Title: Aaron Pico Sets Sights on UFC Gold, Says His Boxing Surpasses Ilia Topuria’s

New UFC signee Aaron Pico is already making waves by claiming he’s ready to challenge the best in the featherweight division—and that includes current champion Ilia Topuria. With the 145-pound title picture on the verge of shifting, Pico sees this as the perfect moment to rise through the ranks and make a major statement.

Pico, a highly touted prospect with elite wrestling credentials and a growing reputation for power punching, addressed his future during a recent UFC Q&A session. While many fans and analysts suggest the newcomer should ease into his UFC journey, Pico isn’t holding back when it comes to his ambitions.

“I think I could be champion within a year,” Pico said on Friday. “I know that’s a bold prediction, but I truly feel it,” he added.

The 27-year-old didn’t stop there. When asked how his striking stacks up against Topuria’s—who’s widely considered one of the sharpest boxers in the UFC—Pico made a confident claim that caught attention.

“Ask Freddie Roach,” Pico said.“Ask Miguel Cotto. Ask Jose Ramirez, Ryan Garcia…They all know that I can box,” he continued. “Topuria has really, really good hands, but I don’t think it’s at my level if I’m just being completely honest.”

Pico’s reference to elite boxing figures like Freddie Roach and world champions such as Miguel Cotto and Ryan Garcia underlines just how seriously he takes his striking game. His belief in his boxing abilities adds a compelling narrative to an already exciting featherweight division.

With Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes set to determine the future of the featherweight crown, Pico may not be far from entering the title conversation himself—especially if he can back up his words with a dominant debut.