Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy is the main event of UFC Fight Night 241 a.k.a. UFC on ESPN+ 99, which is taking place at UFC Apex on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy odds suggest this is going to be a very close fight. No surprise there as both fighters are incredible strikers with fists made of steel.
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024
- Time: ~10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Edson Barboza’s Swan Song
Earlier this year, Edson Barboza (24-11) turned 38. He’s been fighting professionally since 2009, so his time really is ticking away. Maybe he’s got a few more fights in him, but we probably won’t see him get a shot at the title, especially given that the UFC Featherweight Division is stacked.
Barboza is currently 11th in the divisional rankings, but he might climb up if he wins on May 18. And if he wins with a spectacular knockout, we might see him in a title eliminator fight by the end of the year.
So, can he win by a massive KO? We know he can. After all, he won 14 fights this way, winning the Performance of the Night bonus two times already.
Lerone Murphy Determined to Continue Winning
Lerone Murphy is an undefeated fighter from England who’s won 13 fights so far. He also has one split draw in his portfolio, which happened on his UFC debut. Since then, he’s 5-0 with two of those wins happening by KO/TKO, which is his favorite method to finish opponents.
His record seems impressive, but the thing is that Murphy hasn’t fought a ranked opponent yet. Another thing that needs to worry him ahead of the fight with Barboza is that his clinch game is questionable.
He’s got zero wins by submission, with only six takedowns landed in his six UFC fights. Three of those happened in the fight with Josh Culibao. Further, Murphy isn’t great when it comes to defending against takedowns – he got taken down 17 times since joining the UFC.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy Prediction
They’re both primarily strikes, so expect to see a kickboxing duel on May 18. We think Barboza is a better striker, but even if his striking doesn’t do well for him, the Brazilian can switch to grappling.
Sure, he’s not famous for being too dangerous grappler, but he does have a BJJ brown belt. Either way, we think he’ll find his path to victory in this fight.
Pick: Edson Barboza
Check out a new promo for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 241 event, which will be headlined by a featherweight fight between Edson Barboza and lerone Murphy.