UFC featherweight Lerone Murphy took a fight on three weeks notice, and possibly turned it into a title shot when he flatlined Aaron Pico at UFC 319 on Saturday night.
Murphy (17-0-1) landed a vicious spinning elbow that put Pico’s lights out and blew the roof off the United Center in Chicago. For someone who has said in the past that he wasn’t one to talk trash he may have just punched his ticket by just being as violent as possible.
“That was massive. UFC 319 co-main event. I needed something big like this and obviously the UFC is about moments. I just created a great moment then for myself,” Murphy told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“It’s just a fight. You go in there with the intentions (to create a moment), but I don’t search for it.”
Pico came at Murphy with his patented super aggressive pressure style and may have set himself up for that nasty knockout.
“I knew it was going to come though because his pressure. He was very good though I have to hold my hat off to him. He’s a very good fighter. I think he’ll do well in the UFC. He’s going to learn from this. You can’t pressure high level fighters like that,” he said.
Now Murphy has the featherweight champion calling him out for a fight in December. Alexander Volkanovski posted on X, “See you in December, @LeroneMurphy congrats #UFC319”
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“December would be perfect for me. Gives me time to recharge, spend some time with the family, and then work on some bits. Get better and come back better. December would be great to share the octagon with Volkanovski one of the featherweight goats. Adding another scalp to my already quality resume,” said Murphy.
Murphy doesn’t plan to suddenly start talking trash to get opportunities in the UFC. He’s just fine putting on performances and getting violent knockouts.
“I’ll always be me,” Murphy told Cageside Press.
“I’ll always stick to me. Don’t get me wrong, if people give it to me I’ll give it them back.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Lerone Murphy above.
