UFC featherweight Lerone Murphy is back in the main event spot at the UFC APEX this time opposite Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 105 on Saturday night.
Murphy (15-0-1) sees a lot on the line in a scrap with the hard-hitting Emmett. A victory could see the 33-year-old move up even closer to a title shot.
“I’m fighting #8 in the world. Josh Emmett’s been around. Ilia Topuria went on to fight for the title after Josh Emmett. So for me this is the #1 contender fight,” Murphy told reporters on Wednesday.
“I feel like behind, (Diego) Lopes and (Alexander) Volkanovski are fighting the week after, I think this is the best fight in the division. For me this is the #1 contender fight. I’m looking forward to it.”
Even with a 15-0 record and a 7-fight UFC win streak Murphy isn’t exactly mentioned with the best at 145 pounds. The Manchester product doesn’t care about the praise.
He’s here to do a job.
“It is what it is at the end of the day. I’m here to fight, I’m here to feed my family, and I’m here for that title. I don’t really care about anything else, but yeah it’s probably because I’m quiet isn’t it. I’m reserved,” he said.
“I’m never going to be fake. I could be fake, and be an actor, but I’m always going to stick to what feels good for me. I’m just going to let my fighting to the talking and keep stacking up them wins. Surely after a bit everyone will get behind me.”
Even if fans haven’t noticed just yet the UFC certainly has. Murphy recently signed a new contract with the promotion paying him for all the hard work up to this point.
“For me the contract’s a contract. I’m here to fight, but I got six-fight contract which is good. Just the wording in the contract for me is like the UFC are behind me,” he said.
“That’s what I see. I believe I’m going to go on to do big things.”
Watch the entire media day scrum above. Lerone Murphy takes on Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 105 on Saturday night.
