MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to interrupt down the most important fights within the UFC. As we speak, he takes a better take a look at UFC Combat Night time 241’s essential occasion: Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy.
Edson Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) UFC Combat Night time 241 preview
Apr 15, 2023; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, USA; Edson Barboza (pink gloves) reacts after the combat towards Billy Quarantillo (blue gloves) throughout UFC Combat Night time at T-Cellular Middle. Necessary Credit score: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities
Staple information:
- Top: 5’11” Age: 38 Weight: 145 lbs. Attain: 75″
- Final combat: Resolution win over Sodiq Yusuff (Oct. 14, 2023)
- Camp: American High Staff (Florida)
- Stance/putting type: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Danger administration: Good
Supplemental information:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ A number of muay Thai accolades
^ Document of 25-3 (22 by KO)
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 14 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Stable feints and footwork
+ Improved boxing method
^ Jabs, pivots, counters, and many others.
+ Devastating leg kicks
+ Correct spinning assaults
+ Underrated counter wrestling
+ Stable butterfly guard
Lerone Murphy (13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) UFC Combat Night time 241 preview
Lerone Murphy
Staple information:
- Top: 5’9″ Age: 32 Weight: 145 lbs. Attain: 73.5″
- Final combat: Resolution win over Josh Culibao (July 22, 2023)
- Camp: Manchester High Staff (England)
- Stance/putting type: Change-stance/muay Thai
- Danger administration: Good
Supplemental information:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Novice MMA accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 7 KO victories
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Stable feints and footwork
^ Strikes properly from each stances
+ Exhausting calf kicks
+ Sturdy contained in the clinch
^ Works properly off over-unders
+ Serviceable takedown capacity
^ Favors makes an attempt alongside the fence
+ Stable scrambling and transitional grappling
+ Good ground-and-pound
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy focal point: Muay Thai maelstrom
The principle occasion in Las Vegas options two fighters who’re aware of the artwork of eight limbs.
Storming onto the UFC scene as a thunderous leg kicker, Edson Barboza grew to become famend for his preliminary impressions of violence that reminded MMA followers why muay Thai is such an efficient putting artwork.
After just a few years of combined success, Barboza made his means as much as New Jersey to coach with Mark Henry, a coach who quietly helped him enhance his footwork and fundamentals throughout the boxing realm.
Edson Barboza’s combat with Lucas Martins was the primary time we see Mark Henry in his nook… plenty of the tweaks in his boxing sport arguably begin to present from this combat ahead with reference to feints, counters and lead-hand work. #UFConFX7 pic.twitter.com/M76qRoo28N
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) Might 1, 2023
From hitting pivots to stepping off to the suitable sides, the Brazilian has executed a significantly better job of facilitating his punches and general offense. Barboza has at all times possessed an underrated counter proper hand however has since developed his left hand below mentioned upgrades.
Although Barboza throws his jab with far more effectivity, it’s the enhancements in his boxing counters and bodywork that might serve the American High Staff product notably properly on this combat. Nevertheless, Barboza will nonetheless must respect the ability that’s coming again his means.
Enter Lerone Murphy.
Regardless of the UFC matchmakers’ greatest efforts to bury lighter-weight abilities on preliminary playing cards, Murphy seems to have made himself simple with the talents proven in his accrual of wins.
A well-coached fighter who seems to be to be a pure on the subject of putting, Murphy comports himself comfortably from each stances on the toes. Whether or not Murphy’s launching left-sided energy strikes from southpaw or is attempting to arrange his patent calk kick from orthodox, the English fighter is seamless when switching sides.
Keep in mind when Lerone Murphy dropped Josh Culibao with a glancing kick to the physique.
The quantity of variables in fight sports activities are loopy. pic.twitter.com/xWXPu0T5NB— Feño 🏴 (@fenoxsky) Might 15, 2024
Not solely can Murphy variate the seems to be and ranges of his jab, however the 32-year-old additionally shows stable instincts on the subject of leg kick protection and counters that ought to turn out to be useful this Saturday. That mentioned, Murphy has proven that he’s not past being caught whereas kicking both, making counters a potent two-way road.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Contemplating the potential for chaos on the toes, nobody ought to be shocked if this get together finally ends up on the ground sooner or later.
No stranger to closed-quarter fight, Murphy has proven a semi-surprising willingness to tie up with opposition all through a combat.
Though Murphy does have a good reactionary double-leg that he’ll mud off now and again, the 8-year professional primarily seems to be to get issues executed from the clinch. Whether or not Murphy is muscling his man over from the bodylock or seeking to change ranges alongside the fence, the Englishman appears sturdy from this area and works properly off over-unders.
Nevertheless, since Barboza’s early encounters with wrestlers the likes of Jamie Varner and Danny Castillo, the 15-year professional has steadily strengthened his counter-wrestling acumen. Even in his barely more moderen combat towards former light-weight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, Barboza was nonetheless capable of contest together with his counterpart’s underhooks, creating sufficient area for separations regardless of being useless drained within the ultimate body.
Extra importantly, Barboza – from an offensive perspective – just isn’t past capturing a double-leg takedown of his personal to assist alleviate stress. Reactionary doubles, no less than on paper, wouldn’t be the worst concept on the earth given the Brazilian’s edge in expertise.
Nonetheless, regardless of giving up his fair proportion of takedowns, Murphy has proven a stable scrambling course of.
That Lerone Murphy octopus to wall stroll I used to be raving about pic.twitter.com/5mXaIlToYz
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) March 25, 2023
Usually seeking to find the fence, Murphy favors wall strolling to security any means he can – normally maintaining a robust whizzer for help. And if Murphy can get on prime, “The Miracle” possesses some ungodly ground-and-pound that may change the dynamic of a combat.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are favoring the youthful man, itemizing Murphy -115 and Barboza +118 through FanDuel. Contemplating that Murphy is the undefeated fighter with much less mileage, I’m not shocked to see him put in because the odds-on favourite, albeit barely. Nonetheless, it’s good to see some respect given to Barboza given the dearth of line motion general.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy prediction, decide
Not solely have we seen some notable Brazilian veterans discover the fountain of youth this 12 months, however Barboza has quietly been enhancing throughout this late-career resurgence of kinds. Except for being absolutely settled into his new dwelling of American High Staff, Barboza has made marked upgrades to his boxing sport that I see having some play on Murphy.
Though Murphy reenacting a worse model of the Bryce Mitchell knockdown from southpaw is a actuality that’s on the desk for Barboza, the English fighter has proven suspect protection on the subject of defending his midsection.
Tenderising individuals’s our bodies since 1986: Edson Barboza🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/6pev0zFFpq
— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) October 13, 2023
Except Murphy can cease Barboza within the first two frames, then I believe that the 38-year-old veteran can draw back with bodywork and counters down the stretch.
I’m hoping to see extra of Murphy whatever the consequence, however the official decide is Barboza by choice.
Prediction: Barboza by choice
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy begin time, the place to observe
Barboza and Murphy are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 9:15 p.m. ET (6:15 p.m. PT). The combat streams reside on ESPN+.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Combat Night time 241.
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