Lerone Murphy is charting his course to a title opportunity, drawing inspiration from Diego Lopes` journey to his UFC 314 title fight.
Following his unanimous decision victory over Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 105, the undefeated British featherweight has set his sights on Brian Ortega as his next opponent. Murphy clarifies this isn`t a personal rivalry, but strategically, he aims to mirror Diego Lopes` path, who secured a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski after defeating Ortega. Murphy, having previously faced Dan Ige like Lopes, believes a fight with Ortega is the logical next step.
“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 beating him has shown me a clear route. I also fought Dan Ige, similar to Lopes. I just want to face one of those top guys.”
After his Saturday win, Murphy immediately called for a matchup against any top 5 featherweight contender, eager to advance closer to title contention.
Boasting a 16-0-1 record, Murphy feels he has earned the right to challenge top-ranked fighters, although he acknowledges his lack of finishes is a point of frustration. His recent victory over Emmett marks his seventh decision win in nine UFC fights.
“The fight played out exactly as planned,” Murphy explained regarding his strategy. “Maintain distance, capitalize on his entries. Of course, I was aiming for a finish, but they just haven`t been materializing lately.”
“Regardless, it was a dominant performance. We are focused on securing wins and progressing towards that title shot.”
Despite his desire for a finish against Emmett, Murphy recognized the risk of engaging in close-quarters combat with a known knockout threat. Therefore, his strategy revolved around constant movement and calculated strikes from a distance, ultimately leading to his victory.
“I absorbed a few shots on my gloves, but nothing significant landed,” Murphy commented. “I was well aware of his knockout power; he has finished some elite fighters. My priority was to stay defensively sound and minimize risks.”
While all judges scored the fight in Murphy`s favor, he expressed surprise that two judges awarded Emmett two rounds in the five-round bout. Despite the favorable outcome, Murphy questioned the basis for awarding Emmett those rounds.
“I believe I clearly won four rounds,” Murphy stated. “If he won a round, it might have been when he briefly gained top position after I threw a kick, but I don’t believe he landed any significant strikes throughout the fight. Perhaps he was slightly more active in one round, and that was the only justification.”
