UFC Fight Night: Josh Emmett vs Lerone Murphy Prediction

Another big UFC Fight Night is on the horizon as a veteran Josh Emmett will await showing his metal to a fierce Leorne Murphy inside this weekend at the Apex.

Josh Emmett vs Lerone Murphy background

The UFC featherweight division is never dull, with veterans such as Josh Emmett, who has never turned down a tough fight. He has battled former interim champion Yair Rodriguez as well as up-and-comers like Bryce Mitchell. Most interestingly, Emmett also stood tall against Ilia Topuria head-on without being overwhelmed by the soon-to-be former featherweight champion’s firepower.

Lerone Murphy is an undefeated British fighter set to become one of the most recognized figures in the sport. He has performed exceptionally well, and as he goes into his fights, he keeps improving. The last fight against Dan Ige was a display of his ability and tenacity, and his next fight against Emmett is eagerly awaited as he looks to produce a thrilling show once more.

You may be surprised to learn that Sidekickboxing founder Daniel Knight once sponsored an FCC event in which Lerone Murphy competed.

Josh Emmett vs Lerone Murphy Stats

Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy Fighting Styles

Josh Emmett

Josh Emmett has been a well-established boxer/puncher in the featherweight class for a long time. Emmett’s power in striking continues to be an aspect to fear for opponents, as his vast experience and agility in the ring make him an offensive threat at any distance.

Emmett tends to put a lot of weight on his front leg but keeps his hands up. His go-to combination is landing hooks at close distance, and an overhand right can finish the fight at any time if landed correctly. Even though he is not mainly recognized for kicking, he can deliver strong leg kicks that cause significant damage. However, his hands are still his go-to tool.

As for his ground game, Emmett mostly likes to double-leg takedowns from a distance. He mostly prefers to fight standing, though. He’s only got two submission victories, but his defensive wrestling is an important aspect that increases his chances in stand-up battles.

Lerone Murphy

Lerone Murphy’s fighting style is very different from Josh Emmett’s. He is taller and leaner and likes to attack at range. Whereas the Brit pushes forward, he is also effective at defending himself, dodging big shots and picking his time to counter wisely.

Other than Emmet, Murphy makes good use of his kicks. He tends to use them to gain distance and land direct punches. His midsection kicks, along with body kicks, make him a complete striker. Although he possesses sufficient power to cumulatively cause damage to his opponent, it is not comparable to Emmet’s astronomical power.

What makes him even stronger is his ground game. His previous bouts are proof of his grappling skills, which set him apart from his opponents. He is great not just at double-leg takedowns but also has good single-leg shots. Moreover, his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills are awesome, enabling him to get submissions from nearly any position.

Josh Emmett vs Lerone Murphy: ways to victory

Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy offer an interesting encounter between two polar-opposed fighters. They have varying skill sets and will seek to employ them in their much-awaited fight.

Josh Emmett

Josh Emmett needs to make his presence felt in the center of the octagon early on in the fight, putting constant pressure on Lerone Murphy right from the beginning. By advancing aggressively, he can seek to catch Lerone Murphy with his trademark overhand right, a punch that has made him a name in the sport.

Apart from emphasizing head strikes, Emmett needs to incorporate body shots into his game plan as well. By striking Murphy’s midsection, he will knock the wind out of his opponent and break up his rhythm. This body attack will not only be damaging but will open up opportunities for bigger shots as well. While Emmett lands these body hooks, he will increase the threat of a big overhand punch, keeping Murphy in a defensive posture and enabling Emmett to pounce on any error.

Emmett not only needs to work on improving his takedown defense but also actively make the presence of a believable takedown threat a part of his game plan. This way, he is able to make Murphy uncomfortable, which makes him more hesitant and even possibly change his approach to the fight.

Lerone Murphy

Lerone Murphy has to be careful in working within Emmett’s range of strikes because the latter is known for his explosive strength and capacity to knock out an opponent with a single punch. Though confidence in style is paramount, letting Emmett land cleanly may change the direction of the fight in no time.

To create a successful game plan, Murphy would do well to take a page from the book of Yair Rodriguez’s strategy against Emmett. This involves keeping distance and using a varied arsenal of kicks to keep Emmett at a distance. Adding a mix of strikes—like strong straight punches, body kicks, and constant jabs—will establish control in the bout and create openings without putting Murphy in harm’s way for major counterattacks.

Murphy’s submission and grappling skills are where he has the opportunity to utilize a strong strength. Employing his wrestling skills effectively is important; he needs to close the range cleverly by pushing Emmett against the cage, restricting Emmett’s striking space. From there, Murphy can shoot for an expert double leg takedown at the right moment, enabling him to take the fight to the ground where he can then utilize his grappling excellence.

Final Prediction

Hoping for a close fight, but Sidekick predicts British sensation Lerone Murphy to win this fight against Josh Emmett this weekend. He will use his grappling and submission skills to get a rear naked choke in the third or fourth round.