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.

Aaron Pico’s UFC debut ended poorly, but he’s already looking ahead to his next opportunity. The former Bellator star co-headlined UFC 319 opposite top featherweight contender Lerone Murphy and though he had a few bright moments, Pico ultimately found himself on the wrong end of a spectacular spinning back elbow knockout.

UFC 319 was a dramatic affair from Chicago, Illinois, with a 12-fight card headlined by Dricus du Plessis and the newly-crowned champion Khamzat Chimaev. The main card saw back-to-back knockouts come by spinning elbow as Carlos Prates KO’d Geoff Neal, and the undefeated Lerone Murphy spoiled Aaron Pico’s UFC debut in brutal fashion.

UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev headline an overall entertaining UFC 319 fight card

The UFC paid out more than $300,000 in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay to the veteran-heavy UFC 319 lineup.

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.

The Dricus Du Plessis championship era was brought to a halt Saturday at UFC 319 courtesy of Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) was handily beaten by Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the form of a unanimous decision at United Center in Chicago,

The UFC main card was one of the best of the year, with two spinning back elbow finishes and a dominant performance by new middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.