Just scored the biggest win of his career, Lerone Murphy is all fired up. He’s itching to keep the ball rolling.
Murphy, hailing from Britain and boasting an unbeaten record (14-0), recently outmaneuvered the seasoned Edson Barboza (24-12). This victory came in his debut as a UFC headliner at UFC Fight Night 241. News that the UFC is hitting Manchester, England, again after almost eight years stirred the pot. But for Murphy, getting to headline a card so soon was an unexpected treat. He spilled the beans about his surprise during a chat on “The MMA Hour.”
He knew about the UFC 304 card for a while. Yet, facing a vet like Barboza in a main event? That was an offer too sweet to pass up. “The Iceman” couldn’t resist. “It’s a massive opportunity,” he said, eyes probably gleaming with excitement. He figured, why not seize this chance, even with Manchester on the horizon? If he stays injury-free, he mused, why not fight in Manchester too?
Despite a rough upkick to the face in Round 1, Murphy came out relatively unscathed. No broken nose, no foul. Now, he’s eyeing a quick return at UFC 304, set for July 27 at the Co-op Live arena, right in his Manchester backyard. “If the nose isn’t broken, I’m looking to fight,” he declared. He’s ready, assuming the swelling subsides. A three-rounder this time, not a main event, but he’s not sweating the details. Just two weeks of training, and he’s game. Yet, he’s not rushing. It all depends on how his body feels.
Climbing to the no. 15 spot in Sherdog’s Official Rankings at featherweight, Murphy’s got bigger fish to fry. He’s got his sights set on Calvin Kattar or Josh Emmett next, ranked 11th and 8th, respectively. “Looking at the rankings now, I feel like the [Calvin] Kattar fight and the [Josh] Emmett fight will be amazing fights,” he mused. Confidence sky-high, he’s hungry for more. Big fights, top 10 opponents, he’s ready for anyone. “I just wanna keep fighting and keep the momentum going,” Murphy concluded, setting his gaze on the future.