Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Movsar Evloev during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Movsar Evloev’s Alleged Fight Falls Apart Days After Announcement!

Movsar Evloev team rejects the Aaron Pico fight in view of being the next to fight the winner of UFC 314 main event!

Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Movsar Evloev during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC matchmaking is a rollercoaster of announcements, rumors, and unexpected cancellations. Fighters train hard for months, only to see their bouts fall through at the last minute. Dreams get made and shattered within days. Such is the unpredictable nature of combat sports, where nothing is certain until both athletes step into the octagon. The latest victim of this matchmaking madness is none other than the undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev.

Just days after whispers of an exciting matchup began circulating, fight fans were left stunned once again. The highly anticipated bout between Evloev and UFC newcomer Aaron Pico won’t be happening after all. This potential matchup had generated significant buzz in the MMA community. Evloev, with his perfect 9-0 UFC record, seemed an unusual opponent for a promotional debut. But the UFC has never shied away from throwing newcomers into the deep end, especially those with Pico’s pedigree and hype.

Also Read: Merab Dvalishvili’s Feels Bad For Stealing Sean O’Malley’s Prized Possessions!

Movsar Evloev’s Team Shuts Down Pico Fight Rumors

According to Russian media outlet Red Fury MMA, Evloev’s management has officially decided against the rumored fight with Aaron Pico. The timing simply doesn’t make sense for the fourth-ranked featherweight contender. With UFC 314’s title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes just around the corner, Evloev’s team believes their fighter is next in line for a shot at gold. Both Volkanovski and Lopes have already mentioned Evloev as their likely next opponent should they emerge victorious this weekend.

🚨 🏆 Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico is not happening according to the russian media outlet Red Fury MMA.

Evloev's team said that they want to wait for the outcome of Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes title fight at UFC 314. pic.twitter.com/3ttGh3E1ea
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 8, 2025

The decision reflects smart career management from Evloev’s team. Why risk an undefeated record against a dangerous newcomer when a title shot might be just one fight away? Dana White hasn’t always been Evloev’s biggest fan, once calling his UFC 297 victory over Arnold Allen “the least fun fight ever.” But with his nine consecutive wins in the promotion, the Ingushetian wrestler has made himself impossible to ignore in the championship conversation. His team appears focused on waiting for the results of UFC 314 before making any other commitments.

Aaron Pico Confirms Fight Was Nearly Official

While Evloev’s team stays strategic, Aaron Pico has been more forthcoming about the potential matchup. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, the former Bellator star confirmed that the fight discussions were indeed real.

“I got a phone call from Ali [Abdelaziz], saying, ‘Hi, can you fight on May 17th?’ I said, ‘Of course.’ And then I just said, ‘Who am I fighting against?’ He said, ‘Movsar.’ And I said, ‘Of course. That’s a great fight for me. I don’t think he knows how good my wrestling is.'”

Aaron Pico confirms he was "pretty close" to facing Movsar Evloev in his UFC debut on May 17.

"It's not happening, but it was a good sign they were entertaining that idea of (me) fighting a guy so highly ranked."

(via @MikeBohn) pic.twitter.com/Qu8IQ2TuRP
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2025

According to Pico, both fighters had initially agreed to the bout, which was tentatively set for May 17 at the UFC Apex. However, the 28-year-old prospect believes Evloev’s team ultimately advised against it due to his ranking position. Despite the fight falling through, Pico’s UFC signing has still generated considerable excitement, with fighters like Derek Brunson, Maycee Barber, and former champion Tyron Woodley welcoming him to the promotion on social media.

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Aaron Pico

Movsar Evloev

UFC 314

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!