Lerone Murphy, the English featherweight contender, secured his sixteenth professional win in the spotlight of UFC Vegas 105. With a high-stakes fight against former interim title challenger Josh Emmett, Murphy came out on top in their headline bout with a well-earned decision by the judges.
Murphy, hailing from Manchester, has been on an impressive streak over the past few years. His victories over seasoned fighters like Edson Barboza, Dan Ige, and Joshua Culibao have made him a force in the featherweight division, setting the stage for his clash with Emmett.
On the flip side, Emmett, a staple at Team Alpha MMA, had been a formidable contender. He had knocked out Bryce Mitchell in the first round at UFC 296 back in 2023. Yet, he had been out of the octagon since then.
In their encounter, Murphy capitalized on an accidental head clash in the first round, which left Emmett with a significant cut on his forehead. Despite the cautious start, Murphy managed to maintain his edge throughout the match.
The judges ultimately ruled in favor of Murphy, with unanimous scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. This victory is likely to boost Murphy’s ranking, potentially pushing him past the Arizona native into the eighth spot among featherweights. Given his current winning streak, Murphy might soon find himself a contender in the featherweight title race.
To see Murphy’s impressive performance, check out the highlights from his decision win at UFC Vegas 105.
