A former UFC hunter wonders if Dana White enjoyed Aaron Pico's devastating debut setback in Chicago.
Before Khamzat Chimaev Drus Du Plessis descended to become the new middleweight champion in the main event, the UFC 319 head card contained some brutal finishes and shocking moments.
That included the knockout of Lerone Murphy against Aaron Pico in the co-headliner. After Carlos Prates Geoff Neal had slept with a rotating elbow, 'The Miracle' used the same movement to spoil the debut of Pico in a devastating way.
The result came in a fight in which the former Bellator was striking immediately in the deep end in the UFC, and one of the ex-fighters of the promotion sees a bye behind such 'sink or swimming' bookings.
Ex-Puc Fighter shares theory about how Dana White Books new signing sessions
Pico marked the latest name to jump from the PFL to the UFC after the acquisition of Bellator of the former end of 2023. He is a member of Patricio Pitbull and a fragmentary mix on the largest stage in MMA, and his arrival was not more successful than his old colleagues.
While Pitbull lost to Yair Rodriguez on UFC 314, Mix was dominated by Mario Bautista on UFC 316. Like the two, Pico was also handed top-10 competition for debut in the form of the unbeaten Murphy.
The result was not what the American had suggested, but in the eyes of ex-Puc heavyweight Zac Pauga it might have meant Dana White and his fellow-PUC Higher UPS.
“I feel that the UFC has transmitted all this Bellator/PFL/and Rizen boys and immediately gave them hard fighting to bend the other promotions,” Pauga wrote shortly before Pico was slept by the 17-0 Murphy.
I feel that the UFC has transmitted all this Bellator/PFL/EN RIZEN -BUNGENS and immediately gave them hard fighting to bend on the other promotions #UFC319
– Zac Pauga (@zacpauga) August 17, 2025
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The main card opener of UFC 319 saw ex-Rizin champion Kai Asakura fall to 0-2 in the UFC. His entry defeat against Tim Elliott came after his failed attempt to immediately disembark champion Alexandre Pantoja in December, which marked another example of a new signing that might be thrown at the wolves.
And it seems that many in the fan base agree with the recording of the former UFC hunter.
“Is logical.”
“I did not think in any way that the talent (in) UFC is skew, your take is more logical.”
“You can see Dana smile every time one of them loses.”
“I totally agree with that.”
“That is exactly the case.”
That is exactly the case
– Max glider ⚡️ (@max_glider) August 17, 2025
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Lerone Murphy's Ko against Aaron Pico could push him to the UFC -Fedweight title
While Aaron Pico will return to the drawing table and perhaps expect a lesser assignment for his second UFC fight, the brutal result on UFC 319 seems to have tied up a rocket ship at the back of Murphy.
Murphy has passed a four-year UFC finish of drought prior to Saturday's event. With one or other people as a factor that could influence his title costs, the Englishman has certainly justified that in an important way.
And 'The Miracle' probably seems to be rewarded for it, as Alexander Volkanovski called Murphy as his next challenger immediately after the conclusion of the UFC 319 Co-Main event.
“See you in December @Leronemurphy Congratulations #UFC319,” Volkanovski wrote on X.