Lerone Murphy pulled off a stunning victory at UFC 319 as he delivered a spinning elbow to knockout opponent Aaron Pico.
The Manchester-born star, 34, agreed to get into the octagon in Chicago just three weeks before the event, putting his eight-fight winning streak well and truly on the line.
But his American opponent started the bout strongly in the early hours of this morning, putting Murphy on the back foot with some aggressive body shots.
The Brit however kept his composure, replying with a short elbow before being briefly taken down just before the two-minute mark of the first round.
It wasn’t long before Murphy began to grow into the fight however, as he struck his opponent with a knee to the body which brought a roar from the crowd.
With Pico still putting pressure on Murphy with shots to the body as the opening round neared its close, out of nowhere the ‘Manchester Miracle’ delivered an incredible spinning-elbow, knocking Pico out before he hit the floor. The fight was won.
Lerone Murphy delivered a stunning spinning elbow to knockout his opponent Aaron Pico
Murphy was jubilant after pulling off the victory, which now likely gives him a shot at a title fight
The victory means Murphy may now get a shot at the featherweight title, and in his post-match interview he was clear about who he wants his next opponent to be.
‘This sport is all about moments and I just created one,’ he said.
‘I believed in myself and I’m next in line, let’s go [Alexander] Volkanovski!
‘Pico is good, hats off to him, it’s the hardest first few minutes I’ve ever had. He’s too aggressive. I said it in my pre-fight interview that I’d use his aggression against him.
‘Can just say, my team-mate Jordan deserves to be in the UFC, please Dana, he’s ready.’
Murphy’s brutal spinning elbow knockout was only the 10th in the history of the UFC.
But what’s even more shocking is that the eighth came just minutes before the Brit delivered his knockout blow, as Carlos Prates sent Geoff Neal to the floor.
One of the most dangerous fighters at welterweight level, Prates began to dominate the fight with a mixed attack of kicks and knees to the body after an entertaining opening round.
It came just minutes after Carlos Prates also delivered a knockout spinning elbow against Geoff Neal
Khamzat Chimaev closed out the event with a dominant display against South African Dricus du Plessis
Elsewhere in what was a thoroughly entertaining night of UFC, Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis closed out the event in a highly-anticipated fight in the middleweight division.
Chimaev, arguably the scariest fighter in his sport, showed his class however in what was ultimately a pretty one-sided affair.
After multiple take downs, the Russian became the new UFC middleweight champ, praising his South African opponent following the fight.
‘He is very strong,’ Chimaev said.
‘The only champion who would take 25 minutes of that, he is a real lion. I just do what I do in training.’
