Lerone Murphy is charting a course to a title opportunity, drawing inspiration from Diego Lopes` journey to UFC 314`s championship bout.
After securing a unanimous decision victory against Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 105, the undefeated British featherweight has his sights set on Brian Ortega as his next opponent. This isn`t fueled by personal animosity, but rather by Murphy recognizing Lopes` victory over Ortega as a stepping stone to a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski – a path Murphy intends to replicate.
“Ortega is a fight I`ve been considering for some time,” Murphy stated at the UFC Vegas 105 post-fight press conference. “Seeing Diego Lopes get a title shot after defeating him, I want to follow a similar trajectory. I also fought Dan Ige, just like Lopes did. I`m aiming to face opponents of that caliber.”
Following his recent win, Murphy immediately expressed his desire to face any top 5 contender in the featherweight division, signaling his ambition to move closer to title contention.
Boasting a 16-0-1 record, Murphy possesses the credentials to pursue high-profile fights, although he acknowledges some frustration with his lack of finishes. His victory over Emmett marked his seventh decision win in nine UFC appearances for the 33-year-old Manchester native.
“The fight unfolded exactly as planned,” Murphy explained regarding his win. “Maintain distance, counter him on his advances. While I sought a finish, it just didn`t materialize this time.”
“Regardless, it was a dominant performance. We are focused on securing finishes and accumulating wins as we strive for that title opportunity.”
Despite his desire to finish Emmett, Murphy was cautious of engaging too closely with such a powerful striker. Therefore, constant movement and strategic strikes from range formed the core of Murphy`s successful game plan.
“I absorbed a few blows on my gloves, but nothing significant landed,” Murphy commented. “I was well aware of his knockout power. My priority was to remain safe and maintain solid defense.”
While the judges unanimously favored Murphy, he expressed surprise that two judges awarded Emmett two rounds in the five-round fight. Despite the favorable outcome, Murphy questioned the basis for those judges’ scoring.
“I believed I clearly won four rounds,” Murphy stated. “If he won a round, it might have been when I threw a kick and he gained top position, but I don’t think he landed anything significant throughout the rounds. Perhaps he was slightly more active in one round, and that was the only justification.”
