Lerone Murphy has had a good start to his UFC career. The Manchester fighter is sitting pretty at 13-0-1, with the whole world ahead of him. However, he’ll face a daunting task on Saturday as he faces off against an accomplished fighter in Edson Barboza.
Piling up on unknowns in the British MMA scene, Murphy will come face-to-face with the established Brazilian featherweight fighter. Barboza (24-11) is looking to add another knockout to his collection, with his number sitting at 22. Who will be the victor in UFC Fight Night’s latest main event? Both fighters have made weight without any issues, so the fight is set in stone. Here’s a look at the two international fighters and what they offer.
The Tape On Lerone Murphy
Don’t be fooled by Lerone Murphy’s record. His competition has mainly been the aforementioned unknown fighters from Great Britain and the lower rungs in UFC’s featherweight division. Still, the 32-year-old has done an excellent job of taking care of business, winning the fights he needed to win.
So what does the Manchester native do well? For one, he’s a patient fighter. He’s not reckless in the ring and knows when to go into attack mode. What fans saw in the Menifield-Ulberg fight was what not to do when starting a match. Alonzo Menifield went after his opponent, resulting in an early finish. How early? 12 seconds early.
For Murphy to win this fight, he can’t get too reckless against a seasoned veteran like Barboza. The Brazilian fighter has experience in the ring, with his ability to use his kickboxing to his advantage. That means defending himself on the ground and taking away any opportunities for the 38-year-old to work him.
The Tape On Edson Barboza
On the other hand, there’s Edson Barboza. The 38-year-old kickboxer has had a good career, taking down fighters like Dan Hooker, Anthony Pettis, and Gilbert Melendez. That’s a stark contrast to his opponent, Lerone Murphy. From a glance, it would seem that the Brazilian fighter has a distinct advantage in the big fight department, making him the presumptive favorite.
That makes sense considering the featherweight also has an advantage in defense, defending both strikes (57% strike defense) and takedowns (75%) well. However, there’s one problem: He’s lost seven of his last 10 fights, with the kickboxer in a slump. Getting out of that slump starts with looking for any mistakes made by Murphy. Age will be a critical factor in the fight, which will provide Barboza the opportunity to capitalize.
The Verdict
With Lerone Murphy’s lack of experience against big-time UFC fighters, it’s clear this fight will be a win for Edson Barboza. He’s a better defensive fighter with more experience, making him the favorite. The Brazilian kickboxer is also great with his footwork, using his kicks and agility to his advantage.
However, if Murphy can be a patient fighter and not get hasty, he can take this bout the distance and win via decision. He’s shown the ability to wait for opportunities to strike, giving him solid victories along the way. Still, it looks like Barboza’s experience and in-ring intelligence will be the difference in Saturday’s main event, which should give him the victory.
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