Most of the discourse after UFC 319 will center around Khamzat Chimaev’s utter domination of Dricus du Plessis that netted him the middleweight title. One fight before that, however, there was another person who made himself irresistible.
In the co-main event, surging featherweight contender Lerone Murphy knocked out debuting former Bellator challenger Aaron Pico with a devastating first-round spinning back elbow. It was the second such finish of the night after welterweight prospect Carlos Prates’ similar destruction of veteran Geoff Neal one fight earlier.
That performance should silence any remaining doubts about Murphy’s status in a division that has seem some intrigue as of late. Now, the question looms: what is next for him?
Assuming that Murphy stays where he is in the rankings, the first sensible option for him is fellow Englishman Arnold Allen. “Almighty” is actually more experienced than him despite being two and a half years younger, having entered the promotion as a fresh-faced 21-year-old.
Since then, Allen has fought a who’s who of notables, like former featherweight champion Max Holloway and former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. He is coming off a decision win over Giga Chikadze that ended a two-fight skid, and he wants more.
Murphy will offer it to him, and there is only one logical place to host this fight at. London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, or wherever, it does not matter – it has to take place in England. No matter who wins, the local crowd wins, because they have a contender.
It bears repeating: Yair Rodriguez does not deserve the next title shot after two straight stoppage losses and a lackluster decision win over an aging Patricio Freire.
There was an obvious opportunity to capitalize on a budding enmity towards Diego Lopes, but the recent title challenger will instead draw Jean Silva. Regardless, Rodriguez has to earn his shot. Fortunately, Murphy is red-hot again and also knocking on the door.
While Movsar Evloev has his rightful title fight, let these two duke it out to determine the next challenger.
There is actually a third option for Murphy: whoever wins between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling next week in Shanghai. Both of them are coming off tough losses in their last fights and want to reassert themselves in a crowded division. Whoever wins will represent another test for “The Iceman” before he enters a potential title fight.
Regardless of whom he fights next, Murphy, despite being 34 years of age, has a bright road before him. It shall be interesting to learn what his next step is.
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