The UFC heads to Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday night with a stacked UFC 319 fight card on tap, and a marquee co-main event fight to boot with Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico.
Before the Du Plessis vs. Chimaev main event fight for the Middleweight title, Murphy vs. Pico could very well decide the next title contender in the Ffeatherweight division on Saturday night.
We'll breakdown our Murphy vs. Pico prediction and expert pick for the UFC 319 below, including PrizePicks UFC picks for this exciting featherweight bout.
Murphy vs. Pico Preview | UFC 319
Lerone Murphy will be stepping in on about a week’s notice to take on the uber-talented, ultra-hyped Aaron Pico in his UFC debut.
Murphy is still undefeated in his MMA career with a perfect 16-0-1 record, while Pico comes with multiple losses at 13-4. However, Pico’s hype stems from his accolades as a wrestler and a boxer.
Everyone is itching to see whether Pico is the real deal now that he is in the UFC after he most recently took down the PFL Championship; Murphy will be looking to take that hype away.
Make your UFC 319 predictions count on PrizePicks, where winning real money on UFC is as simple as possible. Just pick More or Less on fight time, significant strikes, or takedowns on any fight, then track the action live and cash out if your picks hit.
Murphy vs. Pico Start Time & Stats
UFC 319 is on tap this week in Chicago, Illinois, and we have a great co-main event between two surging featherweights Lerone Murphy and Aaron Pico. Either could be in line for a title shot with a win in the co-main this weekend.
How To Watch Murphy vs. Pico
- Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico
- Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
- Time: Main Card - 10 p.m. ET | Murphy vs. Pico Start Time: 11:30 p.m. ET (estimate)
- Location: United Center, Chicago, Ill.
- TV: ESPN+ PPV
Lerone Murphy Stats
- Overall Record: 16-0-1
- UFC Record: 8-0-1
- Last 5 Fights: 5-0
- Height: 5’9”
- Reach: 73.5”
- Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.53
- Takedowns Landed Per 15 Minutes: 1.45
- Last Fight: Win vs. Josh Emmett by Decision
- Finishes: 7 (7 KO/TKO)
Aaron Pico Stats
- Overall Record: 13-4
- Last 5 Fights: 4-1
- Height: 5’8”
- Reach: 71”
- Last Fight: Win vs. Henry Corrales by KO/TKO (R1)
- Finishes: 11 (9 KO/TKO/2 SUB)
Murphy vs. Pico Prediction & Expert Pick for UFC 319
Lerone Murphy (16-0-1) gets to welcome longtime Bellator prospect Aaron Pico (13-4) to the UFC octagon this Saturday when they square off in the co-main event at UFC 319.
This has the makings of being an absolute banger; these two fighters never have a dull moment, and both are prolific strikers, especially as featherweights.
Murphy is as tough and as well-rounded as they come in the featherweight division. However, he’s going to need to be at his best to combat against one of the most hyped prospects to come over from Bellator in Pico.
There's a reason why Pico begins his career in a co-main event: he is a star in the making. He’s got the wrestling pedigree and the knockout power to back it all up. Pico is great on the mic, and he always puts on a show for the fans.
This is certainly a fighter that UFC can back and really can make some noise in the featherweight division.
Murphy will need to fight the perfect fight at range, not engage in a brawl — where Pico can finish, and avoid the big shots to get the job done to remain undefeated.
As for Pico, he’s going to need to start fast, be aggressive, and just be his explosive self to get the biggest win of his career on the biggest stage of his career.
Prediction: Lerone Murphy – 55.5 Significant Strikes
- Murphy’s average fight time is 14:57
- This fight is projected to go the distance (15 minutes), as Pico's 2.5 total rounds projection is a Goblin on PrizePicks
- Murphy lands 4.53 significant strikes per minute
- Murphy throws 8.39 significant strikes per minute
- Murphy has a striking accuracy of 54%
- Murphy has landed 508 strikes (101.6 per fight) in his last five fights
Make UFC 319 Predictions on PrizePicks
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev is set for this Saturday, August 16, live on ESPN+ PPV from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The co-main event will pit two potential featherweight title contenders in Murphy vs. Pico, both looking for their shot at the UFC belt with a win.
The UFC 319 card has the makings to be the UFC card of the year, and Murphy vs. Pico is set to be one of the most exciting featherweight bouts we've seen in some time.
You can win real money by locking in your UFC 319 predictions on PrizePicks — from the first fight of the night all the way to the long-awaited middleweight title fight.
Just go to the PrizePicks MMA board, pick two or more UFC fighter projections, lock in your Lineup, and cash in if your picks are on point.
