The #10-ranging featherweight competition wants to achieve the biggest victory of his career in his second main event.
With a record of 15-0-1, Lerone Murphy has overcome an incredible adversity to achieve this phase of his career.
Since recording a split draw on its UFC debut in 2019, Murphy has done some spectacular versions to achieve seven consecutive victories in the Octagon.
The next 33-year-old test comes against a dangerous veteran in Josh Emmett who has produced some of the most devastating knockouts in the history of the promotion.
Murphy called for this fight after his victory then Ige at UFC 308 knowing exactly what he signed up for while trying to retain his undefeated record that in 2025 proved to be a difficult task.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
18 UFC hunters have already lost their undefeated records in 2025
Being an undefeated hunter in MMA may not have the same weight as in boxing, but it still generates a lot of hype and excitement.
Lerone Murphy is a good example of a competitor who has been tested in countless fights, despite the fact that he does not have to taste yet.
The same cannot be said for a stunning 18 hunters who have suffered the first losses of their career in the UFC this year.
There were 11 events during the first quarter of 2025 for UFC Vegas 105 on April 5, where the featherweights are central to the main event.
The very first UFC card of the year, a Fight Night event with exclusion by Mackenzie Dern vs Amanda Ribas 2 on January 11, saw two hunters loses after Magomed Gadzhiyasulov and Austin Bashi members both unanimous decision reports.
Unbelievable, the next event, UFC 311 on January 18, saw four hunters losing their unbeaten records with Umar Nurmagomedov, Payton Talbott, Rinya Nakamura and Clayton Carpenter who all fell on the wrong side of the win column.
Other remarkable losses that destroy perfect records include the defeat of Shara Magomedov against Michael 'Venom' in Saudi Arabia, the loss of Tatiana Suarez against Zhang Weili in the Co-Main Event of UFC 312, Road to UFC Winner Rei Tsuruyaae's decision Tybura in London.
Colby Dicknesse, Kody Steele, Jean Matsumoto, Julius Walker, Danny Barlow, Diyar Nurgozhay, Josias Musasa and Yuneisy Duban form the other names.
Three undefeated hunters will be in action this Saturday evening in the Apex with Murphy, Torrez Finney and Luis Gurule are all looking for their winning stripes at the UFC Apex.
Lerone Murphy has overcome a number of difficult tests to get it that far
Having an unbeaten record in MMA is great, but tested in your career is much more important and Lerone Murphy can tick both boxes.
He has experienced a number of difficult moments in fighting, but has found a way to come to the top, apart from the controversial draw of his debut against Zubaira Tukhugov.
In matchups with Dan Ige and Gabriel Santos, 'the Miracle' had to dig deep to lift his hand and that will only be of good service to him.
If Murphy can pass Josh Emmett on 5 April, he will cement himself as an important player in the featherweight division who has not had an easy way to the top.
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