Pico and Evloev set to collide in potential UFC title eliminator in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: Aaron Pico’s UFC era officially begins on July 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The American will take on undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in a five-round, must-watch featherweight showdown with serious title-shot implications, as he makes his eagerly anticipated UFC debut as part of a bumper Fight Night lineup.

The longtime MMA featherweight standout was a high-profile, free-agent UFC signing in April this year and there will be no soft entry into the franchise for him; he is diving straight into the deep end against a man whose shot at the featherweight crown is overdue in the eyes of many.

Pico, 28, is clearly taking the match-up against 31-year-old Evloev, who is riding high on a nine-fight winning streak since his UFC debut in 2019, very seriously and appears exceptionally well prepared and in phenomenal shape.

Evloev, meanwhile, has quietly dismantled some of the featherweight division’s biggest and toughest names, including Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, Dan Ige and, most recently, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

Pico is known for his devastating knockout power, with 11 of his 13 career wins the result of a stoppage. Evloev is a master technician, renowned for relentless pressure and precision. While their bout is billed as a classic striker versus grinder matchup, both fighters have evolved in recent bouts, suggesting this could develop into a much more tactical battle than might be expected.

A win for Pico would immediately shake up the UFC featherweight division, while a triumph for Evloev would surely secure the long-awaited title shot he deserves.

With just a month to go until their showdown, the stakes could not be higher: Pico vs. Evloev is not simply a co-main event, it