Aaron Pico has stated his desire to face either Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy in his next bout. Pico mentioned that a previously planned fight with Evloev fell through due to illness, but he wishes Evloev well and remains interested in that matchup. He also expressed interest in a rematch with Lerone Murphy, believing he was winning their previous encounter. The post suggests it may be premature for a fight with Evloev, but notes that a Murphy rematch could be viable.
Aaron Pico has publicly called out two of the featherweight division's top names, stating he wants his next fight to be against either Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy.
Pico, 29, holds a 14-5 record and competes out of Jackson-Wink MMA. The American stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the more dangerous wrestlers in the division, averaging an extraordinary 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. He noted that a previously scheduled bout with Evloev collapsed after illness forced the Russian out, and while he expressed goodwill toward Evloev, he made clear the matchup remains very much on his radar. He also stated he believes he was ahead in his earlier meeting with Murphy and wants the chance to settle things properly in a rematch.
Evloev, 32, is the division's number-one-ranked contender and carries a perfect 20-0 record fighting out of American Top Team. The Russian stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and lands 3.91 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, while averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes. An unbeaten record of that length makes him among the most coveted opponents in the featherweight picture.
Murphy, ranked second in the division, brings a 17-1-1 record and represents England's Manchester Top Team. The 34-year-old known as The Miracle stands five-foot-nine with a 73-inch reach and lands 4.34 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 51 percent accuracy, making him one of the cleaner strikers in the weight class.
Why it matters
- Evloev is the number-one-ranked featherweight contender, making any fight with him a genuine title-eliminator scenario
- Murphy sits just behind at number two, meaning a rematch would carry significant ranking weight for both men
- Pico's elite takedown volume clashes sharply with the striking-based games of both Evloev and Murphy, setting up an intriguing stylistic contrast in either direction
