Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov described Aaron Pico as an extraordinarily dangerous sparring partner who routinely left training partners with broken ribs, orbital fractures, and knockouts, causing many to refuse to return to the gym. Lyubimov said Pico's intensity forced him to seek out different gyms across the country after partners began avoiding him, and that the situation led to a fractured relationship with fellow Jackson-Wink fighter Steve Garcia. Pico has since relocated his training camps to Morocco, where he receives elite resources, though Lyubimov recently spotted him training at Cub Swanson's gym in California.
Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has painted a vivid picture of just how punishing it was to share a mat with Aaron Pico, describing the 29-year-old as one of the most dangerous sparring partners he has ever witnessed at the famed Albuquerque gym.
Lyubimov detailed a pattern of serious injuries inflicted on training partners during routine sessions with Pico, citing broken ribs, orbital fractures, and outright knockouts as common outcomes. The damage was severe enough that partners repeatedly refused to return, forcing Pico to seek out fresh training environments at gyms across the country just to find willing partners.
Pico, an orthodox fighter out of Jackson-Wink MMA who stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach, carries a 14-5 professional record. His physical style in competition is well documented — he averages 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, among the highest rates in the sport, and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute with 44 percent accuracy.
The relentless gym intensity also contributed to a fractured relationship with Jackson-Wink teammate Steve Garcia, according to Lyubimov. Garcia, nicknamed "Mean Machine," is a 34-year-old southpaw standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and a 19-6 record. He is one of the more active strikers on the roster, landing 5.39 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy.
Lyubimov noted that Pico has since moved the bulk of his training to Morocco, where he has access to elite resources. However, Lyubimov recently spotted him working out at veteran featherweight Cub Swanson's gym in California. Swanson, a 42-year-old with a 31-14 record and 51 percent striking accuracy over a long UFC career, operates out of UFC Gym Costa Mesa.
Why it matters
- The account raises questions about long-term training sustainability for a fighter as physically imposing as Pico at just 29 years old.
- The reported rift with Garcia could affect team dynamics at one of MMA's most prominent training camps.
- Pico's search for quality sparring partners, now spanning multiple continents, underscores how unusual his gym-level intensity appears to be.
