Lerone Murphy def. Aaron Pico at UFC 319
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This was certainly the case after Lerone Murphy knocked Aaron Pico out cold in the first round with a devastating spinning elbow. Along with immediately receiving praise from Dana White, Murphy’s win also attracted the attention of Volkanovski, who appeared to zero in on the undefeated Brit as his next challenger.
Aaron Pico has not wasted any time making his intentions clear in the UFC. The former Bellator standout enters the promotion with a decorated wrestling pedigree and wants to test it against divisional champion Alexander Volkanovski.
UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was zoning in on numerous opponents for his next title defense. At one point it appeared to be Yair Rodriguez, then the champion shifted his focus to the winner of the originally scheduled bout between Movsar Evloev and Aaron Pico at UFC on ABC 9 in July.
Aaron Pico already checked off one of the major boxes towards his goal of becoming a UFC world champion. On Saturday, he tries to add another. The longtime Bellator standout signed with the UFC shortly before UFC 314 in April,
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on Aaron Pico's nasty knockout defeat in the co-main event of UFC 319 last weekend.
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski warns Aaron Pico that he's a different level. Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) said he's confident that he has the skillset to knock out Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC), and that the champion has never faced anyone with his wrestling caliber.
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Sporting News on MSN'See you soon': Volkanovski reacts to Murphy's stunning knockout at UFC 319
Lerone Murphy's spinning-elbow knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319 may have just earned him a shot at featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.
Carlos Prates landed a savage spinning elbow knockout win over Geoff Neal at UFC 319. In the very next fight, Murphy connected with the same scary strike to put Pico to sleep and make his case for a 145lb title shot. Volkanovski’s immediate reaction to the sickening finish suggests the Englishman is next in line.