ABU DHABI – [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] admits he felt “superhuman” coming out of his most recent performance, a five-round unanimous decision win over Edson Barboza.
On UFC 308 fight week, Murphy’s vibes remain high as he looks to carry that momentum into his main card bout Saturday vs. [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
“(My last fight was) massive, massive for confidence and experience,” Murphy told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday. “I feel like that’s leveled me up going into the trenches. The last two rounds are different.”
Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) recognizes the challenge Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) brings and sees the opportunity as the perfect next step. Should he defeat Ige as he expects, Murphy believes top 10-ranked opposition will be next.
“He’s a solid opponent,” Murphy said. “He’s been in the top 15 for like four or five years now. You’ve got to be good to keep your position there. It’s a big test for me , and I believe after a win over Dan Ige, it’s top 10 straight from there. … That’s disrespectful (to call him a gatekeeper). I don’t think there’s any such thing as a gatekeeper. If you’re in the top 15, you’re in the elite of the world. It’s as simple as that.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.