Bellator announced yesterday that they had booked a big time matchup in their featherweight division for their April card. It was announced that one of the best featherweights in the promotion Aaron Pico (9-3) returns as he takes on the tough Jeremy Kennedy (17-3).
The matchup will take place on April 15th at Bellator 277. This matchup has potentially big implications in terms of the title picture at 145 pounds. In the main event of Bellator 277, AJ McKee and Patricio Pitbull will be rematching for the featherweight title.
Have to imagine that they might be paying attention to this one. This is a huge opportunity for Jeremy Kennedy inside the Bellator cage. For those who don’t know who Kennedy, let me assure you, this isn’t going to be an easy fight for Aaron Pico.
Kennedy first burst onto the national scene in the UFC. He went 3-0 which earned him a shot against Alexander Volkanovski. He was stopped in the second round and that ended his run in the UFC. After going back to the regional scene, he found himself in PFL for the 2019 season.
In PFL, he went 2-1, 1 NC in four fights. Following that, he signed with Bellator and he’s gone 2-1 with the lone loss coming to Adam Borics. He’s looking to show everyone just how good he is when he fights Pico in April.
Bellator title shot near for Pico?
Since making the move to Jackson-Wink, Aaron Pico has been a completely different fighter inside the Bellator cage. Pico was the biggest prospect MMA had really seen and was being touted as a prodigy.
However, things didn’t start well for him. He started 4-3 with getting stopped all three times to start his Bellator career. After this rocky start, he made the switch in camps and he hasn’t looked back.
Pico has won five straight fights and he’s looked incredibly dominant in all of them. He’s much more measured in his approach now and he’s being really wise about mixing in his elite wrestling. He looks like a legit title contender now.
If he’s able to go out there and dominate a guy like Kennedy, it’s going to be time to start talking about him getting a title shot. I know they are friends and don’t want to fight, but you can’t tell me Aaron Pico – AJ McKee for the Bellator featherweight title doesn’t sell. Perhaps it’s a fight that can happen this year.