It took just seconds for the pair to each land big right hands, with Aaron Pico stumbling Lerone Murphy and making him take a knee in the early exchange. The ex-Bellator star flew out of the traps looking for the knockout shot but was caught in a choke that forced him to reconsider.

In a 3-round featherweight bout on the main card, Lerone Murphy and Aaron Pico meet Saturday at UFC 319 at United Center in Chicago.

Anything less than a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski will not satisfy British featherweight Lerone Murphy should he dispatch hot property Aaron Pico in the co-main event of UFC 319 this weekend, as he sets his sights on ruling the division by the year’s end.