Aaron Pico is thankful for his professional setbacks.

The 24-year-old prospect is happy be tasted defeat early in his career, as the losses forced him to make life and career changes that have shaped his MMA journey. Pico (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA), who fights John de Jesus this Thursday at Bellator 252, has suffered three defeats in his nine professional fights. In all three, Pico was stopped – twice by KO/TKO and once by submission.

Yet, despite the tumultuous times, Pico is grateful for the experience.

“Hindsight is 2020, but I’m very happy that I did lose because I have the team that I have now,” Pico told MMA Junkie. “If I was to go back over and go outside the cage I would say to go to JacksonWink MMA, be with Greg (Jackson), coach Gibson, be with my jiu-jitsu coach Tusa and get started on the journey, (also) be with my manager Ali Abdelaziz.

“But like I said, it all happened and I’m very happy that it happened because I wouldn’t be with them. If I were 10-0 with 10 knockouts I wouldn’t be with the team I’m with now and I really love being with them not just inside the gym, I spend time outside and that’s the most important thing. I have a really good bond with them.”

Pico was training at Team Bodyshop in Lakewood, Calif. prior to moving to Albuquerque N.M. to train with Jackson Wink.

Although the former national junior Golden Gloves champion is happy to have experienced defeat in his MMA career, Pico admits it wasn’t an easy process.

“You don’t have a choice,” Pico said. “You just have to say that’s the past and there s nothing you can do. You can be upset at the kitchen table and let it ruin your dinner or you can just move on.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m human, I was sad for a very long time. I was crying like, ‘Man why did this happen to me?’ And my girlfriend would say just keep working. You can feel sorry all day, but that’s not going to do (explicit). You better get you ass to the gym and get training. There’s not much you can do but get back on the horse and continue the journey. If you really love something, you’ll adjust you’ll adapt.”

Pico has won two straight since getting stopped in back-to-back bouts in 2019. The featherweight fighter hopes to keep consistent and rack up and third win in 2020.

“It’s a good feeling every time you win and you get your whole pay check –  it’s a good night. I just have to be consistent, and for me, I know what it feels like to lose in the game. I don’t take winning for granted and my team and I work our ass off so we’re prepared for Thursday.”