Aaron Pico speaks out after brutal spinning elbow loss to Lerone Murphy at UFC 319

Aaron Pico has released a statement after his UFC debut ended in defeat on Saturday, as Lerone Murphy knocked him out with a brutal spinning back elbow.

UFC 319 saw Pico, 28, take his next career step after making his name in Bellator, but after showing promising signs in the early minutes, he was on the wrong end of a knockout of the year contender.

In fact, Murphy’s highlight-reel KO of the American was the second straight spinning back elbow knockout of the night, remarkably. In the previous fight, Carlos Prates beat Geoff Neal by the same means.

Prates’s strike came in the final second of the first round, dropped and badly hurt Neal, and was immediately touted as a contender for knockout of the year. Then, Murphy produced the same shot but put his opponent out cold, yet he added a hammer fist for good measure.

The Briton, 34, might have established himself as the No 1 contender to featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the process. Meanwhile, Pico must go back to the drawing board.

“Last night wasn’t my night, that’s the fight game,” Pico wrote on Instagram. “I’m grateful for my team, my family, and everyone who continues to support me.

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“The supporters that have been there from day one and my new supporters, I see you! Thank you. Wins and losses both teach lessons and I’ll come back sharper, stronger, and better prepared.

“Thank you all who have sent messages and checked in, my health is well. Thanks for riding with me. My story is not over.”

Although Pico was making his UFC debut, he believed that a win over Murphy might have skyrocketed him up the rankings, potentially earning him a shot at Volkanovski.

Now, however, attention turns to the potential of a Murphy vs Volkanovski fight, with the latter having reclaimed the featherweight belt in April.

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Volkanovski’s decision win over Diego Lopes saw the Australian claim the vacant title, after Ilia Topuria relinquished it and moved up to lightweight, where he won a second belt. Volkanovski’s previous fight was in fact a knockout loss to Topuria, as the latter won the title, which he then defended just once before giving it up.

In the main event of UFC 319 on Saturday (16 August), Pico’s teammate Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus Du Plessis to win the middleweight title, claiming a decision win.