Alexander Volkanovski has insisted that Lerone Murphy is a “no-brainer” as his next challenger for the UFC featherweight title, after the Briton’s stunning knockout of Aaron Pico. In the co-main event of UFC 319 on Saturday (16 August), Murphy finished Pico with a spinning back elbow in the first round, brutally ending the latter’s UFC debut.

UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has a clear idea of who he should fight next following UFC 319.

However, it was the co-main event between Lerone Murphy and UFC debutant Aaron Pico that stole the headlines after the Brit scored Knockout of the Year in the first round. Despite his strong start, Pico was met with a vicious spinning back elbow that instantly put his lights out and left him stiff on the canvas.

UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was zoning in on numerous opponents for his next title defense. At one point it appeared to be Yair Rodriguez, then the champion shifted his focus to the winner of the originally scheduled bout between Movsar Evloev and Aaron Pico at UFC on ABC 9 in July.

Former Bellator standout Aaron Pico has shared a heartfelt message with fans after coming up short in his UFC debut.