Lerone Murphy of England maintained his undefeated record on Saturday night, securing a victory over Josh Emmett by judges` decision. The featherweight main event at UFC Vegas 105 went the distance, with Murphy showcasing his skills over a determined Emmett.
Murphy, who is undefeated, previously defeated Edson Barboza and Dan Ige in his recent UFC fights. Emmett was returning after a year-long absence, his last fight being a knockout win against Bryce Mitchell.
Josh Emmett vs Lerone Murphy UFC Vegas 105 Fight Summary
Josh Emmett, a former interim title challenger, entered the fight with significantly more experience in five-round bouts compared to Lerone Murphy. However, Murphy demonstrated composure throughout the fight held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Early in the first round, Emmett suffered a cut from a head clash, immediately followed by an elbow from Murphy. Despite the blood, Emmett continued to press forward, seeking a knockout.
Murphy performed better in the second round, quickly escaping takedown attempts and landing effective calf kicks that impacted Emmett.
The third round saw Murphy slip, allowing Emmett to gain control initially. However, Murphy defended well against the cage, using elbows effectively. The round was briefly paused due to an accidental eye poke from Murphy.
As the fight progressed into the later rounds, Murphy appeared to increase his pace and take control. A strong elbow at the end of the third round, combined with effective kicks, gave him momentum.
In the fourth round, after absorbing body kicks from Murphy, Emmett responded with increased pressure and combinations, showing resilience despite the accumulated leg kicks.
The final round was closely contested, with both fighters aware that a finish was crucial. Murphy seemed slightly more active, and ultimately, the fight went to the judges` scorecards after a hard-fought battle.
Murphy was declared the winner by decision, with two judges scoring the fight three rounds to two, and the third judge scoring it four rounds to one in his favor.
UFC Vegas 105: An Unusual Fight Night
UFC events at the Apex in Las Vegas often create a different viewing experience for TV audiences. While perhaps there was a slightly larger crowd than usual this time, contributing to some atmosphere throughout the event.
On the undercard, Rhys McKee defeated Daniel Frunza by TKO, marking the first finish of the night. Ode Osbourne also secured a knockout victory in the second round against Luis Gurule, who was previously undefeated.
Chang Ho Lee and Cortavious Romious engaged in an exciting fight before Lee secured a TKO victory with ground and pound, adding to the undercard finishes.
Rupert Hartwell