Pico (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) took the fight against featherweight replacement opponent Lerone Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC), who stepped in for Movsar Evloev on just about three weeks' notice. He had won nine of his past 10 Bellator fights before that promotion was shuttered by the PFL, and the one loss was from an injury.

Aaron Pico’s UFC debut ended poorly, but he’s already looking ahead to his next opportunity. The former Bellator star co-headlined UFC 319 opposite top featherweight contender Lerone Murphy and though he had a few bright moments, Pico ultimately found himself on the wrong end of a spectacular spinning back elbow knockout.

UFC 319 was a dramatic affair from Chicago, Illinois, with a 12-fight card headlined by Dricus du Plessis and the newly-crowned champion Khamzat Chimaev. The main card saw back-to-back knockouts come by spinning elbow as Carlos Prates KO’d Geoff Neal, and the undefeated Lerone Murphy spoiled Aaron Pico’s UFC debut in brutal fashion.

Since Khamzat Chimaev won two fights in 10 days to kick off his UFC career in 2020, a title shot has felt inevitable. Chimaev finally gets that opportunity on Saturday night when he challenges for Dricus du Plessis' middleweight championship in the main event of UFC 319.

UFC 319 takes place on Saturday night with Dricus Du Plessis defending the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev. Here are the official weigh-in results.

The loaded UFC 319 main card, along with Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, had faceoffs at the press conference.

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

UFC 319 features two rising featherweight contenders looking to make a statement in front of a raucous Chicago crowd. Lerone Murphy and Aaron Pico will do battle as the lead into the much anticipated Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev title fight.