Alexander Volkanovski Vs. Lerone Murphy – How Does It Play Out?

Alexander Volkanovski is eying a bout with Lerone Murphy for his next title defense, as we look at how the fight could play out.

Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title in his last fight, which he had lost to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298, by beating Diego Lopes at UFC 314. The Australian is now eying further defenses. He was linked with a rematch against Yair Rodriguez, while the Topuria rematch is off for now after he moved up to lightweight, becoming the new champion after beating Charles Oliveira. Meanwhile, Murphy stopped Alan Pico in the first round at UFC 319 as he set his sights on Volk. The Australian is now open to that fight. 

“I think it’s a bit of a no-brainer. December’s looking good. There were earlier dates that probably wouldn’t work for guys that are fighting right now anyway, so the later dates were always looking better for me anyway and for my future potential opponents. So December’s looking like it could be there,” Volkanovski said

The Match-Up

This potential title bout is intriguing. Volkanovski, despite his shorter stature, is a master of controlled aggression. His game is built on high-volume and constant forward movement. He uses feints, body shots, and leg kicks to systematically break down his opponent’s rhythm. For example, against Max Holloway, a much taller fighter with a reach advantage, Volkanovski was masterful at cutting off the cage and closing the distance, making Holloway’s long, flowing combinations less effective.

Volk would likely employ a similar strategy against Murphy, using his powerful leg kicks to limit Murphy’s lateral movement and force him into exchanges where his shorter reach is less of a factor. Volkanovski also has a strong wrestling base and is an expert at chaining striking to takedowns, forcing his opponents to constantly worry about being on their back, as he showed in his dominant win over Brian Ortega.

Murphy is not a one-trick pony. He uses his length and quickness to land straight punches and kicks from a distance. What makes him dangerous is his ability to read his opponents’ movements and capitalize on their mistakes. The knockout of Pico came when Pico overcommitted, and Murphy used that momentum against him with a perfectly timed counter. Against a pressure fighter like Volkanovski, Murphy would need to use his footwork to circle away, peppering Volkanovski with jabs to keep him at bay.