UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was zoning in on numerous opponents for his next title defense. At one point it appeared to be Yair Rodriguez, then the champion shifted his focus to the winner of the originally scheduled bout between Movsar Evloev and Aaron Pico at UFC on ABC 9 in July.

Our UFC 319 picks don't think Aaron Pico successfully transitions from Bellator when he goes toe to toe vs. Lerone Murphy

Anything less than a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski will not satisfy British featherweight Lerone Murphy should he dispatch hot property Aaron Pico in the co-main event of UFC 319 this weekend, as he sets his sights on ruling the division by the year’s end.

Pico (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) originally was scheduled to make his octagon debut against No. 1-ranked featherweight Movsar Evloev at UFC on ABC 9 in Abu Dhabi, but the bout was scrapped when Evloev withdrew. Instead, Pico gets No. 6 ranked Lerone Murphy in the UFC 319 co-main event in Chicago.

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