Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has revealed the extent of Aaron Pico's destructive presence in training, describing sparring partners leaving with broken ribs, fractured orbital bones, and knockouts. Lyubimov recounted that one trainer suffered a permanent orbital cavity depression after Pico struck him, and that many partners refused to return even when offered payment. The intensity eventually led Pico to travel to other gyms for partners, and contributed to an estrangement between Pico and teammate Steve Garcia. Lyubimov also disclosed that Pico has spent significant time training in Morocco, where he is lavishly accommodated by a royal patron, though recent footage shows him back in California at Cub Swanson's gym.
Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has gone on record with a striking account of Aaron Pico's destructive reputation inside the gym, revealing the level of physical damage the fighter routinely inflicted on sparring partners during his time at the Albuquerque-based facility.
Lyubimov described a pattern of serious injuries sustained by those who worked with Pico in training, including broken ribs, fractured orbital bones, and outright knockouts. Most notably, he recounted that one trainer suffered a permanent depression of the orbital cavity after being struck by Pico. The toll was severe enough that many sparring partners declined to return even when offered financial incentives to do so.
Pico, now 29 and fighting out of Jackson-Wink MMA, carries a professional record of 14 wins and 5 losses. The American fighter stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach and fights from an orthodox stance. His statistical profile reflects an aggressive, multi-dimensional game, with nearly nine takedown attempts per 15 minutes alongside 3.88 significant strikes landed per minute.
The sparring environment reportedly grew so difficult to manage that Pico was eventually forced to seek training partners at outside gyms. Lyubimov also linked the situation to a rift between Pico and teammate Steve Garcia, known as the Mean Machine. Garcia, 34, holds a record of 19-6 and is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 5.39 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy.
Lyubimov further disclosed that Pico has spent considerable time training in Morocco under the hospitality of a royal patron, though recent footage has placed him back in California working at Cub Swanson's gym.
Why it matters
- Pico's inability to retain sparring partners raises questions about his long-term development and camp stability
- The reported estrangement from Garcia adds a layer of tension within the Jackson-Wink roster
- His unconventional international training arrangements suggest a camp structure that diverges significantly from the traditional team model
