# Lerone Murphy

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 18 February 2025, he is #10 in UFC featherweight rankings.

## Background

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.
On Saturday 25 May 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.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

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.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Murphy made his UFC debut against Zubaira Tukhugov on 7 September 2019 at UFC 242. 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.
Murphy faced Ricardo Ramos on 16 July 2020 at UFC on ESPN 13. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one, earning himself a Performance of the Night bonus.
After his second fight in the promotion, Murphy renewed his contract with the UFC.
Murphy faced Douglas Silva de Andrade on 20 January 2021 at UFC on ESPN 20. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Murphy was scheduled to face Charles Jourdain on 4 September 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. However, Murphy was pulled from the event due to visa issues, and he was replaced by Julian Erosa.
Replacing an injured Tristan Connelly, Murphy stepped in on short notice against Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267 on 30 October 2021. Murphy won the bout via knockout early in the second round.
Murphy was scheduled to face Nate Landwehr on 26 March 2022 at UFC on ESPN 33. However, Murphy withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by David Onama.
Murphy was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on 18 March 2023 at UFC 286. However, Wood was forced to withdraw from the event due to leg injury and was replaced by UFC newcomer Gabriel Santos. Murphy won the fight via split decision.
Murphy faced Joshua Culibao on 22 July 2023 at UFC Fight Night 224. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Murphy was scheduled to face Dan Ige on 10 February 2024 at UFC Fight Night 236. However, Murphy pulled out in mid-January due to an undisclosed injury.
Murphy faced Edson Barboza on 18 May 2024 at UFC Fight Night 241. He won the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.
Murphy faced Dan Ige on 26 October 2024 at UFC 308. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Murphy is scheduled to face former interim UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Josh Emmett on 5 April 2025 in the main event at UFC on ESPN 65.

## Personal life

Murphy has a son.

## Championships and achievements
### Mixed martial arts

* Full Contact Contender
** FCC Featherweight Championship (One Time)
* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Edson Barboza
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Ricardo Ramos
** Tied (Movsar Evloev & Sean Woodson) for fourth longest undefeated streak in UFC Featherweight division history (8)
* MMAjunkie.com
** 2021 October Knockout of the Month vs. Makwan Amirkhani

## Mixed martial arts record

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