Overview

• Undefeated Lerone Murphy accepted a three-week-notice contract to face unranked debutant Aaron Pico in the UFC 319 co-main event on August 16 in Chicago.
• Murphy, now 16-0-1, described the late booking as a “blessing” that eased his mental prep and vowed to seek a finish to bolster his championship credentials.
• Pico enters the Octagon at 13-4 after rebounding from early Bellator knockout losses with a first-round win over Henry Corrales and training under Jackson Wink MMA Academy guidance.
• Prominent analysts have pegged the Murphy-Pico winner as likely to become a title eliminator in the featherweight ranks led by champion Alexander Volkanovski.
• Both fighters promise aggressive game plans at the United Center as they chase a performance that could accelerate their shot at UFC gold.