Alexander Volkanovski has announced who he will face in his next title defence later this year.
The Australian star was watching UFC 319, paying special attention to the co-main event featuring Lerone Murphy and Aaron Pico.
Murphy made a statement with a brutal first-round knockout, and now holds a 16-0-1 professional record. Volkanovski was quick to respond after the fight.
Alexander Volkanovski points to Lerone Murphy as his next opponent
Carlos Prates delivered a brutal spinning elbow knockout against Geoff Neal at UFC 319.
Murphy followed that up in the very next bout, landing the same strike to put Pico out cold and strengthen his case for a shot at the 145lb title.
Volkanovski’s immediate reaction to the finish suggests the Briton is the next in line, as he wasted no time proposing a fight date on X after the co-main event.
“See you in December @LeroneMurphy congrats #ufc319,” Volkanovski tweeted.
Lerone Murphy gets Joe Rogan’s backing ahead of UFC 319
Joe Rogan had some strong words of support this week for a fighter who does not always get the spotlight.
Speaking on his podcast, Rogan said: “Murphy is no joke.”
“He is super solid, super technical everywhere. Murphy, to me, is very much like Leon Edwards in his prime at 145lbs. Very similar. Strong everywhere. Super technical. Doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s good, man… He has world championship potential.
“This is the word out of that camp is that guy’s always training, which is what you want to see from a guy like that who’s undefeated and also not getting the shine that a lot of other guys in that division are getting. Props to him for taking the fight, too.
“Murphy’s tough. And again, he’s one of those guys that is way better than his public persona. Like, people don’t know about him. There’s so many guys in that division, man. That division’s crazy. It’s filled with killers.”
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