Lerone Murphy (born 22 July 1991) is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 29 October 2024, he is #11 in UFC featherweight rankings.[5]

Lerone Murphy
Born (1991-07-22) 22 July 1991 (age 33)
Manchester, England
Other namesThe Miracle
The Iceman
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight
Reach73.0 in (185 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofManchester, England
TeamAll Powers MMA (2013–2019)[2]
Manchester Top Team (2019–present)[3]
RankBlue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4]
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins15
By knockout7
By decision8
Losses0
Draws1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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Murphy, who was born and raised in Old Trafford, went to St Edward's Primary School in Rusholme and St Mary's Levenshulme and St Anne's High Catholic High School in Heaton Chapel, Stockport. He had been a promising footballer, who went on trials for Liverpool F.C. and had trained with both Stockport County and FC United as a teenager, until at the age of 16 after he suffered a serious knee injury that prematurely ended his football dreams. Being the nephew of Manchester boxing trainer, the late Oliver Harrison, who had trained the likes of Amir Khan and Rocky Fielding, Murphy had done some boxing training, but started his MMA training when he walked into the All Powers gym.[2]

On Saturday May 25, 2013, Lerone having just left a barber shop on Lloyd Street South in the Manchester suburb of Fallowfield, was shot by a gunman. Lerone was hit by three bullets, being hit on the face and neck twice. Due to the injuries Murphy had to get a set of prosthetic teeth, and has a tiny shard of bullet permanently embedded in his tongue.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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Making his MMA debut at FCC 15, he faced Martin Fouda and went on to defeat him via unanimous decision. Murphy would go on to defeat Tyler Thomas at Tanko FC 3, Jamie Lee at FCC 18, Nathan Thompson at FCC 19, Terry Doyle at FightStar Championship 14, all via first round TKO. He would go on to defeat his next two opponents via unanimous decision; James McErlean at Evolution Of Combat Fight Night 2 and Anton De Paepe at Celtic Gladiator 22. For his final appearance in the UK regional scene, Murphy won the FCC Featherweight Championship at FCC 23 against Manolo Schianna via TKO in the first round.[6]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Murphy made his UFC debut against Zubaira Tukhugov on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242.[7] The back-and-forth fight ended in a split draw with one judge assigning each fighter a 29–28 win and the third seeing it as a 28–28 draw.[8]

Murphy faced Ricardo Ramos on July 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 13.[9] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one, earning himself a Performance of the Night bonus.[10][11]

After his second fight in the promotion, Murphy renewed his contract with the UFC.[12]

Murphy faced Douglas Silva de Andrade on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20.[13] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[14]

Murphy was scheduled to face Charles Jourdain on September 4, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 191.[15] However, Murphy was pulled from the event due to visa issues, and he was replaced by Julian Erosa.[16]

Replacing an injured Tristan Connelly, Murphy stepped in on short notice against Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267 on October 30, 2021.[17] Murphy won the bout via knockout early in the second round.[18]

Murphy was scheduled to face Nate Landwehr on March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33.[19] However, Murphy withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by David Onama.[20]

Murphy was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on March 18, 2023, at UFC 286.[21] However, Wood was forced to withdraw from the event due to leg injury[22] and was replaced by UFC newcomer Gabriel Santos.[23] Murphy won the fight via split decision.[24]

Murphy faced Joshua Culibao on July 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[26]

Murphy was scheduled to face Dan Ige on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 236.[27] However, Murphy pulled out in mid January due to an undisclosed injury.[28]

Murphy faced Edson Barboza on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.[29] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[30] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[31]

Murphy faced Dan Ige on October 26, 2024 at UFC 308.[32] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[33]

Personal life

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Murphy has a son.[2]

Championships and achievements

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Mixed martial arts

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
16 matches 15 wins 0 losses
By knockout 7 0
By decision 8 0
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 15–0–1 Dan Ige Decision (unanimous) UFC 308 October 26, 2024 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 14–0–1 Edson Barboza Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy May 18, 2024 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 13–0–1 Joshua Culibao Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura July 22, 2023 3 5:00 London, England
Win 12–0–1 Gabriel Santos Decision (split) UFC 286 March 18, 2023 3 5:00 London, England
Win 11–0–1 Makwan Amirkhani KO (knee) UFC 267 October 30, 2021 2 0:14 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 10–0–1 Douglas Silva de Andrade Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny January 20, 2021 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 9–0–1 Ricardo Ramos TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige July 16, 2020 1 4:18 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Performance of the Night.
Draw 8–0–1 Zubaira Tukhugov Draw (split) UFC 242 September 7, 2019 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 8–0 Manolo Scianna TKO (punches) Full Contact Contender 23 May 18, 2019 1 2:22 Bolton, England Won the FCC Featherweight Championship.
Win 7–0 Ayton De Paepe Decision (unanimous) Celtic Gladiator 22 November 30, 2018 3 5:00 Manchester, England
Win 6–0 James McErlean Decision (unanimous) Evolution of Combat: Fight Night 2 September 1, 2018 3 5:00 Morecambe, England
Win 5–0 Terry Doyle TKO (punches) FightStar Championship 14 April 14, 2018 1 0:42 London, England Featherweight debut.
Win 4–0 Nathan Thompson TKO (punches) Full Contact Contender 19 September 30, 2017 1 0:48 Bolton, England
Win 3–0 Jamie Lee TKO (punches) Full Contact Contender 18 April 15, 2017 1 3:55 Bolton, England
Win 2–0 Tyler John Thomas TKO (punches) Tanko Fighting Championships 3 February 11, 2017 1 1:55 Manchester, England
Win 1–0 Martin Fouda Afana Bipouna Decision (unanimous) Full Contact Contender 15 March 5, 2016 3 5:00 Bolton, England Lightweight debut.

[35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Chris Slater (27 July 2020). "How Lerone Murphy survived being shot in the face in Manchester to become UFC's fast-rising star". anchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. ^ Harry Williams (21 February 2020). "Seizing the moment: Lerone Murphy talks opportunity, debut; London return". severemma.com.
  4. ^ "Lerone Murphy | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  5. ^ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b Myles Painter (7 September 2020). "Across the Pond Profile: UFC fighter Lerone Murphy". mmauk.net. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  7. ^ Marcel Dorff. "Zubaira Tukhugov treft ongeslagen debutant Lerone Murphy tijdens UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi" (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  8. ^ Anderson, Jay (7 September 2019). "UFC 242 Results: Zubaira Tukhugov Returns from Suspension, Battles Lerone Murphy to Draw". Cageside Press. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  9. ^ Marcel Dorff. "Ricardo Ramos vs. Lerone Murphy toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 15 juli in Abu Dhabi" (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ^ Doherty, Dan (15 July 2020). "UFC Fight Island 1 Results: Lerone Murphy Stops Ricardo Ramos After Slow Start". Cageside Press. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b Dave Doyle (16 July 2020). "UFC on ESPN 13 bonuses: Weight miss costs Abdul Razak Alhassan $50K for 'Fight of the Night'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  12. ^ Raj Sarkar (7 September 2020). "You Haven't Seen My Full Potential Yet- Lerone Murphy". essentiallysports.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  13. ^ Marcel Dorff (3 December 2020). "Lerone Murphy vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade tijdens midweeks evenement op 20 januari 2021". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. ^ Jay Anderson (20 January 2021). "UFC Fight Island 8 Results: Lerone Murphy Passes Test Against Douglas Silva de Andrade". cagesidepress. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  15. ^ Marcel Dorff (24 May 2021). "Frans-Canadezen krijgen gevechten tijdens UFC evenement op 14 augustus". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  16. ^ DNA, MMA (24 August 2021). "BREAKING: Julian Erosa nieuwe tegenstander van Charles Jourdain op 4 september". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. ^ "With Tristan Connelly out, Lerone Murphy steps in to face Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267". MMA Junkie. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  18. ^ Evanoff, Josh (30 October 2021). "UFC 267 Results: Lerone Murphy KO's Makwan Amirkhani". Cageside Press. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Nate Landwehr vs. Lerone Murphy added to UFC Fight Night on March 26". MMA Junkie. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  20. ^ Dorff Marcel (5 March 2022). "UFC Columbus Onama replaces Murphy against Landwehr on March 26". Eurosport (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  21. ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (6 January 2023). "Lerone Murphy vs. Nathaniel Wood set for UFC 286 in London". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  22. ^ Calhoun, Curtis (8 February 2023). "Nathaniel Wood Announces Withdrawal From UFC 286 After 'Freak Accident'". MMA News. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  23. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (10 March 2023). "Unbeaten prospect Gabriel Santos to replace Nathaniel Wood vs. Lerone Murphy at UFC 286". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  24. ^ Anderson, Jay (18 March 2023). "UFC 286: Lerone Murphy Edges Gabriel Santos in Heated Contest". Cageside Press. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Tom Aspinall returns from year-long injury layoff to headline UFC London vs. Marcin Tybura". MMA Junkie. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  26. ^ Doherty, Dan (22 July 2023). "UFC London: Lerone Murphy Finishes Strong Against Joshua Culibao". Cageside Press. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  27. ^ Desk, ITN News (7 December 2023). "Dan Ige vs Lerone Murphy Reported for UFC Vegas 86 in February". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 7 December 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  28. ^ Kyle Dimond (17 January 2024). "BREAKING: Lerone Murphy out of his fight with Dan Ige". vmtv.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  29. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (25 March 2024). "Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy set to headline May 18 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  30. ^ Anderson, Jay (19 May 2024). "UFC Vegas 92 Results: Lerone Murphy Dominates, Out-Strikes Edson Barboza". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  31. ^ a b Hiergesell, Dan (18 May 2024). "Bonuses! Angela Hill leads $50K winners with first-career submission - UFC Vegas 92". mmamania.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  32. ^ MMA Fighting Staff (31 July 2024). "Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy in the works for UFC 308". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  33. ^ Jay Anderson (26 October 2024). "UFC 308: Close, Exciting Scrap Sees Lerone Murphy Come Out Ahead of Dan Ige". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  34. ^ Mike Bohn (31 October 2021). "MMA Junkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for October: A perfect knee". MMAjunkie.com.
  35. ^ Sherdog.com. "Lerone Murphy". Sherdog. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
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