Lerone Murphy was able to get the better of the striking battle against Edson Barboza in the main event of UFC Fight Night 241 tonight in Las Vegas to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
The featherweight main event is underway in Las Vegas!
Head kick attempt from Murphy is blocked. Jabs exchanged. Inside leg kick from Barboza but Murphy lands punches at the same time. Barboza’s kick strayed to the groin so that forces a brief stoppage.
They get quickly back to it. More of the same now as Barboza looks for the low kick as Murphy tries to time the jab.
Solid low kick from Barboza. He lands a jab. Another hard calf kick for Barboza. Murphy landing his jab nicely. Barboza works to the body.
Jabs from Murphy bloodies Barboza’s nose a little. These punches down the pipe from Murphy is really starting to pay dividends now and he follows up with a right hand as Barboza is forced to back off.
One-two lands cleanly for Murphy. Leg kick for Barboza is checked and Murphy throws his own leg kick now.
Solid body punch for Murphy. Right hand for Barboza. Barboza grabs the head and goes for a big knee upstairs, but falls off-balance to the mat.
Murphy trying to get into Barboza’s guard but an upkick from Barboza slams him in the face as the round comes to a close and that might have dazed him.
Round Two:
Jab for Murphy. He loads up on a punch but misses. Good right hand from Murphy. Hard calf kick for Barboza.
Jab for Barboza. Murphy steps into a right hand. Another calf kick for Barboza. He throws out an overhand that just grazes the target. Right hand from Murphy.
Jab for Murphy. calf kick from Barboza. Murphy threatening with punches. Murphy goes for a takedown attempt, but Barboza quickly works back to his feet and gets away from the clinch.
Murphy pressuring. He lands nicely and Barboza responds with a knee to the body but seems a bit wobbly.
Murphy tags him again as he starts to sense he’s gaining the upperhand here. Nice work from Murphy. Barboza slips on what might have been a spinning attack attempt that failed. He rights himself but Murphy clinches up against the cage. Murphy tries for punches in the final couple of seconds of the round.
Round Three:
Right hook from Murphy. He lands the straight right. Murphy looks the more comfortable of the two at this stage. Body kick for Barboza. Murphy fires back.
Nice left hand from Murphy. Up against the cage he goes upstairs with punches and then drops down for a takedown attempt. Barboza staying upright for now.
Barboza gets free. He lands a leg kick. Barboza’s doing his best to stay offensive, but Murphy’s boxing is cleaner and having more impact at this stage.
Cosntant pressure from Murphy. He lands to the head again. Murphy starting to tee off now and lands a series of punches. Barboza manages to clinch up to stop that onslaught.
Back to striking range. Murphy tries for a takedown, but Barboza stuffs this one. They go back upright. Glancing left hand from Barboza as the round comes to a close.
Round Four:
Leg kick for Murphy. Now one from Barboza. Short flurry of punches from Murphy. oblique kick for Murphy.
Calf kick for Murphy. Murphy steps into a hard right hand. Solid body kick for Barboza. Jab for Murphy.
Glancing left hook for Murphy. Body kick from Barboza. Punches from Murphy. He lands the jab again and then a calf kick.
Murphy working behind his jab. Solid calf kick from him. Barboza lands his own nicely. Now a front kick to the body from the Brazilian.
Another kick attempt from Barboza but Murphy catches him with a punch that backs him up and then lands another.
More clean jabs for Murphy. Punishing spinning kick to the body from Barboza. Leg kick for Murphy. Wheel kick attempt from Barboza wasn’t far off landing.
Nice punches upstairs from Murphy and then one to the body. Low kick for Barboza. He lands the right hand now. Murphy clinches up and drives Barboza over to the cage.
Barboza facing the cage as Murphy lands a few knees to the back of the thigh. Barboza escapes the clinch as the round comes to an end.
Round Five:
Jab for Murphy. He goes to the body too. Low kick for Barboza. Now a clean left for him. Murphy with an overhand. Now he’s clinching up with Barboza facing the cage again. Barboza gets away.
Body kick for Barboza. Solid right hand for Murphy. He works the jab on the outside. Now a right hand.
Calf kick for Barboza and Murphy responds with punches. Left hook for Murphy. Jab or Barboza. Grazing right hand from Murphy.
Murphy targets the body. Head kick attempt from him is blocked. Back to the body with a punch. One-twos from Barboza but not landing cleanly.
Solid body shot from Barboza and Murphy goes for a takedown. Murphy gets him down and tries to get to his back. Barboza trying to stand up against the cage while Murphy gets a hook in. Barboza stands but Murphy breaks his base to bring him back down.
Barboza back up. Knees to the back of the leg from Murphy. Barboza turns into him. Murphy backs out throwing a few last punches.
Decision:
Good performance from Murphy here, making the most of his boxing ability and mixing in the occasional takedown attempt to throw Barboza off his game, leading to a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 50-45 x2).
