Undefeated featherweight UFC fighter Lerone Murphy has hinted at a potential future match against fellow Englishman Nathaniel Wood, despite focusing on securing a ranked opponent next following a total of five wins and one draw in the UFC.
Lerone Murphy, a highly-rated fighter in the featherweight division of UFC, could possibly have his next opponent in line. He is known for being undefeated with an impressive record of 5-0-1 inside the octagon. This achievement was solidified with his recent unanimous decision win over Josh Culibao at UFC London. Despite remaining unranked in the significantly competitive 145-pound division, Murphy seems to be standing right on the brink of a top-15 spot. The right matchup could potentially boost his rank significantly.
At the same event, the fellow English fighter Nathaniel Wood also emerged victorious. As a result, speculations allude to the potential showdown of the two athletes, especially after their previously planned bout in March was sidelined. Following the event, Murphy did not comment much about Wood. However, during an appearance on The MMA Hour, he brought up their heated confrontation during the fight week. There were a series of back-and-forth exchanges between the two over social media platforms, which escalated to an in-person confrontation at the hotel.
Wood insistently approached Murphy at the weigh-in and claimed that it was merely the media that was trying to twist the reality of their conflict. He dismissed it as a trivial matter and argued that it wasn’t as deep as people were assuming it to be. This scenario was purely internet fodder according to Murphy, who asserted that he was ready to take on anyone in the division because they all meant the same to him. Unfazed enough, Murphy was absolutely certain that Wood would keep a mum face in real life despite his online bravado.
According to Murphy’s understanding, both fighters were on cordial terms until their prospective fight at UFC 286 got them into a feud with each other. Both being surging featherweight division contenders, Wood’s sudden change of behavior post-withdrawal from their fight was perceived by Murphy as the origin of their current rift. Murphy aims to target a ranked opponent for his next fight although he’s aware that there remains unfinished business with Wood, who he refers to as “The Prospect”.