Manchester featherweight contender Lerown Murphy introduced that he’ll face UFC champion Alexander Volkanovsky within the featherweight title in December.
Murphy’s declaration follows an epic knockout victory over Aaron Pico at UFC 319 on August sixteenth. The efficiency attracted the eye of champion Volkanovsky. Volkanovsky responded rapidly on social media with “Congratulations on @leronemurphy #UFC319 in December.”
Talking in regards to the timeline, Murphy expressed confidence within the December date being materialized. The 34-year-old Manchester fighter jet talked about Volkanovsky’s curiosity within the competitors throughout that point, suggesting Las Vegas as a potential venue. This coincides with the UFC’s conventional end-of-year pay-per-view occasion, with UFC 323 at the moment scheduled for December 6, 2025 in Las Vegas.
“Volk desires to combat in December, so I believe it may be Las Vegas in December. I get a name proper now and I will be set to stone for just a few weeks after which begin coaching camp.”
The highway to title conflicts for Lerone Murphy
Lerone Murphy enters the potential title speak with a 17-0-1 unhurt file, together with the proper 9-0-1 mark on the UFC since his debut in 2019. The English native systematically climbed the featherweight rankings, successful over established candidates Josh Emmett, Dan Ige and Edson Barboza. His knockout of Pico marks his first end in almost 4 years, addressing earlier criticisms about his lack of spotlight reel moments.
At the moment ranked fourth within the UFC featherweight division, Murphy intervened on a three-week discover to face Pico after his first scheduled opponent, Movsar Evloev, retreated as a result of harm. Russia’s withdrawal from a number of battles has created alternatives for different candidates, with Volkanovski acknowledging Murphy’s well timed efficiency.
The Champion’s Perspective
Alexander Volkanovski describes Murphy as a “simple” possibility for his subsequent opponent, citing December as the best time-frame. The 36-year-old Australia defeated Diego Lopez in April 2025 to regain his featherweight title in April 2025, turning into a two-time champion after dropping his belt to Iliatopria in early 2024.
The champions had beforehand tried to rearrange battles with different prime candidates, together with Evloev, however the battle and the schedule of withdrawal difficult these negotiations. Murphy’s decisive victory over a extremely promoted opponent like Pico, mixed together with his constant exercise and successful streak, positioned him favorably for title concerns.
The featherweight panorama has undergone main adjustments over the previous few months. Topuria, who defeated Volkanovski for the title, was then vacant to maneuver to lighter weight, creating the vacant seats Volkanovski stuffed in opposition to Lopez. The transfer reshaping title competitors, with Murphy rising as a authentic challenger alongside different ranked candidates.
Murphy’s undefeated streak of 9 UFC victories hyperlinks him to Evloev for the longest lively successful streak within the group. Nevertheless, Evloev’s current sample of fight withdrawal has decreased his speedy title prospects, regardless of sustaining his primary rating.
A possible December showdown represents Murphy’s first UFC title alternative six years later within the promotion.
