Pico and Evloev set to collide in potential UFC title eliminator in Abu Dhabi

Aaron Pico walks to the cage before fighting against Henry Corrales during the 2024 PFL vs Bellator event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 24, 2024. (Getty Images)
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Updated 25 June 2025
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Pico and Evloev set to collide in potential UFC title eliminator in Abu Dhabi

  • Pico, making his UFC debut, will be gunning for undefeated contender Evloev in their featherweight bout on July 26 at Etihad Arena
  • Their fight is part of a stacked card headlined by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who faces highly-rated Reinier de Ridder

ABU DHABI: Aaron Pico’s UFC era officially begins on July 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The American will take on undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in a five-round, must-watch featherweight showdown with serious title-shot implications, as he makes his eagerly anticipated UFC debut as part of a bumper Fight Night lineup.

The longtime MMA featherweight standout was a high-profile, free-agent UFC signing in April this year and there will be no soft entry into the franchise for him; he is diving straight into the deep end against a man whose shot at the featherweight crown is overdue in the eyes of many.

Pico, 28, is clearly taking the match-up against 31-year-old Evloev, who is riding high on a nine-fight winning streak since his UFC debut in 2019, very seriously and appears exceptionally well prepared and in phenomenal shape.

Evloev, meanwhile, has quietly dismantled some of the featherweight division’s biggest and toughest names, including Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, Dan Ige and, most recently, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

Pico is known for his devastating knockout power, with 11 of his 13 career wins the result of a stoppage. Evloev is a master technician, renowned for relentless pressure and precision. While their bout is billed as a classic striker versus grinder matchup, both fighters have evolved in recent bouts, suggesting this could develop into a much more tactical battle than might be expected.

A win for Pico would immediately shake up the UFC featherweight division, while a triumph for Evloev would surely secure the long-awaited title shot he deserves.

With just a month to go until their showdown, the stakes could not be higher: Pico vs. Evloev is not simply a co-main event, it is a potential springboard to superstardom. As such it is one fight that simply must not be missed.

The fight is part of a stacked card headlined by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who faces highly-rated Dutch standout Reinier de Ridder. Meanwhile, former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan aims to extend his winning streak to three, but heavy-handed foe Marcus McGhee stands in his way in their three-round clash.


Liverpool rocked by last-gasp defeat at Wolves

Updated 04 March 2026
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Liverpool rocked by last-gasp defeat at Wolves

  • Liverpool’s first defeat in five games in all competitions will raise fresh questions about Slot’s Anfield future

LONDON: Liverpool suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolves as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the Premier League’s bottom club on Tuesday.
Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux.
Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November.
But Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool.
It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017.
Liverpool have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, with only Newcastle shipping more in the same period in the Premier League.
The Reds remain fifth but their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League have been hurt by a defeat that means sixth-placed Chelsea will go above them if they beat Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Liverpool’s first defeat in five games in all competitions will raise fresh questions about Slot’s Anfield future.
This was the first of Liverpool’s two trips to Molineux in the space of four days, with an immediate chance for revenge in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday.
Slot this week said he no longer finds Premier League matches a “joy to watch” due to the rise in set-piece goals, and Liverpool supporters took no pleasure from this dismal performance.
Wolves and Liverpool fans joined in a sustained round of applause on 18 minutes in memory of Diogo Jota, who wore that shirt number during his time at Molineux before joining the Reds.
Portugal forward Jota died in a car crash in Spain last year.

Crest-fallen Slot

That emotional tribute seemed to suck the energy from both teams in a scrappy first half.
Liverpool were punished for their lethargy in the 78th minute.
Tolu Arokodare got away with a nudge on Virgil van Dijk to win the ball before playing a superb pass to Rodrigo Gomes, who held off Ibrahima Konate and guided a clinical finish past Alisson Becker.
Liverpool finally awoke from their slumber after that shock, grabbing an equalizer in the 83rd minute with a helping hand from Wolves.
Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was guilty of a woeful pass that Salah intercepted, racing into the area for a shot that eluded Jose Sa’s weak attempted save.
Salah has scored just eight goals — five in the league — during a turbulent season.
Liverpool were still creaky at the back and Andre pounced on Alisson’s poor clearance four minutes to steal the points in stoppage-time.
Andre’s powerful strike deflected off Liverpool defender Joe Gomez and looped over the wrong-footed Alisson as Wolves boss Rob Edwards sprinted down the touchline in a wild celebration while Slot looked on crestfallen.
Wolves are 11 points from safety with eight games left and relegation remains almost certain despite this memorable victory.
Everton ended their dismal home form and pushed Burnley closer to relegation with a 2-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Buoyed by their 3-2 win at Newcastle last weekend, Everton dispatched second-bottom Burnley with their first win in eight home league matches.
Former Burnley defender James Tarkowski put Everton in front with a powerful header from James Garner’s 32nd minute free-kick.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall doubled Everton’s advantage on the hour taking Iliman Ndiaye’s pass and clipping a composed finish past Martin Dubravka from six yards.
Everton remain in contention for a European berth, while Burnley are eight points from safety with just nine games left.
Habib Diarra’s penalty fired Sunderland to a 1-0 victory against Leeds on their first Premier League visit to Elland Road since 2002.
Bournemouth and Brentford shared a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium that did little to improve either side’s hopes of qualifying for Europe.