Murphy spoils Pico's UFC debut with devastating KO
Lerone Murphy spoiled Aaron Pico's UFC debut in brutal fashion, knocking out the former Bellator star with a spinning back elbow in the UFC 319 co-main event Saturday night at United Center in Chicago.
The finish came at the 3:21 mark of the first round. It was the second straight spinning-back-elbow knockout on the card - and the 10th in UFC history - after Carlos Prates finished Geoff Neal with the same move.
LERONE MURPHY SLEEPS AARON PICO IN ROUND 1!!!!
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 17, 2025
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! #UFC319 pic.twitter.com/dyhx2S3O7c
Pico overwhelmed Murphy early in the fight, putting pressure on the Englishman and landing punches in the pocket. He also scored a takedown two minutes into the round.
But in the end, Pico's aggressiveness caught up to him. As he was walking forward, Murphy clocked Pico with a spinning back elbow, resulting in the highlight-reel finish.
Murphy, the No. 6-ranked featherweight, improved to 17-0-1 as a professional. After the victory, he called for a title shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Pico signed with the UFC earlier this year after parting ways with the PFL. He fell to a career 13-5.