Tag: Bellator 286

VIDEO: Aaron Pico’s knockouts look incredibly more brutal in super slow-mo

These highlights confirm that Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico packs quite the punch.

[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] was a super prospect who signed with Bellator before his 18th birthday, expected to set the MMA world ablaze. And while his professional career got off to a rocky start, he’s been on fire since 2020.

After a 4-3 start to his career, which included being finished three times, Pico turned things around once he left his Team Body Shop home in Southern California to join famed Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M. Since that move, Pico has won six fights in a row with five finishes, including some of the most impressive work we’ve seen from the now 26-year-old.

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In the video above, relive some of his seven career knockouts in super slow-motion, which makes them look incredibly more brutal and confirms that Pico does, in fact, pack a punch.

Pico returns to action against Jeremy Kennedy this Saturday at Bellator 286 in Long Beach, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Adam Borics: Patricio Freire is the best fighter in Bellator history, but I’m ‘better everywhere’

“I’m just ready for anything. I feel I’m better everywhere than him so I’m ready to get that belt.”

[autotag]Adam Borics[/autotag] expects to shock the world at Bellator 286.

Borics (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) challenges featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) in the main event on Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif.

As is usually the case for fighters who go up against “Pitbull”, the Hungary-born fighter is an underdog – but he doesn’t think the odds are accurate, in reality.

“We know what we are expecting from him, but it always can change,” Borics told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m just ready for anything. I feel I’m better everywhere than him so I’m ready to get that belt.”

He continued, “I just want to make a statement again. I feel like people are underestimating me, but I’m telling you, I’m one of the biggest prospects in this game.”

Although he sees a change in Freire’s game over the years, Borics acknowledges that former dual-champ “Pitbull” as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

“In the beginning of course when he was younger, he was more active,” Borics said. “He’s now just kind of the guy who’s waiting for his counters and he doesn’t want to go high pace, but he’s still dangerous. He has really, really good eyes and I mean he’s the best fighter in Bellator history I think, and I’m really happy I can fight with this guy. I want to be the best so if I want to be the best, I have to beat the best, and he is the best right now. He’s the pound-for-pound guy and after that, it’s gonna change.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

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Bellator 286’s Aaron Pico: If Adam Borics got hurt, I’d absolutely step in and fight Patricio Freire

Aaron Pico will be ready to jump into a championship fight on no-notice at Bellator 286.

[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] is willing to serve as a backup for the Bellator 286 main event.

The champion of his division [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (33-5 MMA, 21-5 BMMA) defends his featherweight title against Adam Borics (18-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) on Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif., the same night he meets Jeremy Kennedy.

If Borics can’t make it to the title fight for any reason, Pico (10-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) is more than willing to step in as a replacement.

“I’d be able to take them on right now,” Pico told MMA Junkie Radio. “If Oct. 1 they said, ‘Adam Borics got hurt, can you step in and fight Patricio?’ I would say, ‘Absolutely. Yes.’ I feel like I am ready.”

Pico has been dubbed as a future champion from the get go. A standout wrestler and a national Junior Golden Gloves champion, the rising prospect didn’t immediately live up to his potential. Pico went 4-3 in his first seven professional bouts, including a knockout loss to Borics.

But since then, Pico has finished five of six bouts and sees a win over Kennedy potentially earning him a title shot – and he’s ready for it.

“This is where I’ve always pictured myself and as a young kid I’ve always wanted to be a world champion,” Pico said. “So now I’m kind of knocking at the door for that. I feel I’m physically and mentally ready for it, that’s the most important thing. I think before when I first came into my career, I was only 20 years old and had a lot of pressure, a lot of hype, but I had a lot of learning and growing up to do.

“I’ll be 26 on Friday so I think I’m at that stage in my life, physically and mentally to take on the challenge of being a world champion. I don’t want to be a good champion, I want to be a great champion. I want to defend my belt and I think I have a good, solid group around me inside the gym, outside the gym to be a champion for a very, very long time.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

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Jeremy Kennedy: Aaron Pico leaves a lot of openings, and I really plan on exploiting his aggression at Bellator 286

“He’s a really good forward fighter. But with that, it leaves a lot of openings, and I really plan on exploiting his aggression.”

[autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] will meet fire with fire when he faces Aaron Pico – and he knows it.

Kennedy (17-3-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) takes on Pico at Bellator 286 on Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif.

Although Pico (10-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) is a highly-touted prospect, Kennedy has a wealth of experience with fights against the likes of current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Meanwhile, Pico has been on a roll having finished five of his past six opponents, but Kennedy won’t be afraid to meet him in the middle.

“He’s game everywhere,” Kennedy recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s solid on the feet with his boxing and his wrestling is world class, but I think my experience – I’ve had a lot of fights. I’ve been around. I’ve fought all over the world, fought in all the organizations, tough guys, and I think he’s gonna have his hands full everywhere. It’s not like he’s gonna go out there and have this huge wrestling or striking advantage I don’t feel, but that’s up to me to prove and show. And I think really getting grimy and meeting him head on.

“He’s a very, very, very good forward pressure fighter, so I just gotta make sure to meet that and don’t take a back step and let him dictate the whole pace  and do his thing which he’s been able to do to all these other guys that are kind of already beaten before getting in there. They’re very timid, they’re fighting him timid, and I can’t do that. I gotta go out on my shield and kill or be killed. I have to go forward and meet him head on in the center and we’ll sort it out there.”

He continued, “I just see a bull, man. He just comes forward, he’s very aggressive, and he’s a really good forward fighter. But with that, it leaves a lot of openings, and I really plan on exploiting his aggression. Whether it be takedowns, counters, punches in the middle, in the clinch, elbows, knees. My game plan is just to be violent everywhere.”

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Kennedy is coming off a unanimous decision win over former title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez. He’ll get an opportunity to put a halt to Pico’s hype, but Kennedy sees himself as a big step up in competition for the 25-year-old.

“I do think it’s a great test for both of us,” Kennedy said. “I think that’s why it’s such an intriguing matchup. Since I’ve got into Bellator, I’ve been fighting all the Bellator staples: Sanchez, Borics, now Pico. So I’m really testing myself right away, right into the deep water and I’ve established myself as a top 10 featherweight in the Bellator division.

“I think he had a little bit of stumbles when he fought tough competition early on and now he’s done what he’s done, he’s on a great six-fight win streak, doing what he’s supposed to be doing to these guys. Putting them away, looking good doing it and I think this is his next step again. Now it’s his second time around on these top guys again.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

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Aaron Pico eyes boxing crossover, thinks he could’ve fought Floyd Mayweather better than Conor McGregor did

“I’m pretty good. Just ask Freddie Roach, go ask those guys at Wild Card, they’ve seen me.”

[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] sees boxing in his future and is confident he can hang with the elite.

A rising contender, Pico (10-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) in MMA is gearing up for a big matchup against Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 286 on Oct. 1. But before Pico became a well-rounded mixed martial artist, the standout wrestler was a national Junior Golden Gloves champion.

When asked about former UFC dual-champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s TKO loss to undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather in 2017, Pico says he thinks he’d put up a better fight than McGregor.

“Yeah, I really do,” Pico told MMA Junkie Radio on doing better than MGregor. “Mayweather is my favorite boxer. I think I could have for sure. I can box.”

He continued, “I’m 26. I’m relatively young and boxing is not out of the question. But I want to do it the right way because let’s just be honest, a lot of MMA guys can’t box. It’s hard, but I developed that muscle memory from a young age. I was in the boxing club many, many times. I sparred all over California. I would go here, spar there, go to LA and spar guys there, so I’m pretty good. Just ask Freddie Roach. Go ask those guys at Wild Card, they’ve seen me, and I hope I’m given that opportunity one day to showcase my skills.”

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As various MMA fighters trying boxing, Pico wants to lace up the gloves too – but not necessarily by chasing YouTube stars such as Jake Paul.

“I was Miguel Cotto’s main training partner. I was sparring those guys that are world champions now, and I was holding my own,” Pico said. “It’s not just me talking out of my ass (that) I can do that. If Eddie Hearn or Oscar (De La Hoya) or any of the promotions want to say, ‘OK, we want to throw you on a card, but we want to see where your skills are, call me.

“And I will go be a sparring partner, I will show that I can hold my own and (my) boxing is great. I have nothing but respect for them. I know that Showtime puts on great events, I know Jake Paul is doing a great job promoting fights, and I’ve been saying it: throw me on an undercard on a Jake Paul card because I will be exciting and I’m not saying I need to go fight Jake Paul. Just put me on the undercard because I will draw some eyeballs to the event.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

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Rising prospect Sumiko Inaba set to return at Bellator 286

Sumiko Inaba is establishing herself as one to watch. At Bellator 286, she takes on Nadine Mandiau as she looks to remain unbeaten.

One of the top flyweight prospects in Bellator has her next fight.

On the heels of a brutal knockout victory in her home state of Hawaii in April, [autotag]Sumiko Inaba[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will battle [autotag]Nadine Mandiau[/autotag] (2-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 286. The event takes place Oct. 1 at Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Inaba, 31, turned professional in 2020 and has since gone 4-0 with four finishes (three TKOs/knockouts and one submission). In her most recent fight, Inaba annihilated Whittany Pyles with a violent left hook in 88 seconds.

Mandiau, 30, snapped a four-fight losing skid Aug. 13 for Peak Fighting when she won a unanimous decision over Katty Strite.

With the addition, the Bellator 286 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD

  • Patricio Freire vs. Adam Borics – for featherweight title
  • Spike Carlyle vs. A.J. McKee
  • Jeremy Kennedy vs. Aaron Pico
  • Juan Archuleta vs. Enrique Barzola

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Cee Jay Hamilton vs. Richard Palencia
  • Mike Hamel vs. Max Rohskopf
  • Nick Browne vs. Islam Mamedov
  • Keon Diggs vs. Ricardo Seixas
  • Khadzhimurat Bestaev vs. Khalid Murtazaliev
  • Chris Avila vs. Lance Gibson Jr.
  • Miguel Peimbert vs. Bobby Seronio III
  • Vladimir Tokov vs. Jay Jay Wilson
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Nadine Mandiau

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Juan Archuleta expected to face Enrique Barzola – but in Bellator grand prix final: ‘This is a main event in itself’

Juan Archuleta thought he’d cross paths with Enrique Barzola under different circumstances.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] thought he’d cross paths with [autotag]Enrique Barzola[/autotag] but under different circumstances.

Both Archuleta (25-4 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) and Barzola (18-6-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) were recently eliminated in the quarterfinals of the bantamweight grand prix and have been matched up for Bellator 286 on Oct. 1 in Long Beach.

Archuleta was knocked out by Raufeon Stots for the interim title at Bellator 279, and Barzola was submitted by Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 282. Both fighters’ journeys in the grand prix have ended, which surprised Archuleta.

“This is who I thought I would be seeing in the finals, granted if I would have won and he would have won,” Archuleta told MMA Junkie. “Both of us are coming off of strong performances. We just unluckily got caught in a guillotine being lazy on the fence. I got caught with a slow mistake that – I blocked that kick a million times, so going into this fight, this is pretty much a main event in itself. Me and Enrique both bring a high-pace fight. We both go out there and throw down, so I’m super excited for this matchup.”

He continued, “I’m gonna take it to him. We’re gonna be a high-pressured fight. It’s whoever is gonna make that slow mistake that we both made in our last fights, who can exploit it first. So I feel like I’m gonna get the second-round finish, ground-and-pound him out.”

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With a win over Barzola, former Bellator bantamweight champ Archuleta isn’t necessarily chasing the title. He wants mega fights that will help cement his legacy.

“2023, for me, I’m looking to do more legacy fights,” Archuleta said. “Something that’s gonna cement my legacy in history, the sport. Right now, I’m on a trajectory of going up with my talent. I’ve proved it in my last fight. Unfortunately my record lately doesn’t speak of it. I’m 0-2 in my last two fights.

“So going into there thinking about that is just like, OK, where do I rebuild? And it starts with Barzola. Then from there it’s just like Horiguchi’s been ducking me so I don’t think I’m gonna get that fight. So it’s like who’s out there next that I could go and challenge if … Sergio’s out for a little bit, so trying to find any fight that’s 45, 55, something that’s gonna cement a legacy for me.”

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Spike Carlyle ‘blessed with opportunity’ to face A.J. McKee: ‘I don’t think I was supposed to have this fight’

“It is unfortunate that he’s not having the trilogy bout with ‘Pitbull,’ but I got blessed with this opportunity.”

[autotag]Spike Carlyle[/autotag] knows he’s fortunate to be facing [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag].

In just his second Bellator fight, Carlyle (14-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will welcome former featherweight champion McKee to the lightweight division at Bellator 286, which takes place Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif.

McKee (18-1 MMA, 18-1 BMMA) lost his 145-pound title in a razor-close decision loss to rival Patricio Freire, and now their series is tied 1-1. McKee, who finished Freire in less than two minutes in their first fight, expected a rubber match next. But instead, Freire will defend his title against Adam Borics on the same night McKee faces Carlyle.

“I hope he’s thinking of other things,” Carlyle told MMA Junkie Radio. “I hope he doesn’t show up on fight night. I hope he’s confused. I hope everything that could go wrong goes wrong for him because I’m coming for that win, and I know I’m going to be fully prepared there. So, it is unfortunate that he’s not having the trilogy bout with ‘Pitbull,’ but I got blessed with this opportunity. I don’t think I was supposed to have this fight, but here we are – so let’s make it happen.

“I definitely think A.J. won the fourth and fifth rounds (against Freire), which is cool because I think for him that was his first time fighting in the championship rounds,” Carlyle said. “So kudos for him. I have to rewatch it, but it was a close fight, and who knows. You can’t trust the judging in MMA.”

Carlyle is someone who’s almost never had to rely on the judges. In 14 professional wins, Carlyle has only gone the distance once in 2019 and has finished his past five opponents.

“I’m blessed,” Carlyle said. “I have knockout ability in every limb in my body, I have a high-level submission game, and not to toot my own horn, but I’ll never quit. I have a heart of a champion tenfold, heart of a tiger 1,000-fold.”

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Aaron Pico vs. Jeremy Kennedy, Juan Archuleta vs. Enrique Barzola among 6 additions to Bellator 286

Two big fights and four prelims have been added to the Bellator 286 card.

Two big fights and four prelims have been added to the Bellator 286 card.

[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag]’s fight with [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] is rebooked for Oct. 1 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, Calif. Another key matchup also joins the lineup as ex-bantamweight champion [autotag]Juan Archuleta[/autotag] meets [autotag]Enrique Barzola[/autotag].

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the bookings to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. ESPN was first to report the news.

Pico (10-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA) was originally scheduled to face Kennedy at Bellator 277 in April, but Kennedy withdrew due to a broken orbital. Pico faced short-notice replacement Adil Edwards instead, knocking him out in Round 3 for his sixth straight win. Meanwhile, ex-UFC fighter Kennedy (17-3-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) hasn’t competed since defeating Emmanuel Sanchez via unanimous decision last December at Bellator 272.

Archuleta (25-4 MMA, 7-3 BMMA) will look to snap a two-fight losing skid. After he defeated Patchy Mix to capture the vacant bantamweight title in September 2020, Archuleta lost his belt to Sergio Pettis at Bellator 258, followed by a knockout loss to Raufeon Stots for the interim title in the bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal at Bellator 279.

Barzola (18-6-2 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) was also eliminated in the bantamweight grand prix quarterfinal when he was submitted by Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 282 in June. Prior to that, the Peruvian fighter won his first two Bellator fights against Darrion Caldwell and Nikita Mikhailov.

Prelim additions include the promotional debut of former UFC fighter [autotag]Max Rohskopf[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), as he battles [autotag]Mike Hamel[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 2-2 BMMA). Also, lightweight contender [autotag]Islam Mamedov[/autotag] (21-2-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) takes on former LFA champion [autotag]Nick Browne[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA).

With the additions, the Bellator 286 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD

  • Patricio Freire vs. Adam Borics – for featherweight title
  • Spike Carlyle vs. A.J. McKee
  • Jeremy Kennedy vs. Aaron Pico
  • Juan Archuleta vs. Enrique Barzola

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Cee Jay Hamilton vs. Richard Palencia
  • Mike Hamel vs. Max Rohskopf
  • Nick Browne vs. Islam Mamedov
  • Keon Diggs vs. Ricardo Seixas
  • Khadzhimurat Bestaev vs. Khalid Murtazaliev

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.

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Patricio Freire responds to ‘fake’ A.J. McKee’s recent criticism: ‘Shove it up his ass’

They’re not fighting each other next, but the rivalry between Patricio Freire and A.J. McKee is far from over.

[autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] is sick of hearing [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] talk. It’s been that way for a while, but perhaps now more than ever.

The two rivals recently were booked at Bellator 286, a card scheduled for Oct. 1 in Long Beach, Calif., McKee’s hometown. However, they won’t fight each other in a trilogy bout like many people were anticipating. Instead, Freire will defend his belt against Adam Borics, one fight after McKee makes his lightweight debut vs. Spike Carlyle.

Despite McKee’s recent claims the champion dodged a third booking, Freire recently told MMA Junkie the contrary was accurate. Freire said he asked for it.

“Bellator never offered me the A.J. fight. I wanted it. They said no,” Freire said in Portuguese through a translator. “They said he doesn’t deserve a rematch, and people want to see a different fight, so he can take his issues with them or shove it up his ass. I’m tired of him putting up fake bravados. He was doing the same before he finally signed the deal for the second fight.”

Recently, McKee told MMA Junkie he thinks Freire should’ve used his influence as champion to tell Bellator he only wanted a trilogy next. Freire sees hypocrisy.

“Adam Borics is a deserving contender, and he’s the one Bellator wants me to fight. Would I rather beat up A.J.? Sure, he’s still talking, so he needs a spanking. But I don’t make the call. A.J. tried to sit on the belt last time to fight anyone but me, and he ended up having to fight me again anyway. So he knows exactly how this works. … Lastly, he’s talking sh*t about doing things at lightweight, no disrespect to his opponent, who’s a tough one, but he was offered Alexander Shabliy, who is ranked (No. 6) and should actually be much higher, and he said no.”

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The lifetime series between Freire and McKee is tied at one apiece. The first meeting took place at Bellator 263 in July 2021 when McKee snagged then-champion Freire’s featherweight strap with a first-round technical submission. At Bellator 277 in April, the two fighters rematched and Freire took back the title with a unanimous decision win.

Freire still has a gripe with referee Mike Beltran for a quick stoppage on the technical submission. Meanwhile, McKee doesn’t agree with the judges’ decision in the second meeting. Freire disagrees with that.

“I just beat him up in five rounds, and he only didn’t get finished because of his hair gel slipping him out of my guillotine,” Freire said. “Thirteen of 16 media members and the three judges scored it for me. He can cry as much as he wants, but he’ll never have that zero back (on his record). … Everything about him is fake, just like his win against me. He should thank (Mike) Beltran the rest of his life for that.”

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