Aaron Pico

Pico has experience in folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling, having won the US National championship in all 3 styles, at both the cadet and junior level. To win the freestyle junior national championship in 2014 and 2015, Pico defeated Zain Retherford (who would later win the 2017 & 2018 Dan Hodge Trophy, the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) in the finals. He won 7–0 in 2014 and 8–5 in 2015.

Pico would go on to compete at the Cadet World Championships in freestyle. In 2013, in Zrenjanin, Serbia, Pico was the only gold for Team USA at the tournament. Aaron Pico defeated Japan's Fujinami 8–6 in the Gold medal match.[5][6] Pico was quoted. "I'm so happy to be here, as World Cadet Champion, and proud to have been representing my country." Aaron gave praise to the many community supporters for his professional development including his parents, family and friends as well as his valuable coach which has made all the difference".

At the freestyle junior world championships, Pico won a silver and bronze medal in 2014 and 2015. He lost to 2016 Olympic gold medal winner Hassan Yazdani of Iran 9–2 in the finals in 2014, and lost by criteria in a 7–7 match against Teymur Mammadov of Azerbaijan in the semifinals of 2015. In the bronze medal match Pico beat Enes Uslu of Turkey 13–4. At the trials to make the U.S. team, his final match was again against Zain Retherford in both 2014 and 2015. He won 3–0, 5–1 in 2014 and 5–2, 6–2 in 2015.

In November 2013 as high school sophomore, he made his senior level debut in a U.S.A. vs. Russia dual meet in Clifton Park, NY. Pico faced Alibeggadzhi Emeev of Russia, winning by decision 8–0.[7]In early November 2014 defeated former 2013 Senior World Champion, David Safaryan of Armenia at the 40th Annual Henri Deglane 40th in Nice, France. He would medal at multiple senior level events while still a teenager. Pico broke into the top 20 UWW world freestyle rankings.

Pico qualified for the Olympic trials in 2016 at 19 years of age. No teenager had made the freestyle wrestling Olympic team for 40 years. Pico defeated Jayson Ness by tech. fall, Jordan Oliver 11–9, and Reece Humphrey by tech. fall, making it to the finals against Frank Molinaro. In the best-of-3 finals, Pico won round 1, 4–2, but lost round 2, 4–3, and round 3, 4–4 on criteria. Ness, Oliver, and Molinaro are all former NCAA Division I national champions, and Humphrey was a national runner-up and senior U.S. freestyle national champ.

In addition to wrestling, Pico also competed in boxing and Pankration. Pico won the national PAL championship in 2008 and was national Junior Golden Gloves champion in 2009, he won ‘most outstanding boxer’ at both tournaments. In Pankration, Pico also was a national champion in 2008. In addition, Pico went to Ukraine in 2010, and won the golden cup European Pankration championship. During this time Pico also won the California state championships in both sports.

Aaron Pico was offered and signed major endorsement contracts with Dethrone Royalty, an MMA lifestyle apparel company owned by Nick Swinmurn, founder of Zappos and ownership partner of the Golden State Warriors.

In April 2014, Aaron signed a multi-year shoe endorsement with Nike.[8][9]

Aaron Pico is a 7th generation Californio.[26] Pico is a direct descendant of Pío de Jesus Pico, who was the last Mexican Governor of California under the Providence of Mexico.[27]

• Freestyle wrestling
  • 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Senior Men Freestyle 65 kg 2nd place
  • 2016 Alexander Medved International Senior Men Freestyle 65 kg Bronze Medal
  • 2015 Cerro Pelado International Senior Men Freestyle 65 kg Champion – Havana, Cuba[28]
  • 2014 Henri Deglane Challenge Senior Men Freestyle 65 kg Champion – Nice, France[29]
  • 2014 Soslan Andiyev Senior Men Freestyle 70 kg Bronze Medal – North Ossetia – Alania, Russia[30]
  • 2014 Grand Prix of Spain Senior Men Freestyle 65 kg Silver Medal – Madrid, Spain[31]

• Boxing
  • 2008 Desert Showdown Champ – Indio, CA
  • 2008 California State PAL Champ – Oxnard, CA
  • 2008 National PAL Champ – Tournament Outstanding Boxer Award– Oxnard, CA
  • 2009 Desert Showdown Champ – Indio, CA
  • 2009 National Junior Golden Gloves Championship Champ – Mesquite, NV Tournament Outstanding Boxer Award

• Pankration
  • 2008 – CA State Pankration Championships Champ – Santa Ana, CA
  • 2008 – National Pankration Championships Champ – Santa Ana, CA[32]
  • 2009 – CA State Pankration Championships Champ – Santa Ana, CA[33]
  • 2010 – Golden Cup European Pankration Champ – Kharkov, Ukraine

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• List of current Bellator fighters

• Aaron Pico Official Website