Aaron Pico says a deliberate, disciplined approach was the key to his unanimous decision victory over Patricio Freire at UFC 327 in Miami.
Pico returned to the octagon and outpointed the former Bellator two-division champion without chasing a finish, sticking to a style he now intends to make his standard going forward.
"The game plan for this fight was to be long and use my footwork," Pico said, explaining how he focused on range, movement, and control rather than hunting a knockout against the dangerous counter-striker.
"He's a big counter guy. And don't get emotional. You look at all my fights when I get emotional and I take some heavy shots. That's why I laugh when people say I don't have a chin," Pico added, pointing to past knockout losses that he attributes to "fighting emotionally and irresponsibly" and putting himself "in really, really bad positions."
The featherweight emphasized that the more measured style does not mean he has lost his aggression. "I still have that dog in me, but I want to keep him locked up unless one day, maybe in the fifth round, I have to go, I have to throw," he said.
Pico credited his training approach, which mirrored his UFC 327 performance. "But if I'm winning a fight, I took him down, and I'm landing my shots, why do I have to get a knockout? The knockout will come. That's been the whole approach this fight camp: Just let it come. In sparring, if I got two takedowns, coach Roberto would say, 'Be smart. Use your jab. Stick and move.' How I spar is exactly how I fought tonight, and I'm happy, honestly."
