MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to interrupt down the largest fights within the UFC. At this time, he takes a more in-depth have a look at the UFC Combat Night time 241 essential occasion between Edson Barboza and Lerone Murphy. UFC Combat Night time 241 (ESPN+) takes place Saturday on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Edson Barboza UFC Combat Night time 241 preview
- Document: 24-11 MMA, 18-11 UFC
- Top: 5’11” Age: 38 Weight: 145 lbs. Attain: 75″
- Final combat: Choice win over Sodiq Yusuff (Oct. 14, 2023)
- Camp: American High Crew (Florida)
- Stance/placing type: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Danger administration: Good
Supplemental information:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ A number of muay Thai accolades
^ Document of 25-3 (22 by KO)
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 14 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Stable feints and footwork
+ Improved boxing method
^ Jabs, pivots, counters, and so forth.
+ Devastating leg kicks
+ Correct spinning assaults
+ Underrated counter wrestling
+ Stable butterfly guard
Lerone Murphy UFC Combat Night time 241 preview
Lerone Murphy UFC 286 Ceremonial Weigh-ins
- Document: 13-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC
- Top: 5’9″ Age: 32 Weight: 145 lbs. Attain: 73.5″
- Final combat: Choice win over Josh Culibao (July 22, 2023)
- Camp: Manchester High Crew (England)
- Stance/placing type: Change-stance/muay Thai
- Danger administration: Good
Supplemental information:
+ Regional MMA title
+ Newbie MMA accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt
+ 7 KO victories
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Stable feints and footwork
^ Strikes properly from each stances
+ Onerous calf kicks
+ Sturdy contained in the clinch
^ Works properly off over-unders
+ Serviceable takedown capability
^ Favors makes an attempt alongside the fence
+ Stable scrambling and transitional grappling
+ Good ground-and-pound
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy focal point: Muay Thai maelstrom
The primary occasion in Las Vegas options two fighters who’re acquainted with the artwork of eight limbs.
Storming onto the UFC scene as a thunderous leg kicker, Edson Barboza turned famend for his preliminary impressions of violence that reminded MMA followers why muay Thai is such an efficient placing artwork.
After a couple of years of blended success, Barboza made his method as much as New Jersey to coach with Mark Henry, a coach who quietly helped him enhance his footwork and fundamentals inside the boxing realm.
Edson Barboza’s combat with Lucas Martins was the primary time we see Mark Henry in his nook… a variety of the tweaks in his boxing recreation arguably begin to present from this combat ahead with reference to feints, counters and lead-hand work. #UFConFX7 pic.twitter.com/M76qRoo28N
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) Could 1, 2023
From hitting pivots to stepping off to the suitable sides, the Brazilian has performed a significantly better job of facilitating his punches and general offense. Barboza has all the time possessed an underrated counter proper hand however has since developed his left hand beneath stated upgrades.
Although Barboza throws his jab with way more effectivity, it’s the enhancements in his boxing counters and bodywork that might serve the American High Crew product notably properly on this combat. Nonetheless, Barboza will nonetheless have to respect the facility that’s coming again his method.
Enter Lerone Murphy.
Regardless of the UFC matchmakers’ finest efforts to bury lighter-weight skills on preliminary playing cards, Murphy seems to have made himself plain with the abilities proven in his accrual of wins.
A well-coached fighter who appears to be a pure relating to placing, Murphy comports himself comfortably from each stances on the ft. Whether or not Murphy’s launching left-sided energy strikes from southpaw or is attempting to arrange his patent calk kick from orthodox, the English fighter is seamless when switching sides.
Bear in mind when Lerone Murphy dropped Josh Culibao with a glancing kick to the physique.
The quantity of variables in fight sports activities are loopy. pic.twitter.com/xWXPu0T5NB— Feño 🏴 (@fenoxsky) Could 15, 2024
Not solely can Murphy variate the appears and ranges of his jab, however the 32-year-old additionally shows stable instincts relating to leg kick protection and counters that ought to turn out to be useful this Saturday. That stated, Murphy has proven that he’s not past being caught whereas kicking both, making counters a potent two-way avenue.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Lerone Murphy (crimson gloves) fights Josh Culibao (blue gloves) throughout UFC Combat Night time at O2 Area. (Per Haljestam, USA TODAY Sports activities)
Contemplating the potential for chaos on the ft, nobody needs to be shocked if this get together finally ends up on the ground sooner or later.
No stranger to closed-quarter fight, Murphy has proven a semi-surprising willingness to tie up with opposition all through a combat.
Though Murphy does have an honest reactionary double-leg that he’ll mud off occasionally, the 8-year professional primarily appears to get issues performed from the clinch. Whether or not Murphy is muscling his man over from the bodylock or trying to change ranges alongside the fence, the Englishman appears sturdy from this house and works properly off over-unders.
Nonetheless, since Barboza’s early encounters with wrestlers the likes of Jamie Varner and Danny Castillo, the 15-year professional has steadily strengthened his counter-wrestling acumen. Even in his barely newer combat towards former light-weight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, Barboza was nonetheless in a position to contest together with his counterpart’s underhooks, creating sufficient house for separations regardless of being lifeless drained within the ultimate body.
Extra importantly, Barboza – from an offensive perspective – is just not past capturing a double-leg takedown of his personal to assist alleviate strain. Reactionary doubles, no less than on paper, wouldn’t be the worst concept on this planet given the Brazilian’s edge in expertise.
Nonetheless, regardless of giving up his justifiable share of takedowns, Murphy has proven a stable scrambling course of.
That Lerone Murphy octopus to wall stroll I used to be raving about pic.twitter.com/5mXaIlToYz
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) March 25, 2023
Sometimes trying to find the fence, Murphy favors wall strolling to security any method he can – normally retaining a powerful whizzer for help. And if Murphy can get on prime, “The Miracle” possesses some ungodly ground-and-pound that may change the dynamic of a combat.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are favoring the youthful man ever so barely, itemizing Murphy -115 and Barboza +118, based on FanDuel.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy prediction, choose
Contemplating that Murphy is the undefeated fighter with much less mileage, I’m not stunned to see him put in because the odds-on favourite, albeit barely. Nonetheless, it’s good to see some respect given to Barboza given the shortage of line motion general.
Not solely have we seen some notable Brazilian veterans discover the fountain of youth this 12 months, however Barboza has quietly been bettering throughout this late-career resurgence of types. Other than being absolutely settled into his new residence of American High Crew, Barboza has made marked upgrades to his boxing recreation that I see having some play on Murphy.
Though Murphy reenacting a worse model of the Bryce Mitchell knockdown from southpaw is a actuality that’s on the desk for Barboza, the English fighter has proven suspect protection relating to defending his midsection.
Tenderising folks’s our bodies since 1986: Edson Barboza🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/6pev0zFFpq
— Fedor’s nephew (@FdrNphw) October 13, 2023
Until Murphy can cease Barboza within the first two frames, then I think that the 38-year-old veteran can draw back with bodywork and counters down the stretch.
I’m hoping to see extra of Murphy whatever the consequence, however the official choose is Barboza by resolution.
Prediction: Barboza by resolution
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy begin time, the place to observe
As the principle occasion, Barboza and Murphy are anticipated to make their walks to the octagon at roughly 9:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. PT). The combat broadcasts reside on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Combat Night time 241.
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