Lerone Murphy thinks the UFC is placing him to the check at UFC Struggle Night time 241.
Murphy (13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) meets Edson Barboza (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner (ESPN+) on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas – his first important occasion.
Barboza will mark a step up in competitors for the unbeaten Murphy, who sees the Brazilian veteran as an opportunity to show that he’s able to make a title run.
“We’ve carried out some good coaching to push that, to get via the psychological battles,” Murphy instructed The Allstar. “After which going into the fourth and fifth, that’s once you actually see what you’re fabricated from and that’s why they put the younger prospects like me right into a five-round combat – as a result of if it’s a three-round combat, it’s completely totally different.
“I really feel just like the UFC are attempting to actually see: Am I championship caliber? Let’s see it. Let’s see it now. I really feel like that’s why they made it 5 rounds, as a result of in any other case, they’d have put it on the Brazil card as a three-rounder. They might have put it in Manchester as a 3 rounder. So it’s a fraud examine.”
Murphy hasn’t competed since defeating Josh Culibao in June 2023. He was booked to face Dan Ige at UFC Struggle Night time 236, however withdrew as a result of harm. Now he will get an excellent greater alternative in a important occasion in opposition to Barboza.
“(That is) the largest combat of my profession, simply,” Murphy mentioned. “It’s a giant alternative, and that’s how I’m taking a look at it. Clearly, I respect him and I understand how high-level he’s. He’s been in there with the perfect, however I really feel prefer it’s my time to shine. It feels prefer it’s now or by no means for me. I’ve been via a lot, so many ups and downs, and now I’ve received my alternative. I have to go on the market and truly profit from it.”
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