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Aaron Pico’s night ended abruptly at UFC 319. |
Getty/UFC
For Aaron Pico,
everything was going well — until suddenly it wasn’t.
The former Bellator
MMA standout had a strong start in the
UFC 319 co-main event, but his night ended abruptly when
Lerone
Murphy rendered him unconscious with a spinning back elbow 3:21
into the opening round of their featherweight bout at the United
Center in Chicago on Saturday night.
While a victory might have propelled Pico into immediate title
contention, the 28-year-old
Jackson-Wink MMA representative is taking his defeat in
stride.
Pico: ‘My Story is Not Over’
“Last night wasn’t my night, that’s the fight game,” Pico wrote on
his Instagram account. “I’m grateful for my team, my family, and
everyone who continues to support me. The supporters that have been
there from day one and my new supporters, I see you! Thank you.
Wins and losses both teach lessons, and I’ll come back sharper,
stronger, and better prepared. Thank you all who have sent messages
and checked in, my health is well.
“Thanks for riding with me. My story is not over.”
Pico fell to 13-5 in defeat, and all five of those losses have come
inside the distance — though one was a result of an unfortunate
shoulder injury. The California native has won nine of his last 11
professional outings overall.
