Lerone Murphy created one of the most memorable moments of UFC 319 on 16/8 in Chicago, knocking out Aaron Pico with a rare spinning elbow at the end of the first round of their featherweight bout. It was only the 10th spinning elbow knockout in the 32-year history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
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Lerone Murphy knocks out Aaron Pico at UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on 16/8/2025. Photo: Reuters |
Lerone Murphy knocks out Aaron Pico at UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on 16/8/2025. Photo: Reuters
The 34-year-old Murphy, from England, accepted the fight just three weeks prior. Despite the short notice, he was the favorite, riding an eight-fight win streak. American Pico started strong, relentlessly pressuring Murphy with body shots and even taking him down before the two-minute mark. However, the fighter nicknamed "Manchester Miracle" remained composed, landing a knee to Pico's stomach that excited the crowd.
With seconds left in the first round, Pico charged at Murphy with his usual aggression. Murphy capitalized on Pico's momentum, spinning 180 degrees and unleashing a left spinning elbow that landed flush on Pico's face. Pico fell unconscious, and Murphy landed one more punch before the referee intervened.
Remarkably, just minutes earlier, Carlos Prates used the same spinning elbow technique to knock out Geoff Neal in the welterweight division. These two rare occurrences thrilled the crowd at the United Center. In a single night, they witnessed the ninth and 10th spinning elbow knockouts in UFC history.
Murphy earned the "Performance of the Night" bonus. In his post-fight interview, he exclaimed, "I created the moment of my life. I believe in myself, and I deserve a title shot. Volkanovski, I'm ready".
Regarding Pico, Murphy said, "He was too aggressive. I said beforehand that I would capitalize on that aggression, and I did".
Alexander Volkanovski, the 36-year-old two-time UFC featherweight champion from Australia, accepted Murphy’s challenge. Volkanovski currently holds the featherweight title.
The spinning elbow is considered a "secret weapon" in mixed martial arts (MMA). Fighters must turn their backs to their opponents when executing the strike, leaving themselves vulnerable for a brief moment. A missed spinning elbow can leave a fighter open to a counterattack or takedown. However, if it lands, the strike often results in an immediate knockout due to the rotational force and power generated from the elbow. Consequently, few fighters use this technique regularly.
In addition to the victories by Murphy and Prates, UFC 319 also featured a new middleweight champion. Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus du Plessis for five rounds, taking him down repeatedly before claiming the title. The Russian-born fighter praised his South African opponent: "Du Plessis is very strong and the only champion who could last 25 minutes against me. He is a true lion".
Hoang An (Daily Mail)
