UFC featherweight contender Lerone Murphy proved himself as a dangerous contender at UFC 267.
Lerone Murphy is one of the featherweight division’s best-kept secrets entering UFC Vegas 105 this weekend. Unbeaten in his MMA career, Murphy will headline UFC Vegas 105 opposite Josh Emmett, one of the featherweight division’s most destructive forces.
Murphy is knocking on the door of a potential featherweight title shot, and his timing couldn’t be better. As Ilia Topuria vacates the belt, the featherweight division is in desperate need of new, fresh stars, and Murphy is one of the top candidates.
It’s been almost four full years since Murphy last earned a knockout win. At UFC 267 against Makwan Amirkhani, Murphy landed a knockout blow comparable to Jorge Masvidal‘s one-shot win over Ben Askren.
Lerone Murphy sent Makwan Amirkhani to the shadow realm with one knee
Murphy and Amirkhani clashed on the UFC 267 prelims on a card headlined by then-UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz against Glover Teixeira. Not a lot was expected by the featherweight matchup, but it delivered massively with one of the card’s biggest highlights.
A back-and-forth first round between Murphy and Amirkhani set up a frantic pace to begin Round 2. Amirkhani, one of the top featherweight grapplers at the time of the fight, shot for a takedown in hopes of getting some momentum on his side.
But Murphy countered Amirkhani’s shot perfectly with a knee that knocked his opponent out cold. It was a finish reminiscent of Masvidal’s wild knockout of Askren with a five-second flying knee.
Inexplicably, Murphy’s wild knockout didn’t earn a post-fight performance bonus. You can catch the finishing sequence below.
Jorge Masvidal eyes UFC return as he lays out two-fight plan
After announcing his MMA retirement at UFC 287, Masvidal eyes a return to the Octagon in 2025, if the UFC matchmakers oblige. He wants a long-awaited showdown with Leon Edwards for his return, after Edwards’s recent defeat to Sean Brady at UFC London.
Masvidal is looking to earn his first combat sports win since winning the inaugural BMF belt over Nate Diaz at UFC 244. If he returns to the UFC Octagon, an unbeaten prospect is ready to be his return opponent.
Masvidal lost to Diaz in his most recent combat sports venture, lost year in the boxing ring. He was briefly linked to a potential showdown with Jake Paul before falling to Diaz.
But Masvidal has also teased a potential run in politics amidst his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Masvidal plans to run for a Florida State Senate seat.
As Murphy prepares for his return at UFC Vegas 105, one of his signature wins was inspired by Masvidal’s brutal five-second knockout. Don’t be surprised if he adds to the highlight reel this weekend.
