Big names Holly Holm, Patricio ‘Pitbull,’ and Aaron Pico have hit the free agent market. We discuss their future on “Spinning Back Clique.”
Well, the free agent market in MMA is the hottest it’s been for a while.
Some big names, including two former champions from major organizations, are no longer under contract with their respective promotions and are looking to continue their fighting careers elsewhere.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] has been granted her release from the UFC and is looking to return to boxing while also continuing MMA. Former two-division Bellator champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] has also been granted his release and is no longer with PFL. Lastly, [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag], a top contender at featherweight and considered, at one point, as the best prospect in MMA, is also no longer competing under the PFL banner.
Who should these big names sign with? How much value do they still hold in the sport?
MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn, Danny Segura and host Gorgeous George discuss the potential future of these free agents.
Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.
Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” on the fallout from UFC 311, Jon Jones’ negotiations with the UFC, and more.
The time for overreacting is here!
Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” at noon ET/9 a.m. PT as host Simon Samano and MMA Junkie reporter Farah Hannoun debate these “overreactions” on the following topics in mixed martial arts:
Now is the PERFECT time for [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] to leave the UFC lightweight division.
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] is primed to remain UFC bantamweight champion for all of 2025.
[autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] has new life as a UFC title contender, but it’s over for [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag].
If the UFC signs only one of these guys, it should be [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] over [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag].
There’s no way the UFC pays [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall.
[autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]’s chances of being UFC champion are still alive.
On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses the results from UFC 311, including Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili’s big wins, and much more.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.
This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:
[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] retained their championship belts Saturday in the headlining bouts of UFC 311. Makhachev submitted [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] to defend his UFC lightweight belt for a fourth time, and Dvalishvili outpointed [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] to complete his first title defense. We react and discuss what’s next for the four men involved in the main and co-main event of UFC 311.
Plenty happened at UFC 311 outside the two championship fights. [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] knocked out fellow former champion Jamahal Hill to bounce back from his stoppage loss to Alex Pereira; [autotag]Reinier de Ridder[/autotag] quickly submitted Kevin Holland; and [autotag]Payton Talbott[/autotag] suffered his first professional loss to veteran [autotag]Roani Barcelos[/autotag]. We review some of the key results at UFC 311.
UFC 313 has its main and co-main event fights. The promotion announced on Saturday the booking of [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag], and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]. We react to these bookings and give our early pcisk for the bout.
The free agent market got a lot more interesting this past week. Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] was granted her release from the promotion and is looking to keep fighting in MMA – while also picking back up boxing. Additionally, ex-Bellator champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] and top Bellator contender [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] were let go from the PFL. We discuss the potential future for these stars.
Aaron Pico, once regarded as perhaps the biggest prospect in MMA history, could soon be on the move.
[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag], once regarded as perhaps the biggest prospect in MMA history, could soon be on the move.
At 20, Pico made his MMA debut in 2017 under the Bellator banner. There was some turbulence in the early portion of his career, but he has currently won nine of his past 10 fights, with the lone defeat in that stretch coming as the result of an in-fight shoulder dislocation.
Pico (13-4) hasn’t seen action since a first-round TKO of Henry Corrales at February’s PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event in Saudi Arabia, however, and has only competed three times in the past two years overall. Inactivity has caused some frustration with several notable Bellator fighters since the promotion was acquired by PFL in late 2023, and according to his manager [autotag]Ali Abdelaziz[/autotag] of Dominance MMA, the only reason he hasn’t spoken out among that group is because of his contract status.
Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie on Monday that Pico is currently a free agent, and once his exclusive matching period with PFL expires in January, he will be open to negotiate with any organization.
“Pico was supposed to fight (Patricio) ‘Pitbull’ in December, but RIZIN (co-promotion with Bellator/PFL) got cancelled – (now) Pico’s contract ran out,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “Pico right now is a free agent. I’m going to do everything I can to help these guys become successful, but I’m also going to do everything I can to make sure my fights stay regularly competing and have fights, because if they do not have fights, they cannot buy that time back.
“Pico didn’t say nothing because he’s a free agent. He can shop here very soon, after 90 days (of exclusive negotiation period). Maybe before the 90 days PFL make him a deal he cannot refuse, I don’t know.”
Abdelaziz did not close the door on Pico, 28, returning to PFL under a new deal, also noting that the there is a matching period after the exclusive negotiation window ends. However it shakes out, Abdelaziz said it is his duty to find the best terms for his client, both from an activity and financial standpoint.
“Pico right now is a free agent,” Abdelaziz said. “I’m sure the UFC wants him. I’m sure PFL wants to keep him. … Pico’s a businessman. Pico likes money. UFC, of course he would love to become a UFC champion, but if PFL can offer me a deal I can’t refuse, then he’s going to take it. But if he said, ‘I want to go to the UFC,’ I have to go get an offer from the UFC and PFL can have the right to match it.”
Check out the full results of PFL vs. Bellator: Champions which takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PFL vs. Bellator: Champions took place Saturday and MMA Junkie provided coverage of live and official results throughout the entire card.
The event featured PFL fighters vs. Bellator fighters at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Champions of both promotions clashed in the main and co-main bouts. The main event was a heavyweight bout between PFL’s [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] and Bellator’s [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag]. Middleweights battled in the co-feature as PFL’s [autotag]Impa Kasanganay[/autotag] took on Bellator’s [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag].
The 11-fight event featured several notable names including [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag], [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag], [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag], [autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag], and the pro debut of Muhammad Ali’s grandson [autotag]Biaggio Ali Walsh[/autotag].
Check out the official results, details and highlight clips from each bout below.
Check out these photos from Aaron Pico vs. Henry Corrales at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in Saudi Arabia.
Check out these photos from [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag]’s TKO victory over Henry Corrales at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos courtesy of PFL)
Aaron Pico got revenge against Henry Corrales by raining down elbows for a first round stoppage in Saudi Arabia.
[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] got one back against Henry Corrales.
Closing out the prelims of PFL vs. Bellator: Champions, Pico (13-4) ran it back against Corrales (21-8) in a rematch from 2019. Although Pico took a loss in their first meeting, this time around Pico closed the show by TKO in the first round at 4:53.
The lightweight bout took place on the prelims at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Pico stepped on the gas from the beginning of the fight, offering heavy forward pressure. Mixing in striking and wrestling, Pico’s pace kept Corrales on the back foot, and also on the mat from takedowns.
In the closing seconds of the opening round, Pico postured and delivered a series of hard elbows that forced the referee to step in and stop the fight with just seven seconds left in the round.
In their first meeting at Bellator 214, it was Corrales who secured a first-round stoppage against Pico. This time, the result flipped as Pico extended his winning streak to three in a row.
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Up-to-the-minute results of PFL vs. Bellator: Champions include:
Aaron Pico def. Henry Corrales via TKO (elbows) – Round 1, 4:53
Bellator stars [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] are looking at new matchups – a domino effect that stemmed from the withdrawal of Jesus Pinedo.
Pinedo was initially scheduled to face Freire (35-7) in a champion vs. champion matchup. Filling that void will now be [autotag]Gabriel Braga[/autotag] (12-1), who was initially scheduled vs. Pico (12-4).
The promotion now targets Pico for a rematch against 2019 foe [autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag], a seasoned, gritty veteran, who is one of the longest-tenured fighters under the Bellator banner. Corrales (21-7) won their first meeting with an onslaught-halting knockout punch.
Four people with knowledge of the changes recently informed MMA Junkie of the promotion’s plans. It’s unclear at this time if bout agreements have been signed by all parties, as some fighters are still in transit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the site of Saturday’s event. Ag. Fight first reported Freire vs. Braga.
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“Pitbull” Freire looks to bounce back from the first two-fight losing skid of his career. In June, he attempted to win Bellator gold in a third weight class but was unsuccessful at bantamweight against Sergio Pettis. In an impromptu move, Freire took on days notice a fight under the RIZIN banner in July. He was upset by Chihiro Suzuki in Round 1.
Braga, who knows Freire well, competes just weeks after the death of his father, who served as his MMA mentor. Braga was the runner-up in the 2023 PFL featherweight post-season. His loss to Jesus Pinedo in the divisional championship was the first of his career.
Pico has long-served as one of the faces of Bellator, particularly as an example of the promotion’s homegrown-talent-building. Under the spotlight since before his professional debut, Pico has encountered ups and downs inside the Bellator cage. However, he appears to have hit his stride in recent fights, with wins over James Gonzalez and Pedro Carvalho.
Corrales looks to bounce back from an October unanimous decision loss to Kai Kamaka III. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak. Corrales has been with Bellator since 2015 and has a 9-7 promotional record.
With the changes, the projected PFL vs. Bellator: Champions lineup includes:
There are multiple paths forward for Aaron Pico after the PFL-Bellator merger, but in his mind they all lead to the one thing: A title belt.
[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] is solely focused on his fight with Gabriel Braga at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions later this months, but the potentially opportunities beyond that aren’t lost on him.
Like many, Pico (12-4), who has spent the entirety of his MMA career fighting under the Bellator banner, finds himself largely in the dark in terms of the plans for his future after PFL’s acquisition of Bellator. He’s fortunate enough to find himself on the inaugural card of this new era for PFL, however, it’s unknown where a win or loss will take him.
With the possibility of fighting under PFL’s reimagined Bellator brand, in a PFL season or on a PFL pay-per-view, there are multiple compelling avenues for Pico moving forward.
“When a big decision like that is presented to me and I have some options to figure out,” Pico told MMA Junkie. “I’ll sit down with my coaches and my manager and my family and figure out what is the best thing. I haven’t really given it too much thought. I haven’t heard anything about the Bellator-PFL thing. All the news that I got was, ‘Get ready for this fight Feb. 24.’ That’s all my brain can handle.”
Pico has long dreamt of claiming the Bellator title, but with the long-term future of the promotion largely unclear, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether that dream will remain realistic. What is realistic, though, is that Pico will have something significant to strive for, and that’s enough to keep him motivated.
“Of course that is a big goal of mine to win the Bellator belt,” Pico said. “That’s something that I’ve set out to do. But I have the mindset now that wherever I end up, no matter what happens, nothing is impossible. Wherever I’m at I’m going to try to conquer that. Whether it’s fighting for a Bellator belt, I’ll fight for the Bellator belt. Fight for the PFL? I’ll fight off the PFL belt. Anywhere that I’m put into I want to be the best. So wherever that may, only time will tell. I just have to do my job. It’s as simple as that. Win, and winning solves everything.”
Pico, 27, will get one of the best PFL has to offer on the PFL vs. Bellator card, which takes place Feb. 24 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view). Braga (12-1) made it to the finals of the 2023 PFL featherweight season before suffering a TKO loss to Jesus Pinedo, and the 25-year-old Brazilian brings a unique quality that Pico has to account for going into fight night.
It’s the toughest test of my career,” Pico said. “He’s young. He’s younger than me, which is the first time fighting someone younger than me. I’ve been fighting guys that are a lot older. But he’s a great striker, great on the ground. This is going to be a great fight for us, so I’m ready to go test myself and win.”
Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.
MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.
But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.
Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.
Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 15-21.
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