Evloev-Pico to co-headline UFC Abu Dhabi in July

Former Bellator star Aaron Pico's UFC debut is official.

Pico is set to face No. 4-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev in the five-round co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday.

Pico signed with the UFC in April, ending a seven-year stint under the Bellator banner. The 28-year-old last stepped into the cage in February 2024 when he knocked out Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champs event. Pico is riding a three-fight winning streak and has lost just once since 2019.

Evloev is coming off a unanimous decision win over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December. The 31-year-old Russian is undefeated as a professional at 19-0.

White said Evloev will "likely" get a title shot against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski if he beats Pico.

Evloev said in May that he hopes to challenge Volkanovski later this year.

"Thank you, champ, for trying to fight me," Evloev wrote in a post on X addressed to Volkanovski. "I will fight in July and you fight in September. Hopefully we both win and we can meet in December."

White also announced that featherweight Bryce Mitchell will move down to the bantamweight division to take on Said Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi.

The event will be headlined by a middleweight matchup between former champion Robert Whittaker and surging contender Reinier de Ridder.