Bellator 286: Aaron Pico takes TKO loss after repeatedly trying and failing to pop shoulder back in
Entering Bellator 286, one of the big questions was "Will Aaron Pico get a title shot if he wins?" By the time Pico's fight was done, the only question left was "How many attempts to pop a shoulder back into place is too many?"
Pico's featherweight fight against Jeremy Kennedy ended in bizarre and brutal fashion on Saturday in Long Beach, California, when Pico appeared to dislocate his left shoulder in the first round. While that would have ended the bout in many cases, Pico soldiered on ... and attempted to pop his shoulder back into place while fighting.
👀 @AaronPicoUSA trying to pop his arm back in before being taken down.#Bellator286 is LIVE on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/frUtTeHmT1
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 2, 2022
That impromptu medical treatment continued after the first-round bell sounded, as Pico's corner then tried to fix the shoulder several times. Rather than get Pico back into fighting shape, they may have very well exacerbated the issue.
Craziest moment of the night?#Bellator286 is live on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/wwNso7QqDh
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 2, 2022
Pico, clearly not interested in taking the loss, then tried to convince the California State Athletic Commission doctor that he could keep fighting. After examining Pico, the doctor disagreed and gave Kennedy the TKO win.
To make matters worse for Pico, the doctor could be heard saying Pico had broken his clavicle, not dislocated his shoulder.
The loss snaps a six-fight win streak for Pico, who entered Saturday third in the Bellator featherweight rankings. A win over Stephens, who was unranked, could have set up a title shot against champion Patricio "Pitbull" Freire soon, but Pico may have bigger questions on his hands now.