Josh Emmett tried his best to bait Lerone Murphy into a slugfest, and it was hardly a surprise. The 40-year-old Emmett is one of the hardest punchers in the sport and has left a trail of convulsing bodies in his wake in arenas across the country.
Murphy, though, was far too technical and far too savvy to be lured into the only fight that Emmett could have won. Murphy had to fight his own urge to stand and trade, but showed the discipline to avoid the trap. He earned a unanimous decision by scores of 48-47 twice and 49-46 in his eighth consecutive UFC victory.
This was the kind of win that stamped him as a legitimate contender. His gaudy 15-0-1 record suggested it, but against Emmett, he proved he’s substance as well as style.
"To be honest, if I would have gotten a finish, I would have been calling for the title," said Murphy, who entered the bout ranked 10th. "But it was still a clinical performance. It was still a master class."
Before the fight, Emmett scoffed at the notion that he'd attempted to use his wrestling.
"When have I ever used my wrestling," he said.
We now have an answer: Saturday.
Emmett tried to mix his attack to keep Murphy off balance, and was 4 for 11 in takedowns. The four takedowns were the most he landed since he scored eight against Scott Holtzman in 2016.
"I thought he was going to wrestle more, to be honest," Murphy said.
Murphy showcased his full arsenal in what may have been the most complete performance of his career. He's beaten the likes of Edson Barboza and Dan Ige, but against Emmett, he was facing a former title challenger who has been a staple in the Top 10 for nearly a decade.
Murphy, though, was brilliant. He used his footwork to create angles and slip away when Emmett got into punching range. He fought well on the inside and used short elbows to hurt and cut Emmett. He mixed in knees and kicks, delivering as well-rounded a performance as he could have hoped.
The crowd booed, frustrated that Murphy wouldn’t bite down and brawl. When it was over, the fans were booing him, to which Murphy responded by bellowing, "16-0, baby! 16-0!"
Murphy is likely to supplant Emmett at No. 8 in the rankings when they're updated on Tuesday. It's opened the door for a series of potential big fights.
He mentioned facing No. 6 Brian Ortega, but said he'd fight anyone who would help him get a title opportunity.
Based on what he showed Saturday against Emmett, that shot may only be one more win away.
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa
Lerone Murphy (R) defeated Josh Emmett by scores of 48-47 twice and 49-46.