Pico (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) took the fight against featherweight replacement opponent Lerone Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC), who stepped in for Movsar Evloev on just about three weeks' notice. He had won nine of his past 10 Bellator fights before that promotion was shuttered by the PFL, and the one loss was from an injury.

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.