Britain has a serious UFC title contender on its hands – and it may not be who you think.
Manchester featherweight Lerone Murphy has not been spoken about nearly enough when it comes to the country’s top-level prospects in the UFC. Undefeated at 14-0-1, “The Miracle” doesn’t know what it’s like to lose as a pro and boasts impressive scalps in his last two fights: Dan Ige and Edson Barboza.
He returns to action in the main-event slot this weekend against featherweight’s most-feared puncher Josh Emmett, a fighter famed for sending the ever-outspoken Bryce Mitchell into convulsions with one deadly right.
However, as was the case for his previous outing against MMA icon Barboza, Murphy is back fighting at the fan-starved UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The venue initially housed UFC events during the pandemic days, now stages many Fight Nights, and given its distinct lack of atmosphere, it is an unenviable location for fighters trying to make their mark in the sport.
Murphy hasn’t yet had much of an issue with the Apex. His dominant decision victory over Barboza in May 2024, which was also the headliner, earned Fight of the Night honours. Nevertheless, Murphy has had enough of fighting in front of nobody – and if he beats Emmett, he wants a homecoming title shot in Manchester.
“I’ll be asking for a title shot for sure,” Murphy told The Independent. “I believe this is the No 1 contender fight. I would love that [title fight] in the UK. I’ve not fought in the UK now in nearly two years, so it’d be good to get back in front of the home fans and have my family there and whatnot, that’d be amazing.
“I missed out on the last Manchester card because I fought a five-round fight maybe six weeks before. I missed out on that card but hopefully I get to fight and headline a card there. That would be the main goal.”
If it were up to Murphy, he would have thrown down with Emmett two weeks ago, having eagerly expressed a desire to fight on the
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