Freire Aims to Exploit Pico's 'Fatal Flaw' at UFC 327

Former Bellator champion Patricio Freire believes he can capitalize on Aaron Pico's chin issues in their upcoming UFC matchup.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:20am

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Patricio Freire, a former Bellator double champion, is set to face Aaron Pico at UFC 327 in Miami. Freire believes Pico's tendency to get knocked out when hit hard is a 'fatal flaw' in his game that he plans to exploit in their upcoming fight. The two fighters almost faced off in Bellator, but the matchup never materialized. Now, they'll get the chance to settle the score in the UFC octagon.

Why it matters

This fight between two highly touted prospects pits Freire's experience and power against Pico's athleticism and potential. Pico has been finished in all five of his professional losses, raising questions about his chin and ability to withstand heavy shots. Freire hopes to capitalize on this perceived weakness and earn a statement win in his UFC debut.

The details

Freire (37-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will take on Pico (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on April 11 at Kaseya Center in Miami. Freire called out Pico after securing his first octagon win over Dan Ige at UFC 318. Pico has struggled with his chin, getting knocked out in all five of his professional losses, most recently against Lerone Murphy at UFC 319.

  • Freire and Pico almost fought in Bellator and PFL, but the matchup never materialized.
  • Freire called out Pico after his win at UFC 318.
  • The fight between Freire and Pico is scheduled for UFC 327 on April 11, 2026.

The players

Patricio Freire

A former Bellator double champion who is making his UFC debut against Aaron Pico. Freire believes Pico's tendency to get knocked out is a 'fatal flaw' in his game that he plans to exploit.

Aaron Pico

A highly touted prospect who has been finished in all five of his professional losses, raising questions about his chin and ability to withstand heavy shots. Pico is looking to bounce back from his UFC debut loss against Lerone Murphy.

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What they’re saying

“He's a fantastic fighter. He's really great – so much so that Bellator signed him before he even made his debut. There was all this hype around him. I saw his fights, I saw his debut, and he's great.”

— Patricio Freire

“He's strong, he's athletic, he has a lot of gifts as a fighter, but he has a fatal flaw which is whenever he gets hit with a hard shot, he goes down. So that's something I'm hoping to exploit when we fight each other. That's his weak spot.”

— Patricio Freire

What’s next

The fight between Freire and Pico is scheduled for UFC 327 on April 11, 2026 in Miami.

The takeaway

This matchup between two highly touted prospects will test Pico's ability to withstand heavy shots, a weakness that Freire believes he can exploit. The fight represents an opportunity for Freire to make a statement in his UFC debut, while Pico looks to bounce back from his previous setbacks and prove his potential.