UFC 327 live blog: Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico
· Yahoo Sports
This is the UFC 327 live blog for Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico, the featherweight bout closing out Saturday’s preliminary card at Kaseya Center in Miami.
Pitbull stands at No. 10 at 145 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, with Pico a few spots behind at No. 15.
Visit newsbetting.bond for more information.
Pitbull (37-8), Bellator’s greatest champion, finally crosses paths with Pico (13-5), who long loomed as a threat to challenge Pitbull for featherweight gold. The stars never aligned for them to compete in the Bellator cage, but now having landed in the UFC, this highly anticipated fight has finally arrived.
Pitbull has disappointed in his two UFC fights, losing a listless decision to Yair Rodriguez in his debut and then outpointing Dan Ige to get back in the win column. The Brazilian veteran turns 39 in July, he could be set to pass the torch to Pico, who suffered his setback when his first UFC fight saw him brutally knocked out by Lerone Murphy. Soon we find out what Pitbull has left and whether Pico—one of MMA’s true get or get got fighters—has the makings of a future UFC title challenger.
Check out the UFC 327 live blog for Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico below.
Preamble
Kind of surreal to see Pitbull and Pico finally square off. And in the UFC, no less! It was destiny for this fight to happen, though, so glad we’re getting it.
Big question: Is Pitbull washed? I don’t think so. But… maybe?
Always tell me the odds
You know who thinks Pitbull is washed? The oddsmakers! The multiple-time Bellator champion is a +205 underdog, while Pico is a sizable favorite at -250 on FanDuel.
Round 1
Referee Keith Peterson oversees this contest.
Pico immediately circling, he has the clear speed advantage. Pitbull keeping his distance, flicking the occasional jab. Hard jab catches Pico coming in. Pitbull lands a right hand and Pico ducks in for a single leg. They’re back in the center of the octagon.
Pitbull lands a hard low kick, but slips, so there’s no follow-up. Pico throwing hard punches, Pitbull’s defense holding up so far. He catches Pico with another loud leg kick. Pico with a 1-2 down the middle, he changes levels and plants Pitbull on his back with a double-leg takedown. Pitbull up, but Pico quick to grab hold again and push him against the fence. Again, it’s not long before their back in the middle.
Pico with a well-timed combination. Nice low kick from Pico. They’re exchanging in close. Another right down the middle knocks Pico off balance. Pitbull briefly with a body lock, but Pico shrugs him off. Knees to the body in close by Pitbull. Competitive round, I have it for Pitbull because Pico didn’t get much offense off of those takedowns.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Pitbull.
Round 2
They trade jabs to start, Pitbull clips the lead leg again. Pico answers with a stiff 1-2, clean on Pitbull’s chin. That would have rocked almost any other featherweight. Pico getting aggressive… this could be really good or really bad for him. Counter combo by Pico capped off by a monster uppercut. Somehow, Pitbull not knocked down by that.
Takedown by Pico, Pitbull back up immediately with Pico wrestling him against the fence. Back to the striking. Pico letting the hands go now, mixing it up to the head and body. Good jab by Pitbull. Pico with a 1-2 down the middle and finally, Pitbull touches earth. He’s back up, but that’s a knockdown on the cards. Pitbull firing back but he has been outgunned in this round.
Pico picking Pitbull apart now. Near clash of heads there, but Pico is so accurate and he lands several crisp punches. Pitbull must be on autopilot because it feels like any of these punches could have KO’d him. Huge round for Pico.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8, Pico. Overall, 19-18 Pico.