LERONE MURPHY is on the cusp of a UFC title shot following a sensational spinning elbow KO of Aaron Pico on the biggest spot of his career.
The Manchester ‘Miracle’ locked horns with the former Bellator standout early this morning in the co-main event of UFC 319 in Chicago.
GettyLerone Murphy locked horns with Aaron Pico in the co-main event of UFC 319[/caption]
GettyPico was aggressive from the outset and looked to repeatedly take down Murphy[/caption]
Muprhy iced Pico with a beautifully-timed spinning elbow
GettyPico was left unconscious after eating Murphy’s picture-perfect elbow[/caption]
Murphy put his eight-fight win streak on the line in his clash with the former uber-prospect, which he had THREE WEEKS to prepare for.
The Manchester Top Team standout was hoping a dominant victory over the American would earn him the next crack at featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.
And he staked his claim for a title shot with a first-round KO victory over Californian clubber Pico, which saw him move to 9-0 in MMA‘s top promotion.
“I’m next in line,” he roared in his post-fight interview. “Let’s go, Volkanovski!”
Pico immediately took the centre of the octagon and put Murphy on the back foot before going to work with vicious body shots against the cage.
Murphy remained composed and landed a nasty short elbow in tight before briefly being taken down.
He looked to establish distance with a long teep and strikes from distance but was taken down again just before the two-minute mark.
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GettyLerone Murphy roared with delight after picking up the biggest win of his career[/caption]
But he managed to return to his feet again and landed a beautiful knee to the body, which echoed throughout the arena just before the midway point of the round.
Pico continued to pressure and look for clinches across the fence.
And Murphy beautifully timed his entry with a sensational spinning elbow KO to punch his ticket to a title shot.
Pico was out cold before he even hit the canvas and Muprhy landed an academic hammerfist, which he pulled back on.
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