There\u2019s already plenty of major events and high-profile fights<\/a> scheduled for the first quarter of next year, and perhaps one of the UFC cards already on the calendar for 2026 will feature\u2019s Pico\u2019s return to the Octagon. <\/p>\n Lerone Murphy Spoiled Aaron Pico’s UFC Debut With Brutal KO<\/p>\n One of the most highly-touted prospects in MMA history, Pico joined the UFC to considerable fanfare last year after spending the entirety of his 17-fight pro career competing under the Bellator MMA banner.<\/p>\n Aaron Pico fights Leandro Higo during Bellator 206 at SAP Center. | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The 29-year-old was thrown right into the deep end of the UFC\u2019s featherweight division when he was initially booked to debut against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev last July. Following Evloev\u2019s withdrawal from that matchup, Pico was rebooked to meet another top-ranked (and also unbeaten) fighter in Lerone Murphy on the main card of UFC 319. <\/p>\n READ MORE: UFC Champion Tom Aspinall sets clear plan for return fight after eye surgeries<\/a><\/p>\n Slightly favored to get his hand raised in his promotional debut, Pico found himself on the wrong end of a stunning highlight<\/a> when Murphy slept the former Bellator star with an incredible spinning back elbow during the opening round. <\/p>\n Timed this one right \u23f0@LeroneMurphy<\/a>‘s KO at UFC 319 was WILD and is the next nominee for #UFCHonors<\/a> Knockout of the Year \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n [ Voting begins December 27th ] pic.twitter.com\/VNnetxvxOV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 UFC (@ufc) December 11, 2025<\/a>Aaron Pico Drops Training Clip Ahead Of 2026<\/p>\n Murphy\u2019s win understandably joined 2025\u2019s \u201cKnockout of the Year\u201d conversation alongside another spinning back elbow finish that Carlos Prates scored against Leon Edwards<\/a> in the night\u2019s previous fight, while Pico was left to regroup after being knocked out for the first time since 2019. <\/p>\n Lerone Murphy (red gloves) fights Aaron Pico (blue gloves) during UFC 319 at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Now several months removed from the loss, the 29-year-old has fans excited about the prospect of his return after posting a video of himself working on his wrestling with Real Woods. <\/p>\n Prior to his UFC debut against Murphy, Pico was on a three-fight win streak that included first-round finishes of longtime Bellator veterans Henry Corrales and Pedro Carvalho. Pico has scored stoppages in 11 out of his 13 pro MMA wins, with nine of those victories coming by way of knockout. <\/p>\n READ MORE: UFC legend criticizes the UFC for only wanting one specific type of MMA fighter<\/a><\/p>\n While Pico\u2019s latest training clip is far from a fight announcement, it does seem as if fans can start looking forward to seeing the 29-year-old\u2019s sophomore outing in the UFC at some point in the near future.<\/p>\n More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC star signs off on new fight offer just days after withdrawing from UFC 326<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Oktagon MMA double-champ runs through top heavyweight that left UFC on win streak<\/a> <\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ilia Topuria shows off blistering hand speed as fans wait on UFC champ’s return fight<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0MMA veteran that was never knocked out in the UFC suffers brutal KO loss<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kdray722pp5dn3k6ay.jpg\" "\\"Aaron")
<\/p>\n![\"Lerone](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01kdrb2x0wf7a15t03fa.jpg\" "\\"Lerone")
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