TJ Dillashaw recently weighed in on Aaron Pico‘s knockout loss to Lerone Murphy at UFC 319 last Saturday. Dillashaw expressed concern for Pico, but also praised his potential and skill.
Pico suffered a devastating spinning elbow knockout in the 1st round of their co-main event. The finish earned Murphy a Performance of the Night bonus. It was the third time he had been knocked out in his career. His previous knockout losses came during his Bellator run.
On JAXXON PODCAST‘s UFC 319 recap, Dillashaw reflected on his time training with Pico. He spoke highly of his work ethic and dedication to improve. However, he pointed out a recurring issue in Pico’s fighting style.
Dillashaw said that Pico often chases knockouts too aggressively. This mindset, while exciting, can leave him vulnerable, which was the case at UFC 319.
“[Pico] puts everything into this thing. I’m very sad for him because he’s a very talented guy. He’s been knocked out a few times now, which is worrisome,” Dillashaw said. “It’s just some small things he could do a little bit better. He’s so tense when he’s fighting, he’s got tunnel vision that he’s looking for knockouts constantly…And, you’re not your best when you’re that tight.”
Pico entered his octagon debut with a chance to make a strong first impression. A win over an undefeated contender might have placed him in the featherweight title conversation. However, the loss turned what could have been a breakout moment into a setback.
TJ Dillashaw Highlights Mistake Aaron Pico Made Against Lerone Murphy
Dillashaw shared his technical breakdown of Pico’s performance. He praised the former Bellator star’s aggression, but pinpointed one major flaw.
The former UFC bantamweight champion said Pico lacked feints, which made it easier to read. Against an experienced fighter like Murphy, that predictability proved costly.
“[Pico] looked really good in this fight. But again, I’m going to go back to the [feints],” Dillashaw said on JAXXON PODCAST‘s UFC 319 recap. “His technique was great , his pressure was awesome, but he’s just moving forward without any feints. He’s not making Murphy guess on what he’s throwing.”
Dillashaw also noted that Pico’s previous knockout losses came in similar fashion.
“Pico has now been knocked out a few times and he gets caught with another spinning back elbow. He walks right into it.”
Dillashaw Believes Pico can Bounce Back and Achieve his Goal
Despite Pico suffering a knockout loss in his UFC debut, Dillashaw isn’t writing him off. He emphasized that the former Bellator star has all the tools to achieve his goal.
Dillashaw praised Pico’s boxing, wrestling, and mentality. He believes Pico is capable of becoming UFC champion and will continue rooting for him.
“Pico has everything to be a [UFC] champion, it’s just some small tweaks and changes that he can make,” Dillashaw said. “I hope he can bounce back from this because I love the guy. He’s an amazing human being, he works his [expletive] off, he’s very talented.”
Pico will likely take time off due to the nature of the knockout. When he returns, it will be interesting to see whether UFC matches him up with another ranked opponent.
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