Aljamain Sterling nonetheless sees championship potential in Aaron Pico regardless of an enormous setback in his octagon debut.
Pico was viciously knocked out with a spinning-back elbow within the first spherical by Lerone Murphy within the co-main occasion of UFC 319. Sterling, who is about to face Brian Ortega within the co-main occasion of UFC Shanghai this Saturday, was watching the battle very intently as he hopes to get into title competition at 145 kilos.
“Yeah, the factor with Lerone Murphy, nobody actually knew who he was – now they do,” Sterling instructed MMA Preventing. “Kudos to him, man. That was a terrific comeback knockout as a result of he was on his solution to probably getting completed in that first spherical, or perhaps even the second, simply the best way issues have been going. However Pico, as soon as once more, that aggression, that aggressive type, it comes again to chew you typically, particularly with a man who does tough stuff.
“Lerone Murphy is just not tremendous flashy. He’ll throw a spinning again kick, he has some good elbows, however he’s very basically sound. He’s not doing something out of the odd, however you give him what he desires and also you get a chance to get a end like that, and he’s a sensible, clever fighter. However you bought Pico, heavy palms, nice wrestler, doesn’t actually management folks, however will wrestle you if he must, can take you down just about anytime that he actually desires, after which he appears for these massive physique photographs, however when he does that, he automotive crashes.
“And while you run right into a shot, I imply, I do know first-hand, I ran right into a knee that was meant for a head kick. So I received knocked out by Marlon Moraes by simply capturing in and diving in on one thing, the identical factor he as soon as [did before], crashed in and the identical factor he did in Bellator. I don’t know. It’s a loopy recreation, man. Sooner or later you’re like this, one second you’re like this, after which subsequent factor you recognize, one second later the entire battle simply adjustments proper earlier than your eyes. So kudos to Lerone Murphy. I do assume he ought to get the subsequent title shot. It sucks for Movsar as a result of Movsar ought to have been the man, however he missed his alternative to stake his declare, and right here we’re.”
Pico has been stopped in all 5 of his losses, and the 28-year-old has been badly knocked out in three of his 18 professional fights. The longtime Bellator prospect parted methods with the PFL in lieu of a UFC signing, which garnered loads of consideration.
All through Pico’s Bellator-PFL run, he’s delivered some unimaginable performances and highlight-reel finishes, however hasn’t confronted high-level competitors — and nowhere close to to the extent of aggressive expertise as Murphy. Regardless of wanting good within the battle early, Pico’s inexperience got here into play, which led to the Knockout of the 12 months contending end.
Sterling supplied up recommendation to Pico after dropping his octagon debut.
“I feel that’s it, merely perspective,” Sterling stated. “He’s been knocked out like that earlier than operating right into a shot, and he constructed himself again up. I feel he has to maintain it in perspective and on the finish of the day, it was only a battle IQ error. You’re taking that away, he most likely wins that battle the best way that it was going.
“I imply, it was solely three minutes into the primary spherical, however nonetheless, that confirmed so much for the indication of how good he truly is. So I feel you’ve received to have a look at a glass half full, yeah, I may need received despatched to the gulags, however on the similar time I used to be truly doing very well in opposition to an undefeated, extremely touted man who may doubtlessly battle for a world title.”
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