomes the youngest player to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Floyd Mayweather
7: Fitted with his first pair of boxing gloves.
16: Enjoys incredible success at the US national Golden Gloves championships, winning titles at light flyweight in 1993, flyweight in 1994 and featherweight in 1996.
19: Settles for a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games, despite many believing he defeated his semi-final opponent Serafim Todorov. Leaves the amateur code to turn pro, where he goes on to became an undefeated five-division world champion and the planet’s richest athlete.
Aaron Pico
4: Begins wrestling career when his father puts him into a practice with his older brother.
11: Earns two boxing titles in the Police Athletic League, becoming the California State PAL and the National PAL champion.
13: Achieves success in both boxing and pankration, winning the 2010 National Junior Golden Gloves Championships and 2010 Golden Cup European Pankration event.
16: Goes undefeated as a freshman wrestler with a 42-0 record, winning the California State Championship at 132lb. Also the only member of Team USA to win gold at the World Cadet Championships. And wins the the FILA Cadet National Championship at 138lb.
18: Defeats the 2013 senior wrestling World Champion, Daniel Safaryan. Signs for Bellator, making it clear his post-Olympic Games future lies in MMA.
Ones to watch
Five more born-and-bred MMA prodigies
Name: Ray Borg
Age: 21
Record: 8-1
The surging flyweight lost a controversial split decision to the far more experienced Dustin Ortiz in his UFC debut, but has bounced back with two submission wins in his last two outings in the Octagon.
Name: Arnold Allen
Age: 21
Record: 9-1
The former Cage Warriors 145lb'er has made his name across Europe, defeating a number of tough fighters using a mixture of solid wrestling, good grappling and heavy hands.
Name: Tom Duquesnoy
Age: 21
Record: 10-1 (1NC)
This Frenchman has already had an impressive 12 fights during a three-year career. He won the BAMMA featherweight title in 2014 and has spent time in the US training at a number of top gyms to hone his skills.
Name: Gustavo Gabriel
Age: 21
Record: 7-0
A Brazilian flyweight that has only competed for three years, but has shown he's an aggressive striker with an ever-improving ground game who’s always looking to finish the fight.
Name: Manny Vazquez
Age: 21
Record: 7-0
Wrestling since he was 14 years old and training MMA since he was 16, this undefeated prospect meshes his striking and grappling together well to keep his opponents guessing.
