Lerone Murphy has set his sights on a title fight against Alexander Volkanovski, insisting that anything less would be a disappointment after he faces Aaron Pico at UFC 319 this weekend. The undefeated British featherweight, 34, believes victory on Saturday should earn him a shot at the championship by the end of 2025.
Murphy, known as 'The Miracle', boasts a 16-0-1 record and has impressed in his last three bouts with wins over Edson Barboza, Dan Ige, and Josh Emmett. He returns to action in the co-main event in Chicago, taking on Pico on short notice. Pico, 28, arrives with significant hype after leaving PFL and has won eight of his last nine fights.
Murphy told The Independent that his perfect scenario would be to beat Pico, challenge Volkanovski in October or November, win the title, and then defend it in Manchester in March. He acknowledged Pico as his toughest stylistic challenge but believes he deserves a title shot if he wins, noting his recent victories over ranked opponents and experience in five-round fights.
Volkanovski has backed Murphy to win and become his next challenger, saying on his YouTube channel that Murphy almost deserves the shot anyway. Murphy expressed respect for the champion, calling him a legend and one of the greatest of all time, but is eager to test his skills against him.
