May 12, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Aaron Pico (red gloves) defeats Lee Morrison (blue gloves) during Bellator 199 at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Dave Mandel-USA TODAY Sports

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Aaron Pico Gets Replacement Debut Fight At UFC 319 After Movsar Evloev Withdrawal

With Movsar Evloev out, hyped featherweight prospect Aaron Pico stays on the UFC 319 card with a new opponent for his Octagon debut!

May 12, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Aaron Pico (red gloves) defeats Lee Morrison (blue gloves) during Bellator 199 at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Dave Mandel-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Pico has been knocking on the UFC’s door for what feels like forever. The guy was supposed to be the next big thing in mixed martial arts when he burst onto the scene as a teenager. But the UFC remained just out of reach while he built his reputation in other promotions like Bellator and PFL.

The MMA world has watched Pico grow up in real time, stumbling through some tough losses early in his career before finding his groove. Now at 27, he’s finally ready for the big leagues, and the UFC brass clearly thinks so too. They handed him a debut fight that was supposed to happen last weekend, but as any fight fan knows, the sport loves throwing curveballs when fans least expect them.

Last-Minute Changes At UFC Abu Dhabi Delay Aaron Pico’s Debut

Pico’s original opponent, undefeated Movsar Evloev, had to pull out due to illness just days before the UFC Abu Dhabi event. In typical UFC fashion, they didn’t waste time finding a replacement scenario. Instead of scrambling for a last minute substitute, they pulled Pico from the card entirely and started plotting something bigger.

Movsar Evloev is OUT of his fight against Aaron Pico on July 26th‼️

Via @RedCorner_MMA & @VestnikMMA pic.twitter.com/o6McbEtpmL
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 14, 2025

The promotion announced during the broadcast of that event that Pico would get his shot at UFC 319 on August 16th in Chicago. But here’s the twist, instead of rebooking the Evloev fight, they’re throwing him against Lerone Murphy as his welcome gift! Murphy brings a perfect 16-0-1 record to the table and hasn’t lost a single fight since joining the promotion.

Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico: A Test For Both

Murphy isn’t just some random opponent they pulled from the rankings. This guy has been quietly building one of the most impressive resumes in the featherweight division. He’s taken out quality fighters like Dan Ige, Edson Barboza, and Josh Emmett without breaking much of a sweat. His only blemish is a draw.

Aaron Pico will make his UFC debut against Lerone Murphy at #UFC319 in Chicago, John Gooden announced during the #UFCAbuDhabi broadcast.

This bout will serve as the co-main event. pic.twitter.com/LEFGZPYxxx
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 26, 2025

For Pico, this matchup represents everything he’s been working toward and everything he will need to prove. Murphy’s well rounded game and proven UFC experience make him the perfect measuring stick for a debut. Win this fight, and Pico announces himself as a legitimate contender. Lose, and he joins the long list of hyped prospects who couldn’t handle the step up in competition. The co main event slot at UFC 319 puts extra spotlight on this moment in Pico’s career. Chicago’s United Center will witness whether all those years of development outside the UFC were worth the wait!

(Image Credit: David Mandel – Imagn Images)

Aaron Pico

Lerone Murphy

Movsar Evloev

UFC 319

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!