The UFC 319 co-main event had the makings of a potential No. 1 contender fight and Lerone Murphy stated his case in no uncertain terms with an unreal first-round spinning back elbow knockout of Aaron Pico. Murphy is undefeated in 17 pro bouts, including a 9-0-1 mark in the UFC, and his finish of Pico could propel him into a long-awaited title shot.

UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was zoning in on numerous opponents for his next title defense. At one point it appeared to be Yair Rodriguez, then the champion shifted his focus to the winner of the originally scheduled bout between Movsar Evloev and Aaron Pico at UFC on ABC 9 in July.

The UFC main card was one of the best of the year, with two spinning back elbow finishes and a dominant performance by new middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

Interview: The Manchester featherweight eyes a dream title fight on home soil, but first up is Emmett in Vegas, after UFC London proved elusive

Khamzat Chimaev dethroned UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis Saturday night, winning by unanimous decision in dominant fashion at the United Center in Chicago. Chimaev, the 31-year-old Russian,