At UFC 319, Aljamain Sterling offered some words of wisdom and thoughts to Aaron Pico following the fighter’s first bout that was finished off with a first-round knockout by Lerone Murphy. The loss was abrupt, and most people were surprised, while Sterling attempted to introduce some perspective from his own life.
A Brutal Finish in the Octagon
Pico’s UFC debut was a big one, but Murphy took the night and made it his own. He does not do a lot of flash, just more striking, but he spun Pico’s back elbow on him and it finished the fight right away. Fans and fighters were both surprised by the finish.
Sterling’s Point of View
Sterling, who will be fighting Brian Ortega in UFC Shanghai, commended Murphy on patience and timing. Sterling said Murphy’s success is due to fundamentals and not from crazy punches.
Then he speaks of Pico, recounting that the fighter began well with power and wrestling, dominating early, but a single misstep turned everything. Sterling referred to it as a “fight IQ mistake” and described how even a momentary lapse can lose the whole fight.
He also makes mention of how it reminds him of his own loss:
“I know because I did something same. I ran into a knee meant for a kick… it was the same error that Pico made in Bellator.”
In doing this, Sterling demonstrated that he actually understood Pico’s role, how a single moment can change the entire fight.
Advice From Experience
The sterling message, however, was not one of regret, but of how to go on from such a outcome. He presented three key concepts:
Keep perspective
The knockout doesn’t invalidate the work Pico was already doing very well in advance of the finale.
Learn from the mistake.
He explained it wasn’t for a lack of skills, but bad judgment in timing on that evening.
Recognize the potential
Pico was coming in strong early, and Sterling felt that if he had tighter control over decision-making, the fight might have gone differently.
Pico’s Career Situation
At age 28, Aaron Pico already has knockdown victories but also brutal losses. Now with five career losses, three of which have come via knockout, his transition from Bellator and PFL to UFC seems like an actual turning point. The first loss raises questions, but Sterling’s advice teaches us that it can be used as a lesson rather than a failure.
Conclusion
MMA is usually won with just one strike, and UFC 319 confirmed it once again. Aljamain Sterling’s words to Aaron Pico are both a warning and encouragement, telling that even the tough loss can precede a stronger return. The key thing is not just the loss, but what the fighter chooses to do after it.
