Aaron Pico is making his long-awaited UFC debut with his sights already set on the division’s king. The former Bellator standout signed with the UFC shortly before UFC 314 in April and now steps into the octagon for the first time against Lerone Murphy in the co-main event of UFC 319 in Chicago.
Pico was originally scheduled to face Movsar Evloev at UFC Abu Dhabi in July, but Evloev withdrew. The switch to Murphy was announced three weeks before UFC 319 during the UFC Abu Dhabi broadcast. Murphy, known as “The Miracle,” enters with an unbeaten record over 17 pro fights and has scored notable victories over Josh Emmett, Dan Ige, and Edson Barboza in his last three bouts. While Murphy may not have the same accolades as Evloev, Pico respects his achievements.
“They’re all great champions, they’re all great fighters,” Pico said. “Yeah, it’s a whole different style, but to be straight, I like fighting runners. I like guys that have good footwork. Really, I like that, but he’s going to be a tough guy to figure out, especially early on. But I believe my wrestling is better, and my grappling, and my striking, but I’m not taking him lightly or anything like that.
“You look at the guys that he’s fought, the Dan Iges, the Josh Emmetts, the Barbozas, and these guys are the best in the world, and he’s beaten all of them. So, yeah, no walk in the park.”
Pico knows that if he handles business in Chicago, he could get the call for a shot at Alexander Volkanovski’s title. Volkanovski reclaimed the UFC Featherweight Championship in April with a decision win over Diego Lopes, becoming a two-time titleholder. The UFC has yet to announce his first defense since regaining the belt, leaving room for new contenders.
“I feel I match up very well with Volkanovski, and I believe I can beat him,” Pico told MMA Fighting. “The power that I have in my hands, I can get him, and he’s never fought a wrestler like me. But yeah, he, in my opinion, is the greatest featherweight of all time. What he’s been able to do, to lose the title, then regain the title, that takes a lot. Especially as he’s getting up there in age, to be able to compete at a high level, I have a lot of respect for him.
At the end of the day, he has what I want, and it’s that belt. So if I have to take out Alexander Volkanovski, and I get the opportunity to do it, I’m going to take him out.”
The 28-year-old enters UFC 319 as a slight betting favorite. Known for his explosive style, Pico isn’t overcomplicating his approach despite the magnitude of his debut.
“I think, at the end of the day, I just got to go out there and do my job,” Pico said. “If you look at all my fights in the past, they’re all exciting, and I’m not putting pressure on myself, like I’ve got to do this, I’ve got to do that. I know I have to go out there and fight like Aaron Pico, and when Aaron Pico fights, he’s exciting. So I just have to let my work speak for itself, and I know after Aug. 16, the fans, the UFC, are going to know why they signed me because I’m the best fighter in the world at 145 pounds.”
As fight night approaches, Aaron Pico’s message is clear: respect for Volkanovski runs deep, but if the path to UFC gold leads through “The Great,” Pico is ready to walk it.
