Pico admits he fought 'too out of control' and reveals new mindset ahead of UFC 333

Aaron Pico has acknowledged that his instinct to end fights as quickly as possible was holding him back, and says he has spent significant time reshaping his mindset ahead of his featherweight clash with Losene Keita at UFC 333 on October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Pico (14-5) was knocked out in his UFC debut last year before bouncing back with a victory over Patricio Freire — a result he describes as the start of a genuine reset. Despite finishing 11 of his 14 professional wins, the former Bellator standout says raw aggression was working against him rather than for him.

“When I say I needed to be humbled, it’s not in the fact that I walked or carried myself… I needed to humble myself in the way that I was fighting,” Pico said at the UFC 333 media day. “I was fighting just too out of control. When I would go do a fight, the mindset was to get this thing over. I just want to go in there, do what I have to do, get the win and go home.”

The 27-year-old has been working closely with coach Roberto Barreiro — including a training block in Morocco — to develop a more measured, composed style inside the Octagon. The goal, Pico says, is no longer to rush the finish but to settle into the rhythm of a fight and let it unfold.

“I’ve really worked with coach Roberto Barreiro a lot in Morocco to switch the mindset a little bit,” he added. “Now I want to enjoy and cook the fight.”

Pico describes his current outlook as a “beginner mentality” — a deliberate step back from the pressure of his own finishing reputation in order to accumulate experience and grow as a complete fighter. His opponent Keita arrives with a 17-2 record, giving the matchup genuine weight as a test of whether Pico’s recalibrated approach can hold up against a seasoned finisher.