Tag: John DeJesus

Bellator 257: Make your predictions for Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis

We want your predictions for Bellator 257, featuring champ Vadim Nemkov vs. Phil Davis in a title fight and light heavyweight tourney bout.

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 257 event in Connecticut.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesdday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 257 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 257 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Bellator 252 results: Aaron Pico knocks out John DeJesus with vicious overhand right

An enormous overhand right spelled the end as Aaron Pico won his third straight fight.

It’s safe to say at this point the [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] train is safely back on the tracks.

The much-hyped prospect, who stumbled with three losses in his first seven fights, dominated in the featured preliminary bout of Bellator 252 before winning by vicious knockout Thursday.

Pico (7-3 MMA, 7-3 Bellator) made it look like a sparring session against [autotag]John DeJesus[/autotag] before finishing him off with a hard overhand right at Mohegan Sun Arena. The knockout came at the 4:12 mark of the second round.

The win is the third in a row for the Jackson Wink MMA competitor out of Southern California.

Pico began imposing his will at the outset, as he used his superior wrestling to take DeJesus (13-9 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) to the mat. Pico stayed active on the mat as he dished out offense while constantly looking to improve his position.

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DeJesus, if nothing else, proved resilient as Pico kept up his attack. In the second, Pico scored another takedown and nearly got a head-and-arm choke. DeJesus got back to his feet, but this time was dropped by a body shot. DeJesus got back to his feet one more time, but Pico dropped him with a huge overhand right and finished things off on the ground.

Pico credited his move to Jackson Wink MMA earlier this year for his win and development.

“When I first started with them I was broken,” Pico said. “I was 4-3, and I had some really tough losses, and they rebuilt me, man.”

All seven of Pico’s career wins have been finishes.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 252 results:

  • Aaron Pico def. John DeJesus via knockout (punch) — Round 2, 4:14
  • Keri Melendez def. Emilee King via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 3:03
  • Manny Muro def. Devin Powell via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Jornel Lugo def. Schyler Sootho via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Lucas Brennan def. Andrew Salas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
  • Roman Faraldo def. Pat Casey via knockout (flying knee) – Round 2, 2:30
  • Trevor Gudde def. Khonry Gracie via TKO (knee, strikes) – Round 3, 3:28

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Aaron Pico targeted for Nov. 12 return vs. John DeJesus at Bellator 251

Aaron Pico is ready to keep his career moving in the right direction.

[autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] is ready keep things moving in the right direction.

Pico, the highly touted prospect, is targeting a Nov. 12 return to the cage against [autotag]John DeJesus[/autotag] at Bellator 251. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news to MMA Junkie following an initial report from ESPN stated both sides have verbally agreed. The person requested anonymity since the promotion has yet to announce the bout, which will be contested at featherweight.

Bellator 251 will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a main card that airs on CBS Sports Network following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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After losing back-to-back fights in 2019 by knockout, Pico (6-3 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) has turned things around in 2020. His resurgence, which consists of knockout and submission wins over Daniel Carey and Chris Hatley, respectively, coincides with a move to Jackson Wink MMA. Pico, 24, began training at the famed Albuquerque, N.M., gym late last year after starting out with Team BodyShop in Southern California.

In DeJesus (13-8 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), Pico faces a fighter who’s won three in a row. That includes DeJesus’ Bellator debut in August at Bellator 244, a unanimous decision against Vladyslav Parubchenko.

With the addition, the Bellator 251 lineup includes:

  • Patricio Freire vs. Pedro Carvalho – for featherweight title
  • John DeJesus vs. Aaron Pico

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