Aaron Pico Leaves Team Body Shop For JacksonWink

Aaron Pico Leaves Team Body Shop For JacksonWink

Bellator featherweight Aaron Pico is packing up shop and taking his talents to JacksonWink MMA.

May 8, 2019 by Nolan King
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Aaron Pico is shuffling things up. 

Per a report from ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Pico is packing up and moving from Team Body Shop in California to the renowned JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In addition to announcing the gym change, the report also states Pico is gearing up for a return at Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The June 14 event is currently headlined by former UFC title challengers Lyoto Machida and Chael Sonnen.

Additionally, the card features two title fights as welterweight strap-holder Rory MacDonald faces Neiman Gracie, and bantamweight king Darrion Caldwell looks to avenge his most recent loss by rematching RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi.

Over the past two years, Pico, 22, has been one of Bellator MMA’s most hyped fighters on the roster. While he entered his Bellator tenure with no prior MMA experience, Pico’s incredible combat sports resume spoke for itself.

Pico’s accolades include winning the national PAL championship in 2008, winning the national Junior Golden Gloves championship in 2008,  winning the 2010 Golden Cup European Pankration Championship, and medaling in a whole host of freestyle wrestling competitions both nationally and internationally.

After losing his MMA debut to Zach Freeman in 2017, Pico steam-rolled four-straight opponents in route to a high profile showdown with Henry Corrales earlier this year. After rocking Corrales early in the fight, Pico’s aggression proved to be his downfall. A hurt Corrales clocked Pico with a vicious combination, knocking the Californian out cold.

Currently honing the likes of Jon Jones, Holly Holm, Diego Sanchez, and others, JacksonWink is one of the most legendary gyms in the history of the sport. Head coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn have coached numerous MMA notables throughout the years, including Georges St. Pierre, Donald Cerrone and more.