The highly touted prospect will square off against 15-fight veteran Shane Kruchten at Bellator 192. Kruchten confirmed the featherweight matchup via Twitter following an initial report from mymmanews.com. Bellator 192 takes place at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan 20 and is headlined by a welterweight championship tilt between Douglas Lima and Rory MacDonald.
ATTENTION, ALL HANDS ON DECK
— Shane Kruchten (@SKRUCHTENMMA) December 21, 2017
Here is the news you all have been waiting for!!!!!!!
Contract is signed, I’m on the Main Card at The Forum at my new home in @bellatormma! January 20th !!!!!!!!! #Bellator192 @UpgradeMG @FloCombat @MMAjunkieJohn @MMARoasted @BloodyElbow
Pico came up short in his heavily-hyped MMA debut, as he was shockingly submitted just 24 seconds into his Bellator: NYC showdown with Zach Freeman. The American Kickboxing Academy product rebounding in resounding fashion in his sophomore outing with an impressive first-round knockout of Justin Linn at Bellator 183.
Kruchten, 33, enters the matchup with a 12-3 career mark. “The War Rhino” last appeared at World Series of Fighting 34, where he outpointed Jeremy Mahon. The 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu representative has finished six of his victories via submission and three by KO/TKO.
What was @SKRUCHTENMMA signing while he was Guest of Honor for the #USMC Ball, you ask?
— Amanda Earley (@aMMAndaPR) December 21, 2017
His contract with @BellatorMMA...
To fight @AaronPicoUSA...
January 20 at @theforum!! #WarRhino is BACK!! #AMEPublicity pic.twitter.com/5rP8pBO8P0