Is Matchmaking Fair? Murphy's Long Road To Ufc Title Contender

ByPaul Battison

BBC Sport Journalist

The infinitesimal everything clicked for Lerone Murphy was erstwhile he was not fixed a title changeable by nan UFC.

On a nine-fight triumph streak successful nan promotion, nan Briton's stunning spinning elbow knockout of Aaron Pico successful August put him successful rod position to beryllium nan adjacent challenger for Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight title.

Murphy called for his shot, while Volkanovski agreed nan 34-year-old deserved it.

Instead, nan UFC went successful a different direction, pinch Volkanovski having to take sides his loop successful a rematch against Diego Lopes successful February, who he had beaten 10 months prior.

The determination was an eye-opener for UFC London headliner Murphy. Despite an unbeaten commencement to his 18-fight profession and going viral pinch nan knockout of Pico, he had been overlooked.

Murphy chuckles wryly earlier adopting a much superior reside arsenic he explains why he missed out.

"It benignant of woke maine up to a batch of things, but I understand it," Murphy tells BBC Sport.

"You person to understand it's an intermezo business. It shouldn't beryllium that measurement but it is that way. "

Instead Murphy has been pitted against Russian Movsar Evloev astatine UFC London connected Saturday, successful what connected insubstantial looks for illustration a number-one contender fight.

Even earlier a punch is thrown, Murphy's title credentials are being questioned by rival combatant Jean Silva, who claims he will beryllium fixed nan adjacent changeable astatine Volkanovski because he is much exciting.

As Murphy's conflict to unafraid his title changeable goes on, BBC Sport said to fighters connected nan paper astir nan UFC's perchance evolving matchmaking argumentation and why apical contenders sometime get overlooked.

The UFC is simply a rankings-based organisation wherever nan higher-ranked fighters are seen arsenic nan much deserving of title shots.

Murphy is classed 3rd astatine featherweight, pinch Evloev first, truthful why did second-ranked Lopes get chosen to conflict Volkanovski again aft antecedently suffering defeat?

The reply whitethorn dishonesty successful MMA existing arsenic a sport, but nan UFC being a multi-billion lb business that has grown quickly successful nan past 10 years.

Businesses make money and nan UFC does that by getting fans to salary to watch nan fights it stages, and much importantly, its fighters. It precocious signed a £5.7bn broadcast woody pinch Paramount.

The much attraction a combatant tin generate, nan much group watch.

This is wherever Murphy whitethorn person suffered. Despite his activity successful nan octagon, Murphy's reserved characteristic doesn't create viral soundbites for illustration immoderate of his peers, while nan Mancunian does not person a vibrant societal media presence.

Michael 'Venom' Page, who faces chap Briton Sam Patterson, says a fighter's expertise to marketplace themselves is captious successful nan UFC.

"It's ever to do pinch financial benefit," Page tells BBC Sport.

"If [the UFC] realise this personification is going to bring much eyes, much bums to seats, much money to nan company, they're going to favour you truthful it's important to beryllium capable to marketplace yourself.

"It's ever been important but much now. If we spell backmost galore years, it was somewhat easier because your occurrence would speak for itself.

"Social media wasn't present to distract everyone, we were each watching nan aforesaid guys connected nan aforesaid TV, truthful it was easier to beryllium good known."

As nan UFC's floor plan has grown, nan marque has go larger than astir of their apical fighters - making it much difficult for individuals to guidelines out.

Wales' Mason Jones, who takes connected Axel Sola, says athletics "isn't fair", but athletes must return nan initiative.

"In nan modern era of nan UFC you person to do much yourself to get yourself noticed," says Jones.

"They are a instrumentality that turns each time and if it's not you, it'll beryllium personification else.

"You person to do what you tin to get noticed and make your ain wealthiness and legacy."

Another facet which tin impact a fighter's prima powerfulness is really breathtaking their fighting style is.

Fans emotion finishes, particularly knockouts, and Murphy's triumph complete Pico was his first triumph by stoppage successful six fights.

Luke Riley points to nan opportunity he has been fixed by nan UFC. He faces Michael Aswell Jr successful nan co-headline bout successful only his 2nd conflict successful nan organisation.

Riley heads into nan bout having knocked retired 4 of his past 5 opponents.

"If you've sewage an breathtaking fighting style for nan fans nan commercialized side, nan societal media, doesn't matter arsenic much," says Riley.

"My proposal is don't get caught up excessively overmuch into societal media. I consciousness I'm an illustration of that."

Page points to erstwhile middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who he regards arsenic nan biggest progressive prima successful nan UFC, arsenic an illustration of this.

Of Pereira's 10 wins successful nan UFC, 8 person travel via knockout.

"He's 1 of nan fewer wherever it's from his occurrence successful nan cage, Alex Pereira. He's sewage specified prima value without being excessively complete nan the top," said Page.

"He's personification who is active, wins consistently, truthful you spot him a batch from nan promotion of nan UFC - not needfully his ain promotion."

If Murphy thumps Evloev it will beryllium his 10th consecutive win, extending nan existent longest triumph streak astatine featherweight.

Should he unafraid a title changeable afterwards, he would person done it nan difficult way.

Murphy has been made to wait, and is prideful successful really he has earned his opportunities successful nan UFC, but advises youngsters location are easier routes to boost your opinionated successful nan promotion.

"You person to person immoderate benignant of niche," says Murphy.

"For me, I americium already there. There is not overmuch I tin alteration astatine this point."