What Happened With Aaron Pico's Wrestling Career ... 

I wrestled Aaron Pico when he was a freshman and I was a senior. I won California state, and he teched me at Freakshow, felt like wrestling a robot that couldn’t lose, wish he would have won the trials, would have been dope to watch him in the Olympics

It's been quite a while since I've thought about Pico. I sure would have liked to see him wrestle in college.

Could have been one of the GOATs of the sport.

He always seemed to want to move onto something bigger and better way too soon like he was in a rush. He gave up on high school to focus on something bigger (freestyle/Olympics), skipped college wrestling, then he gave up on that after one cycle to move onto mma for money and fame. He's doing alright now, but he had a very rocky start in mma. I guess we'll see where his career goes.

Catching up on my Stalemates videos. Excellent job. Really liking all these new videos. I learn something new on each one. I always wondered what happen with Aaron Pico! Keep up the good work.

Good one! Wish we got to see at Aaron at the NCAA level and at least one more olympic cycle. As always, appreciate the content

I grew up watching Aaron pico highlights, amazing work ethic and truly an all time great wrestler. I wish we could’ve seen him on the ncaa level along with seeing him at least qualify for the Olympics, but from what I’ve seen his fight career has been really good so I hope he continues to show the world he’s a champion.

My boy tapped Pico out in that debut in Madison square garden .. the altar boy Zach freeman

Solid win for Pico last night in Hawaii, been watching him for years, since the cadet worlds

One of the biggest cons on wrestling was the pay. Very little money at the time. MMA was the way to earn money while training.

He was likely going to be an all time great college wrestler. Sad we all missed out.

Practiced with Aaron and he hands down had the hardest snap I've felt

Man you guys have been putting out some sick content lately. Really enjoyed this, as well as the Sushil Kumar video.

Good stuff. I am enjoying this style video. More please.

His father gave him terrible guidance. He most likely ruined his son's life because of his own egotistical greed.

excellent video brother, Aaron will be a world champ in MMA, it takes a good amount of time to transition into a mixec martial artist even with boxing and wrestling background

This one will always bother me that we never had the pleasure of watching Aaron compete at the Collegiate level. To me it just came across that money was more important to him and his family than going to College to compete while earning a degree. All of which would of been done on a full scholarship. We also lost him competing on the Senior level. He was lights out a fantastic freestyle wrestler as well. I just know he could of done this and still went on to compete in MMA and made a lot of money. I do think at some point he’ll regret not having gone to College and he’ll have to live with that. I just wish we could of watched him compete in College because he was a World Class wrestler and was so much fun to watch. Great video!

Yeah, and Pico made a big mistake picking Zack Freeman to fight in his MMA debut in Bellator. The dude got rocked in under a minute. 😂

At 11 years old he was what?! Jesus, I did not read enough about Aaron before he came to MMA

Turned out to be a horrible decision. Pico would have undoubtedly went on to win multiple titles, probably would have become an Olympian, had numerous advertising companies all lining up to pay him. It's too bad.

Frank "The Criteria" Molinaro..... W over Metcalf by criteria, over Stieber by criteria, and over Pico.... by criteria

the Bender scene killed me lmfaoooooo

Great video- wish he’d come back and try for one more Olympics. He did get robbed, I thought.

Great content dude. Take it to Flo! And it's free? Love it. Patreon is great. No pay wall except for live events. Just an option to support.

I was wondering what happened to him. Thanks for the video!

Deserves at least 1 million subs

What happened to Pico's wrestling career? Well he didn't have the grades to go to college and failed to make the Sr national team. He then gave up on wrestling and went into MMA, where he accomplished jack shit. He's currently ranked #43 in his weight class and has amassed a whole whopping $380,000 in career earnings. That's chump change, by the way.

Another great video, keep them coming :)

Sadly I feel that this also was beginning of the end for him and what happens when others self-interests trump his. Translation- other saw the $$$ and used that as a driving force to continual bad decisions.

...did you say 2016 and Aaron Pico looks like a 10 year old boy?! Ain't no way..

Another great video! Keep ‘em comin

great work Zach

hell yeah brother, another killer video

smh so sad imo. rooting for him in his fight career but geez I remember him doing what people like gable steveson, kyle snyder, and (predictably) Bo Bassett are doing today. so young staring olympic gold in the face. I heard that he had always had mma in mind but I will never understand the decision to prematurely leave wrestling at a senior level the way he did. not to even mention what could’ve done at NCAAs. idk if it was chasing the bag or what, but someone should’ve told him he can do both..idk, I would have to sit down with Pico himself and a 12-pack to hear and understand why. and even then, it would still be hard for me to wrap my head around wasting such glorious talent. and I really don’t wanna use the word “waste” but even when you look at him fight he doesn’t really utilize his wrestling the way he could. I just don’t think I will ever understand. someone should’ve told him the cte can wait lol. i hope he reaches the glory he’s chasing and God bless him..but i’m not sure his mma career will be as legendary as what he could’ve done purely in the sport of wrestling. hope he proves me wrong

Well done

I’d put my money on pico vs khabib or gsp. His striking would crush theirs. Grappling maybe too but close

Cade Olivas was one of those guys everyone talked about in CA too. And then he kinda became a mystery after a while

Very interesting, thanks

Great video.

The year molinaro stalled his way to the Olympics

I don't care if Pico comes back. He failed to make the national team and gave up like a professional quitter. Good riddance.

He's 10-4 in mma and has been finished in all 4 loses. He should of stuck with wrestling in high school, college and beyond.

Yea he was literally " ahead of his time " like a full 2 years older than the kids he was competing against in highschool.

Still think pico would’ve done better in the Olympics than Frank

His style n joining that john wink is what is derailing his Career. He need to leave Albuquerque Fast. But it seems hes just going thru the motions not really carring avout anything. I dont think he will ever be a CHAMP in MMA.

Pico lost to Malinaro - people STILL wonder how Dake got past the guy. Especially when you see Burroughs beating the poor guy year after year after year... I would REALLY like to see Pico give it another try. Dake beat Burroughs after a decade - Pico may still have something in the tank! He easily beat Zain multiple times and he was no joke!

Pushed too fast. Kid was a phenom but he was brought along too fast unfortunately.

Great!!

I remember hearing when Molinaro lost the last chance olympic qualifier. It was luck that the US qualified that weight. If Pico was a gold medal caliber wrestler he would have handled Molinaro easily. I was rooting for Pico back then, just didnt get it done.

High school Freshman beating a college NCAA champion

Is he still fighting? I haven’t heard anything from him....I saw him buy a 12 pack of Coronas at the grocery store, though.

do AJ Mckee plssss

Pico went to middle school with me at calvary chapel high school

I always wonder what happened with him

Alex ciseneros was another ca all time great. That just went poof.

Pico is a beast but he wasn’t much of a scrambler or a top wrestler. I liked that he chose to forgo college I just wish he would have spent two or three Olympic cycles in the freestyle game, while fighting amateur MMA . His family has more than enough money to sustain him for that.

Pico couldn’t hang with Yianni

Pico only goal right now is to be a MMA champ..no money in wrestling anyways!

Teleprompter reading very noticeable BUT great video and content! Well done!

On my whole family, Aaron Pico is my cousin and his nick name that we all call him is Cheeks. i know it sounds very fake, but im being very very serious. Aaron Pico is my cousin. He fights today

He's only 26 the kid still has a chance of being anything he wants to be i still believe in the kid lets go Pico

2:09 is that Merab???