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Stream UFC 319 on ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv
Charly Arnolt interviews featherweights Aaron Pico and Lerone Murphy ahead of Saturday's co-main event in Chicago.
#UFC319 #UFC #Pico
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Video Transcript
Aaron, welcome to the UFC. Eight years
since you turned pro. What is it like to
finally be in this position?
Uh, it feels really good. It's been a
it's been a great fight week. I made
weight, got to meet everybody, but I'm
keeping in mind the job is Saturday
night and that's what I'm focused on
right now.
You called this a sink or swim moment. I
know this is a career-defining moment
for you. What is it like knowing that
the UFC had that much confidence in you
to throw you in such deep water so early
on?
Well, I think in my opinion, every fight
for me was sink or swim. You know, I
didn't have an easy journey to get here
and I don't I don't take anything for
granted. I'm thankful uh that the UFC
gave me this opportunity and I promise
that I'm going to deliver tomorrow
night. When you look at the names, some
of your, you know, former teammates,
some of the people you worked with under
the Bellator banner coming in getting a
little bit of jitters in their debut and
things not going exactly the way that
they anticipated. Does it make you feel
any additional pressure?
Yeah, I think Patchy Mix and Patricio
are great fighters, but there are no
Aaron Pico. And I'm going to just be
upfront. Of course, I feel I feel
nervous. I feel pressure, but like I
always tell my coach and he tells me,
just make sure that the butterflies are
in check. They're trying to come out of
formation right now, but I'm doing a
good job of keeping them all in line and
and I'm not going to lie to you,
tomorrow I'm going to be very nervous,
but I've been in this position before,
and I need to go out there and do my
job.
Well, you had an opportunity to train,
at least condition alongside one of the
best, Tom Hamzachi. Uh you got several
sessions in with him over the course of
your camp. Was that a nice little
confidence booster? Yeah, it was really
it was a pleasure to work out with
Hamzad and and push each other and I uh
I was saying that he is a he's a killer
and he's a beast, but one thing that I
really sit out, he's a very kind man and
and uh I respect I respect him a lot and
I and I can't wait for him to go out
there and do his thing tomorrow.
Finally, you have already made it very
clear you think you're going to be a big
problem for the featherweight division.
What's a victory going to mean for you
and the division as in in its entirety?
Well, God willing, we get the victory
tomorrow night and Vulcanowski's next.
And I think with a big win tomorrow, the
whole featherweights on notice, the fans
know who I am and I'm going to be a
problem for everybody.
I love the confidence. Well, best of
luck to you and thank you so much.
Thank you, Charlie.
Luron, you took this fight on three
weeks notice. We all know it's high
risk, high reward. What exactly is your
mindset heading into this weekend?
Go out there and win. Simple as that.
Um, it's a big fight, big opportunity.
Um, I got to go out there and perform.
Now's my time.
How did you make the most of these past
3 weeks
training? I'm always in the gym, but we
just stepped up the intensity,
obviously. Watch my opponent, watch his
flaws, um, and put put together a game
plan.
Uh, you know, Aaron Pico is the latest
name, the latest big name to come from
the Bellator PFL banner. We've seen
what's happened with the last few who've
made their UFC debuts. Do you expect
Aaron Pico to be on top of his game or
are you expecting some jitters from him?
I expect the best Aaron Pico. Um he's
had he's watched obviously them guys
come over here as well. He's a bit
younger than them. He's in his prime. So
I expect the best people. I'm not
banking on UFC jitters and ready to go.
You said in fighter meetings you liked
this matchup. What is it about this
matchup you specifically like?
He's aggressive um and he brings the
fight. So I'm I'm expecting a barn
burner and I know the fans are going to
love it. In terms of how this could
shake up the division, what do you think
having a statement victory will mean for
you?
Yeah, straight to the top in it.
Vulcanoski's already said there's a lot
of talk there. So, it'll be a
championship match next.
And how about this crowd? I mean,
there's not much more you can say. You
probably wouldn't want a more riled up
crowd than you're getting here in
Chicago. What was it like being out
there?
Yeah, it's crazy energy. I can't wait
for tomorrow night. Um, the energy is
crazy. Like, I've had nine fights in the
UFC and I think this is the best crowd
I've come across yet.
Well, best of luck to you. Thank you so
much.