Manchester featherweight contender Lerone Murphy has introduced that he’ll face UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski in December for the featherweight title, concentrating on Las Vegas as the placement for what could be his first championship alternative.
Murphy’s declaration got here following his spectacular knockout victory over Aaron Pico at UFC 319 on August 16, the place he delivered a spinning again elbow end within the first spherical. The efficiency caught the eye of champion Volkanovski, who instantly responded on social media with “See you in December @LeroneMurphy congrats #UFC319”.
Speaking about the timeline, Murphy expressed confidence concerning the December date materializing. The 34-year-old Manchester fighter referenced Volkanovski’s curiosity in competing throughout that timeframe, suggesting Las Vegas because the probably venue. This aligns with the UFC’s conventional year-end pay-per-view occasions, with UFC 323 presently scheduled for December 6, 2025, in Las Vegas.
“Volk wants to fight in December. So, I think it’s going to be Las Vegas December. I’m waiting for a call anytime now, next few weeks to get it set in stone and then I’ll start my training camp.”
Lerone Murphy’s Path to Title Contention
Lerone Murphy enters potential title talks with an unblemished record of 17-0-1, including a perfect 9-0-1 mark in the UFC since his 2019 debut. The England native has methodically climbed the featherweight rankings, earning victories over established contenders Josh Emmett, Dan Ige, and Edson Barboza. His knockout of Pico marked his first end in almost 4 years, addressing earlier criticisms about his lack of highlight-reel moments.
Currently ranked fourth in the UFC featherweight division, Murphy stepped in on three weeks’ notice to face Pico after originally scheduled opponent Movsar Evloev withdrew due to injury. The Russian’s withdrawal from multiple fights has created opportunities for other contenders, with Volkanovski acknowledging Murphy’s timely performance.
Champion’s Perspective
Alexander Volkanovski described Murphy as a “no-brainer” alternative for his subsequent opponent, citing December as a super timeframe. The 36-year-old Australian reclaimed his featherweight title in April 2025 by defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 314, turning into a two-time champion after shedding the belt to Ilia Topuria in early 2024.
The champion had previously attempted to rearrange fights with different high contenders, together with Evloev, however scheduling conflicts and withdrawals sophisticated these negotiations. Murphy’s decisive victory over a extremely touted opponent like Pico, mixed together with his constant exercise and successful streak, positioned him favorably for title consideration.
The featherweight panorama has skilled vital shifts in latest months. Topuria, who defeated Volkanovski for the title, subsequently vacated to maneuver to light-weight, creating the emptiness that Volkanovski stuffed in opposition to Lopes. This motion has reshaped title rivalry, with Murphy rising as a professional challenger alongside different ranked contenders.
Murphy’s undefeated streak of nine UFC victories ties him with Evloev for the longest active winning streak in the organization. However, Evloev’s recent pattern of fight withdrawals has diminished his immediate title prospects, despite maintaining the number one ranking.
The potential December showdown would represent Murphy’s first UFC title opportunity after six years with the promotion.
