Bellator MMA has finalized the pay-per-view lineup for it’s upcoming Madison Square Garden debut in June, and it will showcase one of the brightest young prospects in the sport.
The fifth — and final — Bellator: NYC main card fight will feature 20-year-old Aaron Pico making his MMA debut against Zach Freeman (8-2) in a lightweight bout, MMA Fighting has learned.
Pico, a former FILA Cadet (17-and-under) world and national champion wrestler, as well as a former Golden Gloves amateur boxing champion, signed with the promotion in November 2014.
He delayed his MMA debut to try out for the 2016 United States Olympic freestyle wrestling team last year, and while Pico fell just short of doing so, he attempted to become the first teenager to earn a spot on the team in 40 years.