Latest news with #AaronPico
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UFC 319 'Embedded,' No. 1: Dricus Du Plessis gets first taste of the 'Friendly Confines'
The UFC is back in the "Windy City" for the first time in more than six years for UFC 319, its ninth pay-per-view of the calendar year, and the popular "Embedded" fight week video series is here to document what's happening behind the scenes. UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at United Center in Chicago. In the headliner, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) puts his title on the line for the third time when he meets unbeaten – and favored – challenger Khamzat Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC). In addition, wrestling standout Aaron Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his highly anticipated UFC debut after years in Bellator when he takes on unbeaten featherweight Lerone Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) in the co-main event. Plus, the popular Michael Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier (18-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) and more in the home of the Bulls and Blackhawks. The first episode of "Embedded" follows the headliners and featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC's description of the episode from YouTube: Champ Dricus du Plessis throws out the first pitch at the Cubs game and takes in a Bears practice; Michael 'Venom' Page has 'Uncle Bootcamp' with his nephews; Lerone Murphy gets hones his striking; Aaron Pico gets a new suit; Carlos Prates plays video games at home; Geoff Neal brings a mobile gym to his house for training; Khamzat Chimaev works on his cardio.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Video: UFC 319 'Countdown' for Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Did you miss the debut of UFC 319 "Countdown" or just want to watch it again? Check out the co-main event preview now. The segment takes a special look at the featherweight fight between Lerone Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) and former Bellator standout Aaron Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is making his UFC debut. UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at United Center in Chicago. "Countdown" goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don't miss the entire episode in the video below. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319 preview video: Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Video: UFC 319 'Countdown' for Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico
Did you miss the debut of UFC 319 "Countdown" or just want to watch it again? Check out the co-main event preview now. The segment takes a special look at the featherweight fight between Lerone Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) and former Bellator standout Aaron Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is making his UFC debut. UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at United Center in Chicago. "Countdown" goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don't miss the entire episode in the video below.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Henry Cejudo: Winner of Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico beats Alexander Volkanovski
Henry Cejudo has very high hopes for the winner of Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico at UFC 319. Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) welcomes Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon in the Aug. 16 co-main event at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+, ESPN, pay-per-view). Cejudo is touting the winner of that fight to dethrone UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC), a take that left his co-host Kamaru Usman completely baffled. "I personally feel like the winner of this fight is going to fight Alexander Volkanovski, and I also feel like the winner of this fight is going to become our next champion," Cejudo said on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with Kamaru Usman. "All due respect to Volk, but these young guns – Lerone Murphy is fighting Aaron Pico. Aaron Pico is in his f*cking prime – power, wrestling. "He's been a man child since he was a kid, already competing at the highest levels while in high school beating world champions. Then Lerone Murphy, what he's been able to do to a lot of these fighters – undefeated, very tricky, brings in a lot of the wrestling. He's just different. He's like a Merab (Dvalishvili) – they're pretty unpredictable, and how is it he's able to use that wrestling. I think this co-main event is the most competitive fight on this whole fight card." Pico is a slight favorite to hand Murphy his first career loss, and Cejudo sees that happening. "Honestly, I've got Aaron Pico," Cejudo said.
USA Today
05-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC 319 co-main event
Aaron Pico will still get a big opportunity in his promotional debut at UFC 319. Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico preview Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) originally was scheduled to make his octagon debut against No. 1-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev at UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi, but the bout was scrapped when Evloev withdrew. Instead, Pico gets No. 6 ranked Lerone Murphy in the UFC 319 co-main event in Chicago. Unbeaten in his professional MMA career, Murphy (16-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) is on an eight-fight winning streak, and is coming off a main event win over Josh Emmett at UFC on ESPN 65 in April. Meanwhile, Pico hasn't competed since a first-round TKO of Henry Corrales in February 2024. Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico odds According to FanDuel, Murphy is a slight +124 underdog against UFC newcomer Pico, who's a -158 favorite. How to watch Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico at UFC 319
