Aaron Pico’s long-awaited UFC debut got here with the potential for an instantaneous title shot with a win. As an alternative, the previous uber prospect and Bellator MMA star was knocked out chilly in spectacular and violent vogue at UFC 319 in Chicago.
Lerone Murphy (17-0-1) took one large step nearer to a shot at featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski’s title by making Pico (13-5) pay for his overaggressiveness. The 34-year-old native of England delivered the tenth spinning again elbow knockout in promotional historical past (one battle after welterweight Carlos Prates completed Geoff Neal with the identical strike) to deliver an finish to Saturday’s co-main occasion at 3:21 of Spherical 1 contained in the United Middle.
“This sport is all about moments and I simply created one,” Murphy stated. “I wanted one thing like this. I took the battle on three weeks’ discover, I believed in myself and now I am subsequent in line. Let’s go, Volkanovski.”
Volkanovski (27-4), the 36-year-old two-time champion at 145 kilos who recaptured his title by defeating Diego Lopes for the vacant belt in April, spent the previous week exchanging trash discuss with Pico. However the Australian champion took to social media after Murphy’s win to put in writing, “See you in December @LeroneMurphy congrats #UFC319.”
Pico, 28, a former Bellator MMA star who was granted his launch from PFL earlier this yr, was aggressive off the soar as he backed Murphy up with combos and briefly stumbled him with a physique shot. Pico continued to hammer Murphy with energy pictures earlier than he obtained clipped by a brief left hook whereas making an attempt a takedown.
Moments later, Pico scored an ideal double-leg takedown and started to rein down sharp elbows from prime place. However after Murphy labored his strategy to his toes, he started to pickup the timing of Pico’s aggressive pursuits.
Along with his again to the cage, Murphy unleashed an ideal spinning elbow that left Pico immobile on the bottom as referee Herb Dean instantly referred to as a halt to the bout.
“Pico is nice, hats off to Pico,” Murphy stated. “That was the toughest first couple of minutes I ever had. He was harmful however I knew he was going to stroll into one thing. I used to be getting his timing down. He was too aggressive. I stated in my prefight interview that I might use his aggression in opposition to him.”
