UFC 308 saw the experienced Dan Ige take on undefeated, yet mostly untested Lerone Murphy; in a bout that would give some perspective where Murphy stands within the top 15 of the featherweight division. Ige’s record may be a bit hit-or-miss, but he’s fought a real who’s who at the weight class, in a career in which he has never been finished.
The Fight
From the onset of the first round, Dan’s gameplan was clear: Pressure Lerone back and cut off the fence, before unloading with boxing combinations. This strategy allowed Ige to time an early takedown against the fence, forcing Murphy to work his way back to his feet. After the two separated, in one of the following exchanges, Ige was able to slip a left straight from an over-aggressive Murphy, who had his right hand held low and was unable to avoid the returning counter left which dropped him. Lerone did well to survive the onslaught of punches after the knockdown, getting back to his feet, and keeping his guard high and surviving out the rest of the round.
In the following round, Lerone adapted well. Firstly, he made good use of straight attacks such as jabs and front kicks to deal with Ige’s pressure. Secondly, instead of getting involved in firefights in the pocket, he accepted the role of the matador, and utilised feints and good footwork to frustrate Dan; feinting an attack before stepping back and avoiding the returning fire. He also made good use of pivots after slipping punches, gaining new angles of attack which only worked to frustrate Ige further.
With the fighters having one round a piece going into the last round, a statement needed to be made to secure victory. This statement wouldn’t be made until well into the last minute, as the majority of the round involved some fun grappling exchanges where neither man was clearly in control. With twenty seconds left on the clock, the fighters separated and Murphy poured the pressure on with punches and knees, securing a unanimous decision win, and proving he could battle back from adversity after his first-round scare.
What’s Next For Lerone Murphy?
In interviews after the fight, Lerone made it clear he wants a top-ten opponent, and Josh Emmett is the man he’d choose to face next. This would undoubtedly be a barn burner of a fight and definitely not one to miss, but there’s other fighters in the top ten who would make equally good dance partners if he doesn’t get his wish. Yair Rodriguez or Brian Ortega could make for fun matchups, with the formers unpredictable striking or the latter’s high-level grappling. The future of the featherweight division is looking bright for Lerone Murphy, who has proved he does in fact belong at the upper echelon of his weight class.
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