Aaron Pico has released a statement after his UFC debut ended in defeat on Saturday, as Lerone Murphy knocked him out with a brutal spinning back elbow.

Lerone Murphy got the highlight moment he was hoping for, while spoiling the debut of Aaron Pico in the UFC 319 co-main event.

UFC 319 delivered some memorable moments Saturday night, but for UFC featherweight contender Lerone Murphy, he may had his coming out party after all.

Getty/UFC Lerone Murphy's UFC 319 win might have sealed a title shot for him. While Movsar Evloev has long been the frontrunner in the race for a featherweight title shot, it has unfortunately evaded him thus far.

Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC) was tasked with welcoming Bellator and PFL veteran Pico (13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) to the octagon in the co-headliner at United Center in Chicago. Just like every other time in his career, he refused to lose and emerged with a first-round knockout triumph to further elevate his own profile in the 145-pound title picture.

Aaron Pico's long-awaited UFC debut came with the possibility of an immediate title shot with a win. Instead, the former uber prospect and Bellator MMA star was knocked out cold in spectacular and violent fashion at UFC 319 in Chicago .

Lerone Murphy kept his unbeaten record intact and further established himself as a featherweight contender with a first-round knockout win over Aaron Pico in the co-main event of UFC 319.

Lerone Murphy's spinning-elbow knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319 may have just earned him a shot at featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.