Former Bellator star Aaron Pico claims that the PFL is standing in his way as he looks to make the next big in his career.
Pico (13-4) has not fought since his impressive first-round TKO victory over Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event in Saudi Arabia last February. This was his only appearance since PFL took over Bellator in late 2023.
Pico has openly expressed his desire to join the UFC, but according to him, PFL co-founder Donn Davis is refusing to release him from his current contract.
“I am a free agent, but there’s only one little thing, one hiccup: that PFL has the right to match any offer I receive,” Pico told MMA Junkie earlier this week. “So I’m still waiting for an offer from the UFC, but that’s the hiccup that I have in my contract. UFC is where I want to go. I want to go fight for them. They’re the biggest organization in the world. They have the best fighters, they have the most well known fighters, but I’m just waiting on that.
“And to be completely honest with you, the only one that’s really holding it up and won’t give me my full, full release is Donn Davis. He won’t do it for reasons I have no idea. I fulfilled my contract, and that’s the only little clause that they have. If Donn Davis is listening, give me my full release. Do what is right, and I’m pretty frustrated. There’s a lot of things that happened and yeah, just like I said, the only word I can say is frustrating.”
Pico Claims A PFL Title Shot Was Agreed
Pico explained that his inactivity over the past year wasn’t due to personal preference. According to him, the PFL made several unfulfilled promises, including the offer of a championship bout. However, just last month, PFL co-founder Donn Davis stated that Pico had been presented with both a title fight and a new contract.
“When I fought in Saudi Arabia, I was on the same flight back to the States with him,” Pico said of Davis. “Our flight was delayed. So we had a conversation and he said, ‘Well, what’s next? What do you want?’ I said, ‘I want to fight for the title. I want to fight whoever the champion is.’ And he said, ‘Where do you want to fight?’ I said, ‘I want to fight in California. That’s where I’m from. I have a lot of family, and I think I can draw a lot of people there.’ He said, ‘I think we’re going to have a show in California, so you got it. You’re going to fight for the title in California, so be ready.’ We shook on it. He actually told my dad or my coach, ‘Take a picture of this moment because this is the smoothest deal I’ve ever done in an airport.’ So we took a picture. I flew back very optimistic because I was getting ready to finally fight for the title. Training camp began, but I never heard anything from them.
“The only thing I heard was that I’m not fighting in September. They (wanted me) to fight October on the Francis Ngannou card against Jesus Pinedo. I said, ‘OK, that’s fine.’ I mean, I have to fight. This is what I do for a living. So I was in training camp and when I’m there, I got a phone call saying, ‘You’re not going to fight Jesus Pinedo. You’re going to fight Jeremy Kennedy.’ I said, ‘No problem, I’ll fight whoever I have to fight,’ and continued on with training camp. Then I got a phone call saying that you’re not fighting in Saudi Arabia. They want you to fight in Japan for the title against Patricio Pitbull on the New Year’s Eve card. Began training camp again and then a couple weeks before, they said (I’m) not fighting in Japan, and that’s the last I’ve heard. So there’s a reason why I’m frustrated to be honest with you. That’s why it’s a little unsettling.”
"Donn Davis Is Holding This Up"
Pico is currently awaiting an offer from the UFC, but the 28-year-old is concerned that his exclusive matching period could extend for as long as a year, potentially keeping him sidelined for up to two years in total.
“Only one holding this up – and I’m just going to say it very, very bluntly – is Donn Davis,” Pico said. “Donn Davis can just give me my release and say you’re free to go to true free agency and test and see what’s the best fit for you, and that’s that. But like I said, he doesn’t want to do that. I have no idea why. I don’t want to fight for you honestly. Three times you canceled on me, and not even a phone call to say, ‘Listen, this is what we have going on. I know we discussed it in the airport in Saudi Arabia that you were going to fight for the title in California. These are the reasons, blah, blah, blah.’ But not even a phone call.
“So I don’t trust him. I’m sure he’s a great guy, but this is business. Now we’re talking about business, and now you’re messing with me and how I make a living for my son, and it’s not cool. Scott Coker is the one that brought me to Bellator, and I miss him very much. I’ve only fought for Donn Davis once and PFL. So I did my time, I did everything that I had to do, I did everything that was asked of me, and now it’s just time to let me go. Time to move on. I want bigger challenges, tougher fights, and please just give me that opportunity.”
Donn Davis Responds To Pico's Claims
Donn Davis took to social media this week to hit back at Pico's claims.
"Love Aaron Pico. Rising star and great person", Davis wrote in a post on X. "To be clear - PFL is NOT holding Pico back, he signed standard MMA contract that provides match rights.
"As a free agent, he can sign TODAY with UFC, then PFL decides to match or not, which is how works in MMA industry".
