Aaron Pico: ‘My Job Was on the Line’ — Patient Approach Beats Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327

Aaron Pico says he felt huge pressure before his second UFC fight. After a brutal debut knockout, he changed his approach and beat Patricio “Pitbull” at UFC 327.

Pico admits debut approach was risky

Pico was honest about how he felt after his first UFC fight. He lost his debut by knockout to Lerone Murphy, who finished the fight with a spinning back elbow just after three minutes. Pico said that loss made his next fight feel like a must-win.

“For sure, it was a must win. My job was on the line. That’s the way I felt,” he told reporters. He added that no one promised he’d be cut, but the fear was real. Pico used the example of Patchy Mix, who came into the UFC with a lot of hype and was released after going 0-2, to explain that hype does not protect you.

What changed against Patricio Pitbull

Pico said his debut plan was unnecessarily reckless. He felt he was winning early in the Murphy fight but took too many risks. “If I would have just taken a step back, used my footwork, took him down again, held him down, eventually he would have gone out,” Pico said.

Against Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327, Pico used a different game plan. He was more patient and tactically disciplined while still fighting in a way that fans enjoy. That change helped him win a shutout decision over a veteran opponent and earn his first top-15 ranking in the UFC.

Mental reset and lessons learned

Pico described a mental reset walking into the arena for the Pitbull fight. He said the knockout in his debut was the worst thing that could happen, but it also taught him to relax and trust his training.

“The worst thing has happened to me in the UFC. I was on one of the biggest cards of the year, got knocked out in front of probably millions of people watching. So next time, when you step into that cage in a few hours, just let it flow. Exactly how you sparred, do it in the cage and enjoy it,” Pico said.

He also said he does not feel special just because of past success. “Nobody is special. You can be cut at any time. I don’t take it for granted. I don’t feel special in any way,” he said, showing a new focus on results and consistency.

Pico’s comments show a young fighter learning from a tough start. He moved from an aggressive, risky style to a smarter, patient approach and was rewarded with a key win and a rise in the rankings.