"The Miracle" believes he stamped his UFC featherweight title shot with his massive knockout of Aaron Pico.
Among the unforgettable scenes that took place in the UFC's return to Chicago this past weekend were a pair of sickening first-round spinning back elbow knockouts. If Carlos Prates' near buzzer-beater of Geoff Neal wasn't enough, Lerone Murphy had to follow it up with one of his own immediately afterward.
A top-ranked and undefeated featherweight contender, Murphy, 34, delivered arguably his best UFC performance yet in UFC 319's co-main event. In doing so, "The Miracle" spoiled the promotional debut of Aaron Pico to earn his ninth straight win under the UFC banner.
Despite Murphy's impressive stretch, he wasn't at the forefront of the title conversation prior to UFC 319. That's changed mightily after his latest victory, however, and Murphy now feels there's no question regarding who's next to challenge UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
"You never know in this game, and for me, I believe from looking at the division, I deserve it most by a mile," Murphy said on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show." "It doesn't even matter what happens between Jean Silva and [Diego] Lopes [on Sept. 13 at UFC San Antonio].
"Jean Silva needs two fights to get a title shot, but I believe UFC might be waiting for that fight to see what happens with them, but I deserve it more than them."
A highly-touted former Bellator and PFL contender, Pico entered the UFC with plenty of fanfare and was initially scheduled to face another undefeated top-ranked featherweight, Movsar Evloev. The fight was billed as a surefire No. 1 contender bout, considering Evloev's status as the No. 1-ranked contender in the UFC's rankings. However, the Russian's withdrawal due to injury opened the door for Murphy to replace him on short notice in Chicago.
As it stands now, Murphy believes Evloev has lost any hope of getting that long-awaited title shot.
"There's not an argument," Murphy said of Evloev. "You've got to think about this year. There's a few reasons why I'm ahead of him as well. He's not fought any main events; I've fought two. He's got no finishes; I've just gotten another finish. I've got three finishes in 10 [UFC] fights, and I've been more active. And I just fought his fight. He pulled out from the No. 1 contender fight. I stepped in and won the fight. I'm more than deserving for the title now."
Murphy's all-timer of a highlight-reel knockout has skyrocketed the Englishman's confidence to new heights. Murphy said he's feeling great and is ready to compete again this month if allowed.
Ultimately, that's not the goal though. Murphy wants two-time champ Volkanovski next, and once all is said and done, he expects to add himself to an ultra-illustrious list alongside Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev as the only men to finish "The Great" in UFC competition.
"It was a coming-out party," Murphy said.
"Volkanovski is one of the best to ever do it, but I think I'm going to get the finish. I think that's just sparked something in me where I just feel like I want to kill. I want to kill again. I'm cut from that cloth."
Category: General Sports
