Lerone Murphy is not coming back until 2026.
The No. 4-ranked featherweight contender was recently linked to an Aljamain Sterling fight as part of the upcoming UFC 323 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Dec. 6
at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the 34 year-old “Iceman” insists he’ll be out of action for the remainder of the year.
“LOL,“ Murphy wrote on X. ”I’m not fighting this year.“
Murphy (17-0-1) is one of several top-ranked featherweights hoping for the next crack at reigning 145-pound champion, Alex Volkanovski, when “The Great” returns to action. No. 1-ranked Movsar Evloev is the most deserving; however, matchmakers hate his guts and continue to stall.
Chalk it up to No. 1 bulls—t!
Volkanovski (27-4) recently told the combat sports media that UFC was looking to book “The Great” for next February in Sydney, though nothing is official at this time. Like Murphy, all fans can do is wait for the promotion to (finally) make up its mind and pull the proverbial trigger.
Perhaps matchmakers can make this long overdue fight, as well.
