On the cusp of a featherweight title shot, Aaron Pico sustained a shoulder injury last October at Bellator 286. He dislocated his shoulder on his very first punch, and though he finished the round, he was not allowed to start the second. The bout ended via doctor stoppage, and was awarded to Jeremy Kennedy by TKO.
“On paper, he won,” says Pico (10–4). “We all know it wasn’t legit. A win is a win, but nobody in their right mind would say he outclassed me. I truly believe I would have won that fight with one arm, but the referee wouldn’t let me. I’ll see him again.”
Following the loss, Pico underwent shoulder surgery, a slight delay in his journey to gold. But there is no rush for the 26-year-old, who needs an impressive showing Saturday at Bellator 295. He matches up against James Gonzalez, a late replacement for Otto Rodrigues.
