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.

UFC 319 star Aaron Pico was transported to the hospital following his brutal KO loss to Lerone Murphy. The former Bellator standout made his eagerly-anticipated octagon bow against the Brit on a

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.

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,

In the UFC, timing is everything. When opportunity knocks, you’ve got to not only answer but slam the door shut with authority. That’s exactly what Lerone Murphy did at UFC 319. Originally slotted in as a replacement opponent for Aaron Pico after Movsar Evloev pulled out, Murphy wasn’t expected to steal the spotlight.

Ever since Aaron Pico signed with Bellator as a blue-chip prospect in 2014, it seemed inevitable that he would fight in the UFC. It comes Saturday.

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.

Alexander Volkanovski recently fired back at Aaron Pico after he made bold comments about a hypothetical fight between them.