Lerone Murphy made the biggest statement of his career in the co-main event of UFC 319, delivering a spectacular first-round knockout against Aaron Pico. After surviving Pico’s early wrestling pressure and aggressive striking, Murphy perfectly timed a spinning elbow at 3:21 of Round 1, instantly shutting the lights out and stunning the Chicago crowd. The highlight-reel finish earned him Performance of the Night honors, extended his unbeaten record to 17-0-1, and bolstered his case as one of the most dangerous contenders in the featherweight division. Immediately after, Murphy called for a title shot, and reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski quickly responded on X, proposing a showdown in December, a matchup Dana White has signaled he is open to booking.

The UFC should waste no time in making Murphy vs. Volkanovski for the featherweight title. The timing is perfect. Volkanovski reclaimed the belt earlier this year against Diego Lopes, proving he still has the skill and grit to reign atop the division at age 36. Meanwhile, Murphy has quietly put together an eight-fight unbeaten run in the UFC, capped by victories over veterans like Edson Barboza, Josh Emmett, and now a highly touted prospect in Pico. This fight represents the classic storyline of a dominant veteran champion defending his throne against an undefeated, hungry challenger.

From a stylistic standpoint, Murphy’s sharp boxing, composure under pressure, and opportunistic finishing ability contrast beautifully with Volkanovski’s relentless pace, wrestling, and tactical brilliance. It is the kind of matchup that could headline a December pay-per-view, perhaps in Las Vegas or even London, where Murphy would draw strong support as the first English featherweight title challenger since Michael Bisping’s run at middleweight glory.

Last Five Fights – Lerone Murphy:

1. Win over Aaron Pico – KO (spinning back elbow), UFC 319 (August 16, 2025)
2. Win over Josh Emmett – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN: Emmett vs. Murphy (April 5, 2025)
3. Win over Dan Ige – Decision (unanimous), UFC 308 (October 26, 2024)
4. Win over Edson Barboza – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy (May 18, 2024)
5. Win over Joshua Culibao – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura (July 22, 2023)

Last Five Fights – Alexander Volkanovski:

1. Win over Diego Lopes – Decision (unanimous), UFC 314 (April 12, 2025)
2. Loss to Ilia Topuria – KO (punch), UFC 298 (February 17, 2024)
3. Loss to Islam Makhachev – KO (head kick and punches), UFC 294 (October 21, 2023)
4. Win over Yair Rodríguez – TKO (punches), UFC 290 (July 8, 2023)
5. Loss to Islam Makhachev – Decision (unanimous), UFC 284 (February 12, 2023)