Aaron Pico criticizes Aljamain Sterling for overprotecting UFC ranking

Aaron Pico accused Aljamain Sterling of turning down fights against him, all while questioning his fighting mentality.

Pico is not happy with the posture Sterling, and other ranked fighters at featherweight are allegedly taking when it comes down to fighting him. Pico said the former UFC bantamweight champion turned him down multiple times, and he just can’t understand why Sterling would do such thing. Pico (15-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who stopped Losene Keita (17-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on the main card of Saturday’s UFC 333, believes all top-ranked contenders should be game to face anyone at any time.

“For example, Aljamain, I was supposed to fight him, and they said it doesn’t make sense for me to fight because he’s ranked No. 11,” Pico said at the UFC 333 post-fight press conference. “I just don’t get that thought process. If you’re not a champion, the goal is to be a champion, so it doesn’t matter if you fight No. 11-ranked or a guy that’s not ranked. You’re just fighting. I’ll fight anybody. That’s just my mindset. I think it’s a weak mentality for these guys. Even Arnold Allen, I don’t know if he’s hurt. Maybe he pulled out because (he’s hurt), I don’t know what’s going on. Some of these guys just sit on the rankings, and I don’t know if they feel good walking around town saying, ‘Oh, I’m No. 5.’ I’m embarrassed I’m No. 11. I’m not a world champion. I don’t know – different mindsets.”

Pico was supposed to fight Arnold Allen at UFC 333, but Allen suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the bout. On the other hand, Sterling was recently booked to fight fellow top contender Kevin Vallejos on No. 21 at UFC Fight Night 294.

Pico would like to run things back with Murphy, who spoiled his UFC debut in 2025 or get a top contender next.

“I’ll fight Aljamain Sterling. I’ll fight Lerone Murphy,” Pico said. “I’ll fight anybody in the top five. I just want to get fights and get closer to the championship.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Aaron Pico criticizes Aljamain Sterling for overprotecting UFC ranking