You only get one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut!
Three athletes debuted in “Chi Town” last night (Sat., Aug. 16, 2025) at UFC 319 inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Two of them lost, with one of them going to the hospital.
Now that the dust has settled, let’s grade their performances below:
Aaron Pico
Aaron Pico looked phenomenal—until he didn’t. It’s a recurring theme that continues to define the former Bellator star’s rollercoaster career.
Pico stepped into the octagon for his highly anticipated
UFC debut in last night’s co-main event against Featherweight standout Lerone Murphy and was knocked out cold in the first round by a vicious spinning back elbow that left him crumpled on the canvas (watch highlights). Following the brutal knockout, Pico was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
The hype surrounding Pico was palpable, and for the opening minutes, he delivered. He unleashed a barrage of punishing body shots that visibly rocked Murphy and showcased his wrestling pedigree with two clean takedowns, controlling the Brit for nearly a minute on the mat. Pico landed 18 of 25 significant strikes, with 10 targeting the body, before the tide turned.
The 28-year-old was ultra-aggressive, as always, but that aggression cost him, just as it has in his three previous knockout losses. It’s the story of his career: he looks dominant, hurts his opponents, gets overly aggressive chasing the finish, leaves his chin exposed, and gets knocked out.
Granted, the spinning back elbow was unexpected, but Pico also absorbed another elbow and a knee that came dangerously close to his chin during the fight.
This loss won’t age poorly. Murphy, now 14-0-1 and riding a wave of momentum, is probably going to fight for the title in his next outing. However, the damage Pico has absorbed is alarming. This marks his third brutal knockout loss, raising questions about his durability at just 28 years old.
While I still believe he has a high ceiling, I would like to see him take a step back in competition and fight a Nate Landwehr or Andre Fili
Despite flashes of brilliance, Pico’s inability to close the show without catastrophic consequences overshadows his performance.
Final Grade: D+
Baisangur Susurkaev
What a week for UFC newcomer Baisangur Susurkaev.
The 24-year-old Chechen phenom earned a UFC contract on the Season 9 premiere of Contender Series with a first-round body-kick knockout over Murtaza Talha, leaving UFC CEO Dana White in awe. White wasted no time, booking Susurkaev into the UFC 319 prelims headliner against fellow newcomer Eric Nolan just four days later in Chicago—an unprecedented turnaround for a Contender Series graduate
Susurkaev secured a second-round submission victory over Nolan (watch highlights), but the fight was no cakewalk despite his -1200 favorite status.
For the first three minutes, Susurkaev styled on Nolan, peppering him with crisp kicks and punches while showboating with a grin. Though he didn’t land a high volume—connecting on 12 of 28 significant strikes—his shots had Nolan reeling.
However, Susurkaev’s lackadaisical approach backfired at the end of the round, and he ate a bomb that wobbled him pretty badly, and if the round didn’t end, things could have gotten way worse.
To his credit, Susurkaev showed resilience. He stormed out in Round 2 with bad intentions, buckling Nolan with two vicious leg kicks. A swift takedown followed, and Susurkaev unleashed a barrage of ground-and-pound before locking in a guillotine choke to force the tap.
While Susurkaev was seconds away from being fraud checked in the worst way, he came out on top and concluded an epic week — and best of all, UFC is behind this guy.
UFC is behind this guy, and he checks a lot of boxes. I would like to see him fight a UFC vet like Rodolfo Vieira in his next outing before he gets ultra pushed.
At 24 years old, Susurkaev checks every box—youth, skill, and star power. He’s a name to watch in the Middleweight division.
Final Grade: B+
Eric Nolan
Former CFFC Welterweight champion Nolan gave it his all on just four days’ notice, and it was enough to earn another shot in the UFC, according to the UFC head honcho.
Nolan showcased his striking prowess in the opening round, rocking Susurkaev with a thunderous right hand that nearly stole the show. A late flurry of punches had the Chicago crowd roaring and the heavily favored Susurkaev on the ropes. Nolan landed 15 of 22 significant strikes in Round 1, demonstrating he could hang with a hyped prospect.
However, Nolan’s debut was a tale of two rounds. His crisp boxing and relentless heart nearly secured an upset in the first, but Round 2 exposed vulnerabilities. A pair of brutal leg kicks from Susurkaev compromised Nolan’s mobility, which quickly led to a takedown and submission loss.
Fighting up at Middleweight, Nolan showed promise but couldn’t overcome the size disadvantage and Susurkaev’s grappling. Back at Welterweight, where he dominated the regional scene with three straight finishes, Nolan’s true potential should shine.
For his next outing, a matchup against Nikolay Veretennikov would be a perfect test.
Nolan’s gutsy debut proved he belongs in the UFC, even if the result didn’t go his way.
Final Grade: C
For more UFC 319 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
