Aaron Pico’s UFC debut is about – and it’s something however a simple reserving.
The UFC introduced Wednesday that Pico (13-4) is about to combat the undefeated Movsar Evloev (19-0) within the five-round co-main occasion of UFC Abu Dhabi, which takes place July 26 at Etihad Area.
@JamieTheoMMA was first to report the matchup.
See the UFC Abu Dhabi major card announcement under.
Pico enters his first UFC occasion on a scorching streak, having received three straight fights and coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts of Henry Corrales and Pedro Carvalho. The 28-year-old was one of the vital closely hyped prospects of all time when he made his MMA debut in 2017 and although he has had his justifiable share of setbacks (together with shedding stated debut in simply 24 seconds to the unheralded Zach Freeman), his unimaginable ending means made him a star in Bellator.
Evloev, 31, seeks a UFC title shot after profitable his first 9 fights for the promotion. Although Evloev has knocked off a variety of notable names, together with former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in his most up-to-date outing in addition to ranked featherweights Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, and Dan Ige, a championship alternative nonetheless eludes him. Evloev is but to discover a end contained in the octagon, which has hindered his reputation.
UFC Abu Dhabi is headlined by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking over former ONE Championship two-division titleholder Reinier de Ridder.
See the up to date major card under:
Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder
Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico
Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee
Bryce Mitchell vs. Mentioned Nurmagomedov
Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov