The Bellator standout Aaron Pico is the subject of discussion in UFC HQ, according to Dana White.

Pico, once considered to be among the top young prospects in mixed martial arts history, developed as one of Bellator’s chief homegrown stars in his near eight-year, 17-fight career with the organisation — and with his his contract without any remaining fights, he could potentially be heading for a new home.

“I definitely know the boys are interested in him,” White said of Pico post-UFC 311 last weekend in Inglewood, California.

Pico’s current deal with the PFL/Bellator has expired PFL co-founder Donn Davis recently confirmed, though the organisation retains a (soon to be expired) exclusive negotiation window with the fighter — after which the UFC would be free to discuss terms with the fighter and his representatives.

Pico debuted in Bellator in 2017 after being hailed by the promotion’s former president Scott Coker as a “blue chip” prospect. He narrowly missed out on qualifying for the US Olympic wrestling team in 2016 and had also trained boxing extensively from a young age under trainers like Freddie Roach.

He would go on to lose his debut MMA bout against Zach Freeman but has since assembled a 13-4 record. Most of his career came at featherweight (145-pounds) but his most recent fight, a first round TKO win over Henry Corrales last February, came in the lightweight division.