Aaron Pico will make his UFC debut against undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy in the co-main event of UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago, following a change from his previously scheduled fight with Movsar Evloev.
Aaron Pico’s gearing up for his octagon debut, and guess what? UFC 319’s got a fresh co-main event.
During Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi broadcast, it was revealed that Pico (13-4) will clash with undefeated featherweight contender Lerone Murphy (16-0-1). This showdown is set for Aug. 16 at the United Center in Chicago. Exciting, right?
Originally, Pico was supposed to fight Movsar Evloev at UFC Abu Dhabi. But Evloev pulled out for mysterious reasons. Instead of rescheduling, the UFC’s opted for a new matchup that might just determine the next challenger for 145-pound champ Alexander Volkanovski.
At 28, Pico has only fought under Bellator until PFL took over. With a 13-4 record, nine of those wins were knockouts. He’s been on a roll, winning three straight and nine of his last ten. His only recent loss? A shoulder injury against Jeremy Kennedy. After becoming a free agent last December, he joined the UFC in April.
As for Murphy, he’s 34 and steadily rising in the featherweight ranks. With victories over Josh Emmett, Dan Ige, and Edson Barboza, he’s positioned himself as a top contender. Undefeated in 17 pro bouts, no less.
And don’t forget, UFC 319’s main event features a middleweight title clash: champion Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev. Quite the lineup!