British featherweight Lerone Murphy delivered a devastating spinning elbow that left Aaron Pico unconscious during their UFC 319 co-main event in Chicago on Saturday night, with the American being rushed to hospital shortly after.
The 34-year-old Manchester fighter's perfectly executed strike came in the opening round.
Murphy's elbow connected cleanly as he timed his clinch entry against the cage, sending Pico crashing to the canvas before he could land a follow-up hammerfist.
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The American fighter remained motionless on the octagon floor for several moments, requiring immediate medical attention from UFC staff.
The move left Aaron pico on the canvas just moments into his UFC debut
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The 28-year-old required hospitalisation following the brutal stoppage, with UFC president Dana White confirming Pico's transfer for medical assessment.
"Pico was transferred to [the hospital], but I haven't heard anything about Geoff [Neal]," White stated during the post-fight press conference.
The UFC chief expressed concern about Pico's condition, adding: "But Pico, I'm no doctor, but I'm gonna say he has a concussion for sure. But we haven't heard anything back that anything bad has happened. He's getting checked for his head and face."
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Lerone Murphy performed the stunning move within the first round
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The knockout marked Pico's octagon debut after transitioning from Bellator earlier this year.
The victory extended Murphy's flawless professional record to nine wins and one draw in the UFC, maintaining his unbeaten status at 16-0-1.
Immediately following his spectacular finish, the Manchester fighter seized his moment to challenge the division's champion.
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"I'm next in line," Murphy roared during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. "Let's go, [Alexander] Volkanovski!"
The Australian featherweight champion wasted no time acknowledging Murphy's performance and callout.
Alexander Volkanovski took to social media platform X, writing: "See you in December, @LeroneMurphy, congrats #ufc319."
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Lerone Murphy called out Alexander Volkanovski after his brutal victory
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The swift response from Volkanovski suggests a potential title bout could materialise before year's end, with December emerging as the likely timeframe.
The spectacular knockout established Murphy as the undisputed top challenger for the featherweight crown, with prominent UFC figures Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa both declaring him next in line for a title opportunity.
The victory represented a breakthrough moment for the sixth-ranked contender, who had been seeking a defining performance to propel himself to championship contention.
The result marked another successful night for British fighters at UFC 319, with Michael 'Venom' Page also securing a decision victory in his middleweight bout.
Murphy's spinning elbow became the second such knockout of the evening, following Carlos Prates' similar stoppage of Geoff Neal earlier on the card.