Always a banging UFC striker, Edson Barboza has the perfect opponent to give the fans a great show this February.
A cracking featherweight banger has been added to the UFC’s 2025 slate.
At a UFC Fight Night event Feb. 22, seasoned veteran [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] makes his 31st promotional walk as he battles surging Jackson Wink product [autotag]Steve Garcia[/autotag]. A location and venue has yet to be revealed for the card.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup Tuesday informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting first reported the bout.
Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) aims to bounce back from a unanimous decision defeat to Lerone Murphy. The loss snapped a two-fight winning streak that was comprised of victories over Billy Quarantillo and Sodiq Yusuff.
Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has won five fights in a row – all by TKO/knockout before the midway point of Round 2. That streak includes Chase Hooper, Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, Melquizael Costa, Seung Woo Choi, and Kyle Nelson.
With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Feb. 22 includes:
Is Lerone Murphy now a threat to the UFC featherweight title? We discuss on the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique.”
On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel reacts to [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag]’s biggest career win at UFC Fight Night 241.
This past Saturday, the Englishman dominated veteran Edson Barboza in the headliner of the UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas. Murphy is now undefeated in his MMA career and angling to get a top-10 opponent next. So is Murphy a legit threat to the title? Who should he fight next?
MMA Junkie’s Goze Garcia, Farah Hannoun, Danny Segura, and host Gorgeous George discuss the fallout from the UFC Fight Night 241 main event.
Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.
On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses the announced matchups for UFC 304, Lerone Murphy’s big win over Edson Barboza, UFC 302, and more.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.
This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Farah Hannoun and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:
UFC 304 is stacking up. The promotion announced several key matchups for its July 27 return to Manchester, England. The announcement included two title fights in [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] for the undisputed welterweight title and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] for the interim heavyweight belt. Additionally, [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag]’s return was revealed to be against veteran [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]. Tons to digest.
UFC Fight Night 241 is in the books. In the main event of the card, [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] had a breakout performance, defeating veteran [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] in dominant fashion. Murphy, who’s undefeated in his MMA career, called for a top-10 opponent after the win. Who should Murphy fight next? Where does Barboza go from here? We break it all down.
PFL held yet another of their new Bellator Championship Series events, this time in Paris. In the main event of Bellator Champions Series: Paris, [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] defended his bantamweight title in a close split decision win over [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag]. The co-main event saw French star [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] make quick work of Jaleel Willis. Two big results for Bellator. So what’s next for both these fighters? We discuss.
“Spinning Back Clique” will be off on Memorial Day, but don’t worry, we got you covered with a UFC 302 preview. This week, we’ll take a look at the UFC’s next pay-per-view event, which features a UFC lightweight title bout between [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]. We analyze what’s likely going to be Poirier’s final tine shot, along with the co-main event middleweight bout between [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] and [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag].
Following UFC Fight Night 241, Lerone Murphy will do everything he can to make the July 27 pay-per-view in his native Manchester.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] found UFC Fight Night 241 to be everything he hoped and then some.
In his first main event Saturday at the UFC Apex, Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) defeated seasoned veteran [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) in a largely dominant showing. The experience was the perfect next step.
“It feels great,” Murphy told reporters including MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “Going five rounds with Edson is a big experience for me. Obviously, I’ve not fought nobody at that level. Doing an extra two rounds, as well, was different for me and I’m glad I got to bank them.
“I spoke to (matchmakaer) Sean Shelby in the back, as well. He said that’s the way to get to the top: You need to fight five-round fights. So it’s good to get that under my belt. … (It’s a) dream come true. I’d love to fight here again, and many more times, maybe in a big arena next time. Let’s see.”
Murphy said Saturday’s win over a divisional staple inched him closer toward his ultimate goal of being champion. Murphy said he feels his rate of improvement is accelerated and on track to one day hit a titleholder level.
“I can be champion,” Murphy said. “I’ve shown that level now. I’m only getting better. That’s the scary thing. This whole camp, I was working on just a few little bits. I was kind of, not scared going into the fight, but I didn’t have that perfected yet. I know I’m still growing at a massive rate. I’m going to get better and better. Even just my footwork looked better in that fight. My striking was better. I’m improving and my ceiling is still here. I’m still here. I feel like I can improve much better than I am already and I could get that title.”
[lawrence-related id=2711116,2742502]
As for what’s next, Murphy (despite his swollen and bloody face as he spoke on the topic) still holds hope for a turnaround in his native Manchester, England at UFC 304. The event is July 27 at Co-op Arena and features Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad and Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes.
“I’m going to jump in an ice bath every day next week. I’m going to go and rest up. I want to make that card. There’s no rush, if not. I’d love to fight on there. But if not, I’ll be there in attendance to watch the guys win, to watch ‘Rocky’ win, and watch all the rest of the guys. It’s a great card.”
“… Whoever wants it – anybody in the top 10. I’m sure if you look at the names, the featherweight division is one of the best divisions. I feel like everybody is going to get a tough fight and a good fight.”
UFC Fight Night 241 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.
LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 241 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $158,500.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC Fight Night 241 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 241 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2411 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
“UFC Fight Night 241: Barboza vs. Murphy” – $158,500
Lerone Murphy’s first fight on American soil was a success, outpacing Edson Barboza to win the UFC Fight Night 241 main event.
[autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] performed at a pace that was simply too much for Edson Barboza to handle at UFC Fight Night 241.
The featherweight main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas saw “The Miracle” from Manchester, England, rarely give Barboza (24-12 MMA, 18-12 UFC) space to unleash his offense. As a result, Murphy (14-0-1 MMA, 6-0-1 UFC) remained undefeated, winning a unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45).
The fight began with both fighters darting in and out with feints before they began sitting down on hard leg kicks and straight punches upstairs. A kick from Barboza strayed low, pausing the fight for a few seconds, but when the fight resumed, the strikes began to fly more frequently with Barboza controlling the center of the cage. The back-and-forth round concluded with a big moment for Barboza, who landed a flush upkick just before the horn.
Murphy recovered during the break and returned to the striking battle with Barboza. After receiving a couple of hard leg kicks, Murphy switched things up with a clean takedown entry, but Barboza denied the fight from hitting the mat.
Murphy immediately turned up the offensive pressure with hard punches, putting Barboza on wobbly legs as he circled outside. Looking for a desperate change of momentum, Barboza slipped as he attempted a spinning attack, leaving an opening for Murphy to take standing back control until Round 2 came to a close.
Barboza began Round 3 controlling the center of the cage and landed a big kick to the body, but Murphy quickly turned the tide and responded with heavy forward pressure. With about 90 seconds to go in Round 3, Murphy had Barboza on wobbly legs again, sensing a finish, although it would not come.
In Round 4, Murphy continued to pick and pop on Barboza, seemingly at will. However, in typical fashion, Barboza still found room to sneak in a couple of powerful kicks as the frame wore on.
Barboza needed to connect with a home run shot, but Murphy did well to not leave him that opening. Instead, Murphy saw his dominant performance through to the final horn, landing 182 significant strikes on Barboza.
Murphy’s first fight of 2024 was a dominant display against one of the most dangerous strikers in the division. He is currently tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the featherweight division alongside the champ, Ilia Topuria.
During his post-fight interview with Paul Felder, Murphy called for anyone in the top 10 after relaying a straightforward message about his future in the division:
“I’m going to change my name back to ‘The Iceman,’ because there’s nothing miraculous about this. I’m meant to be here. Destiny. I’m meant to be here, and I’m going to be champion. Simple.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 241 results include:
Will Edson Barboza add to his highlight reel, or will Lerone Murphy remain undefeated when they clash in the UFC Fight Night 241 main event?
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at UFC Fight Night 241’s main event: [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag].
Apr 15, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Edson Barboza (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Billy Quarantillo (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Amateur MMA accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 7 KO victories
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Solid feints and footwork
^ Strikes well from both stances
+ Hard calf kicks
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Works well off over-unders
+ Serviceable takedown ability
^ Favors attempts along the fence
+ Solid scrambling and transitional grappling
+ Good ground-and-pound
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy point of interest: Muay Thai maelstrom
The main event in Las Vegas features two fighters who are familiar with the art of eight limbs.
Storming onto the UFC scene as a thunderous leg kicker, [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] became renowned for his initial impressions of violence that reminded MMA fans why muay Thai is such an effective striking art.
After a few years of mixed success, Barboza made his way up to New Jersey to train with Mark Henry, a coach who quietly helped him improve his footwork and fundamentals within the boxing realm.
Edson Barboza’s fight with Lucas Martins was the first time we see Mark Henry in his corner… a lot of the tweaks in his boxing game arguably start to show from this fight forward in regards to feints, counters and lead-hand work. #UFConFX7pic.twitter.com/M76qRoo28N
From hitting pivots to stepping off to the appropriate sides, the Brazilian has done a much better job of facilitating his punches and overall offense. Barboza has always possessed an underrated counter right hand but has since developed his left hand under said upgrades.
Though Barboza throws his jab with much more efficiency, it is the improvements in his boxing counters and bodywork that could serve the American Top Team product particularly well in this fight. However, Barboza will still need to respect the power that’s coming back his way.
Enter [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag].
Despite the UFC matchmakers’ best efforts to bury lighter-weight talents on preliminary cards, Murphy appears to have made himself undeniable with the skills shown in his accrual of wins.
A well-coached fighter who looks to be a natural when it comes to striking, Murphy comports himself comfortably from both stances on the feet. Whether Murphy’s launching left-sided power strikes from southpaw or is trying to set up his patent calk kick from orthodox, the English fighter is seamless when switching sides.
Remember when Lerone Murphy dropped Josh Culibao with a glancing kick to the body. The amount of variables in combat sports are crazy. pic.twitter.com/xWXPu0T5NB
Not only can Murphy variate the looks and levels of his jab, but the 32-year-old also displays solid instincts when it comes to leg kick defense and counters that should come in handy this Saturday. That said, Murphy has shown that he is not beyond being caught while kicking either, making counters a potent two-way street.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Considering the potential for chaos on the feet, no one should be shocked if this party ends up on the floor at some point.
No stranger to closed-quarter combat, Murphy has shown a semi-surprising willingness to tie up with opposition throughout a fight.
Although Murphy does have a decent reactionary double-leg that he’ll dust off on occasion, the 8-year pro primarily looks to get things done from the clinch. Whether Murphy is muscling his man over from the bodylock or looking to change levels along the fence, the Englishman seems strong from this space and works well off over-unders.
However, since Barboza’s early encounters with wrestlers the likes of Jamie Varner and Danny Castillo, the 15-year pro has steadily strengthened his counter-wrestling acumen. Even in his slightly more recent fight against former lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, Barboza was still able to contest with his counterpart’s underhooks, creating enough space for separations despite being dead tired in the final frame.
More importantly, Barboza – from an offensive perspective – is not beyond shooting a double-leg takedown of his own to help alleviate pressure. Reactionary doubles, at least on paper, wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world given the Brazilian’s edge in experience.
Still, despite giving up his fair share of takedowns, Murphy has shown a solid scrambling process.
Typically looking to locate the fence, Murphy favors wall walking to safety any way he can – usually keeping a strong whizzer for assistance. And if Murphy can get on top, “The Miracle” possesses some ungodly ground-and-pound that can change the dynamic of a fight.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the younger man, listing Murphy -115 and Barboza +118 via FanDuel. Considering that Murphy is the undefeated fighter with less mileage, I’m not surprised to see him installed as the odds-on favorite, albeit slightly. Still, it is nice to see some respect given to Barboza given the lack of line movement overall.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy prediction, pick
Not only have we seen some notable Brazilian veterans find the fountain of youth this year, but Barboza has quietly been improving during this late-career resurgence of sorts. Aside from being fully settled into his new home of American Top Team, Barboza has made marked upgrades to his boxing game that I see having some play on Murphy.
Although Murphy reenacting a worse version of the Bryce Mitchell knockdown from southpaw is a reality that is on the table for Barboza, the English fighter has shown suspect defense when it comes to protecting his midsection.
Unless Murphy can stop Barboza in the first two frames, then I suspect that the 38-year-old veteran can pull away with bodywork and counters down the stretch.
I’m hoping to see more of Murphy regardless of the result, but the official pick is Barboza by decision.
Prediction: Barboza by decision
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy start time, where to watch
Barboza and Murphy are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:15 p.m. ET (6:15 p.m. PT). The fight streams live on ESPN+.
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 241 odds between Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy, with MMA picks and predictions.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
In a 5-round featherweight bout in the main event, Edson Barboza and Lerone Murphy meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 241 — also known as UFC on ESPN+ 99 and UFC Vegas 92 — at the UFC’s Apex Facility in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC Fight Night 241: Barboza vs. Murphy odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET and can be viewed on ESPN+, while the main card starts at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Records: Barboza (24-11-0) | Murphy (13-0-1)
Barboza takes the walk to the octagon with 2 straight victories over Billy Quarantillo and Sodiq Yusuff, with a 1st-round KO/TKO of Quarantillo. He has bounced back nicely after a pair of losses to Giga Chikadze and Bryce Mitchell.
Junior has ended up going the distance in just 2 of his past 5 fights, with the other 3 resulting in KO/TKOs, with 2 wins and a loss in those bouts.
Murphy has won 5 straight bouts since a draw against Zubaira Tukhugov in his company debut at UFC 242 back in Sept. 2019. He has ended up going the distance in 3 of his past 4 fights, including a unanimous-decision win over Josh Culibao last time out in July 2023.
Junior holds a slight 1½-inch reach advantage over Murphy, and he has a slight 4.18-to-3.65 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. Murphy has been much more accurate with those strikes, however, landing 57.37% to just 46.02% for Barboza.
Murphy has done better work on the ground, too, posting a 1.29 takedown average and 0.86 submission average.
MURPHY (-150) is an up-and-comer looking to move up the rankings in the featherweight division. A win over an aging, yet still dangerous Barboza (+125) would be quite a feather in the Briton’s cap.
Murphy has picked up 5 straight victories, including 3 via decision in the past 4 fights. The lone exception was a 2nd-round KO/TKO against Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267.
Murphy is accurate with his strikes, and he does good work getting the fight to the mat, if needed, while posting a solid submission average.
OVER 3.5 ROUNDS (-160) is worth a look, as this fight isn’t likely to see a quick ending. Barboza is starting to get a little long in the tooth, but he has good cardio, is smart, and won’t get himself into an untenable position.
Murphy has ended up going the distance in 2 straight, and 3 of the past 4 bouts, and he is unlikely to get a quick finish, either.
YES (-110): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? is also worth a play and not a bad option for the conservative bettor who wants action on the fight, but doesn’t want to declare a winner.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.
LAS VEGAS – The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.
Ahead of UFC Fight Night 241 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC host hotel, featherweights [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] (24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC) and [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] (13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.
[lawrence-related id=2741654]
Barboza registered at 145.5 pounds, while Murphy came back at 146 pounds.
Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.
Edson Barboza will have to find the fountain of youth in order to beat Lerone Murphy at UFC Fight Night 241. Can he?
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC Fight Night 241 main event between [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] and [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag]. UFC Fight Night 241 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Amateur MMA accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 7 KO victories
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Solid feints and footwork
^ Strikes well from both stances
+ Hard calf kicks
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Works well off over-unders
+ Serviceable takedown ability
^ Favors attempts along the fence
+ Solid scrambling and transitional grappling
+ Good ground-and-pound
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy point of interest: Muay Thai maelstrom
The main event in Las Vegas features two fighters who are familiar with the art of eight limbs.
Storming onto the UFC scene as a thunderous leg kicker, [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] became renowned for his initial impressions of violence that reminded MMA fans why muay Thai is such an effective striking art.
After a few years of mixed success, Barboza made his way up to New Jersey to train with Mark Henry, a coach who quietly helped him improve his footwork and fundamentals within the boxing realm.
Edson Barboza’s fight with Lucas Martins was the first time we see Mark Henry in his corner… a lot of the tweaks in his boxing game arguably start to show from this fight forward in regards to feints, counters and lead-hand work. #UFConFX7pic.twitter.com/M76qRoo28N
From hitting pivots to stepping off to the appropriate sides, the Brazilian has done a much better job of facilitating his punches and overall offense. Barboza has always possessed an underrated counter right hand but has since developed his left hand under said upgrades.
Though Barboza throws his jab with much more efficiency, it is the improvements in his boxing counters and bodywork that could serve the American Top Team product particularly well in this fight. However, Barboza will still need to respect the power that’s coming back his way.
Enter [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag].
Despite the UFC matchmakers’ best efforts to bury lighter-weight talents on preliminary cards, Murphy appears to have made himself undeniable with the skills shown in his accrual of wins.
A well-coached fighter who looks to be a natural when it comes to striking, Murphy comports himself comfortably from both stances on the feet. Whether Murphy’s launching left-sided power strikes from southpaw or is trying to set up his patent calk kick from orthodox, the English fighter is seamless when switching sides.
Remember when Lerone Murphy dropped Josh Culibao with a glancing kick to the body. The amount of variables in combat sports are crazy. pic.twitter.com/xWXPu0T5NB
Not only can Murphy variate the looks and levels of his jab, but the 32-year-old also displays solid instincts when it comes to leg kick defense and counters that should come in handy this Saturday. That said, Murphy has shown that he is not beyond being caught while kicking either, making counters a potent two-way street.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Lerone Murphy (red gloves) fights Josh Culibao (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. (Per Haljestam, USA TODAY Sports)
Considering the potential for chaos on the feet, no one should be shocked if this party ends up on the floor at some point.
No stranger to closed-quarter combat, Murphy has shown a semi-surprising willingness to tie up with opposition throughout a fight.
Although Murphy does have a decent reactionary double-leg that he’ll dust off on occasion, the 8-year pro primarily looks to get things done from the clinch. Whether Murphy is muscling his man over from the bodylock or looking to change levels along the fence, the Englishman seems strong from this space and works well off over-unders.
However, since Barboza’s early encounters with wrestlers the likes of Jamie Varner and Danny Castillo, the 15-year pro has steadily strengthened his counter-wrestling acumen. Even in his slightly more recent fight against former lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, Barboza was still able to contest with his counterpart’s underhooks, creating enough space for separations despite being dead tired in the final frame.
More importantly, Barboza – from an offensive perspective – is not beyond shooting a double-leg takedown of his own to help alleviate pressure. Reactionary doubles, at least on paper, wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world given the Brazilian’s edge in experience.
Still, despite giving up his fair share of takedowns, Murphy has shown a solid scrambling process.
Typically looking to locate the fence, Murphy favors wall walking to safety any way he can – usually keeping a strong whizzer for assistance. And if Murphy can get on top, “The Miracle” possesses some ungodly ground-and-pound that can change the dynamic of a fight.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the younger man ever so slightly, listing Murphy -115 and Barboza +118, according to FanDuel.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy prediction, pick
Considering that Murphy is the undefeated fighter with less mileage, I’m not surprised to see him installed as the odds-on favorite, albeit slightly. Still, it is nice to see some respect given to Barboza given the lack of line movement overall.
Not only have we seen some notable Brazilian veterans find the fountain of youth this year, but Barboza has quietly been improving during this late-career resurgence of sorts. Aside from being fully settled into his new home of American Top Team, Barboza has made marked upgrades to his boxing game that I see having some play on Murphy.
Although Murphy reenacting a worse version of the Bryce Mitchell knockdown from southpaw is a reality that is on the table for Barboza, the English fighter has shown suspect defense when it comes to protecting his midsection.
Unless Murphy can stop Barboza in the first two frames, then I suspect that the 38-year-old veteran can pull away with bodywork and counters down the stretch.
I’m hoping to see more of Murphy regardless of the result, but the official pick is Barboza by decision.
Prediction: Barboza by decision
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy start time, where to watch
As the main event, Barboza and Murphy are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
