Lerone Murphy’s journey to a UFC title shot has been anything but straightforward. Despite a nine-fight win streak, the Briton was overlooked for a chance to challenge Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight title. That decision, according to Murphy, served as a wake-up call.
Now, Murphy is set to headline UFC London against Russian Movsar Evloev. The bout is seen by some as a number-one contender fight. However, even before the fight, rival Jean Silva is questioning whether Murphy deserves the next shot at Volkanovski.
Murphy’s Reaction to Being Overlooked
Murphy had been in pole position to challenge for Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight title after a spinning elbow knockout of Aaron Pico. Murphy called for the title shot, and Volkanovski agreed he deserved it. Instead, the UFC chose Diego Lopes, who Volkanovski had already beaten, for a rematch. The decision was an eye-opener for Murphy.
“It kind of woke me up to a lot of things, but I understand it,” Murphy told BBC Sport. “You have to understand it’s an entertainment business. It shouldn’t be that way but it is that way.”
The Business Side of UFC
The UFC is described as a rankings-based organisation. Fighters with higher rankings are generally seen as more deserving of title shots. Murphy is ranked third at featherweight, while Evloev is ranked first.
The choice of second-ranked Lopes to fight Volkanovski again after a previous defeat raises questions. The answer, according to the source, lies in the UFC’s nature as a multi-billion pound business. The UFC makes money by attracting fans to watch its fights. It recently signed a £5.7bn broadcast deal with Paramount.
Marketability Matters
A fighter’s ability to generate attention can influence their opportunities. Murphy’s reserved personality and limited social media presence may have hindered him. Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who faces fellow Briton Sam Patterson, believes a fighter’s ability to market themselves is vital in the UFC.
“It’s always to do with financial benefit,” Page told BBC Sport.
Doubts Over Murphy’s Title Credentials
Even with the fight against Evloev looming, Murphy’s title credentials are under scrutiny. Jean Silva claims he is more exciting and will be given the next shot at Volkanovski. Lerone Murphy has won three of his 10 UFC bouts via knockout.
As Murphy’s battle to secure his title shot continues, the BBC spoke to fighters on the card about the UFC’s potentially evolving matchmaking policy and why top contenders sometimes get overlooked.