Aaron Pico used to visualise what it would be like to sit down with Joe Rogan after a win, but that moment didn’t come at UFC 327.
The ex-Bellator standout claimed his first victory under the UFC banner, bouncing back from a rough debut in impressive style.
Eight months after being knocked out by Lerone Murphy in Chicago, the 29-year-old returned to the octagon and came away with a win over mixed martial arts icon Patricio Pitbull in Miami. But while he left ‘The Magic City’ with a win, Pico didn’t walk away with everything he’d hoped for.
Aaron Pico disappointed that Donald Trump’s walkout led to Joe Rogan interview being cancelled
Speaking ahead of his Octagon debut at UFC 319, Pico mentioned that he had rehearsed interviews with Joe Rogan during car rides, hoping one day to reach MMA’s top tier.
However, his defeat to Murphy delayed those plans, and even after winning the featured prelim on April 11, he still didn’t get the chance to speak with Rogan.
Pico addressed this during a recent conversation with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, explaining that President Donald Trump’s entrance before the main card took precedence.
“I was really looking forward to that,” Pico said about an interview with Rogan. “Like you said, it’s something that I’ve practiced and would obviously think about a lot.
“Joe Rogan is a legend, especially in this sport. Yeah, I was out there and I was like, ‘Man, where’s the interview?!’ They’re like, ‘You’re not doing an interview.’
“Then it made sense; the president wanted to walk out. I was like: ‘Perfect timing.’ But it is what it is,” he added.
Trump watched from cageside at UFC 327. He missed last November’s event at Madison Square Garden — a venue he usually attends.
This was his first UFC appearance since attending UFC 316 in Newark last June and also marked his first major sporting event since the conflict began in Iran.
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