Lerone Murphy sees a transparent path to a title shot and he’s following the lead of the person preventing for the belt at UFC 314 to get there.
Following a unanimous resolution win over Josh Emmett within the UFC Vegas 105 principal occasion, the undefeated British featherweight recognized Brian Ortega as a perfect opponent in the case of what’s subsequent for him. There’s no private beef concerned, however as a substitute Murphy factors to Diego Lopes beating Ortega earlier than getting his shot at gold in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski as the identical street he wish to journey down.
“Only a battle I’ve been taking a look at for some time,” Murphy stated on the UFC Vegas 105 post-fight press convention about preventing Ortega . “Clearly you see Diego Lopes get a title shot after beating him so I wish to take the same route. I fought Dan Ige, similar as Lopes, too. Simply give me one in every of them guys.”
Following his win on Saturday, Murphy instantly requested for any opponent within the prime 5 from the featherweight division as he appears to maneuver that a lot nearer to title competition.
With a 16-0-1 report, Murphy has the résumé to push for these sorts of fights, though even he admits his lack of finishes leaves him considerably annoyed. Together with his newest win over Emmett, the 33-year-old fighter from Manchester has gone to resolution in seven out of 9 fights within the UFC.
“That was the precise sport plan what you noticed there,” Murphy stated about his win. “Decide him off at vary, catch him on the way in which in. Clearly, I wished the end. The finishes are simply not coming on the minute.
“However a masterful efficiency over anyway. We’re simply chasing them finishes, chasing them wins, racking up the wins and aiming for that title.”
As a lot as he wished to place Emmett away earlier than the ultimate horn sounded, Murphy knew he was taking part in with fireplace by standing within the pocket with a famous knockout artist. That’s why fixed motion and choosing away at Emmett from the surface made up the largest a part of Murphy’s technique, which paid off ultimately.
“I took just a few pictures on the gloves, actually didn’t take something clear,” Murphy stated. “Clearly, I knew he hit onerous. He’s put some good fighters out chilly. For me it was keep secure and be good defensively.”
The ultimate scorecards all favored Murphy, however he was a bit stunned two judges truly gave Emmett two rounds within the 5 spherical battle. Although the end result was the identical, Murphy doesn’t perceive how these judges noticed sufficient to present Emmett one other spherical.
“I assumed I received 4 rounds very clearly,” Murphy stated. “In case you received one of many rounds, it’s as a result of I threw a kick and he bought prime place however I don’t assume he landed something clear all through the rounds. I believe he was a bit extra busy in one of many rounds and that was it.”
