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 decision win over Josh Emmett within the UFC Vegas 105 principal occasion, the undefeated British featherweight recognized Brian Ortega as a great opponent in the case of what’s subsequent for him. There’s no private beef concerned, however as an alternative Murphy factors to Diego Lopes beating Ortega earlier than getting his shot at gold in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski as the identical highway he want to journey down.
“Only a combat I’ve been taking a look at for some time,” Murphy mentioned 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 need to take the same route. I fought Dan Ige, identical as Lopes, too. Simply give me one among them guys.”
Following his win on Saturday, Murphy instantly requested for any opponent within the prime 5 from the featherweight division as he seems to be to maneuver that a lot nearer to title competition.
With a 16-0-1 file, Murphy has the résumé to push for these sorts of fights, though even he admits his lack of finishes leaves him considerably pissed off. Along with his newest win over Emmett, the 33-year-old fighter from Manchester has gone to choice in seven out of 9 fights within the UFC.
“That was the precise recreation plan what you noticed there,” Murphy mentioned 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 selecting away at Emmett from the skin made up the largest a part of Murphy’s technique, which paid off ultimately.
“I took a number of photographs on the gloves, actually didn’t take something clear,” Murphy mentioned. “Clearly, I knew he hit exhausting. He’s put some good fighters out chilly. For me it was keep protected and be good defensively.”
The ultimate scorecards all favored Murphy, however he was a bit stunned two judges really gave Emmett two rounds within the 5 spherical combat. Although the end result was the identical, Murphy doesn’t perceive how these judges noticed sufficient to offer Emmett one other spherical.
“I assumed I received 4 rounds very clearly,” Murphy mentioned. “When you received one of many rounds, it’s as a result of I threw a kick and he received 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.”
