Featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski is already looking toward the next step of his reign, and he’s confident the path leads straight to Lerone Murphy. After UFC 319, Volkanovski shared that Murphy’s sensational knockout win made him the obvious candidate for the next title shot inside the UFC.
Originally, the Australian star was interested in testing himself against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski admitted he pushed for that matchup, believing Evloev had earned his chance, but injuries and scheduling issues prevented it from coming together. At one stage, Volkanovski even had his eyes on Yair Rodriguez, while also tracking the planned bout between Evloev and Aaron Pico. When that fight collapsed, things shifted rapidly.
Instead, Murphy stepped up against Pico at UFC 319 on short notice. What followed was one of the most dramatic moments of the night, as Murphy delivered a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that stopped Pico cold. For Volkanovski, that type of performance on a major card is exactly what sets a contender apart. “Massive knockout, you couldn’t write it better,” he said on his channel. “December looks perfect for Murphy.”
Volkanovski still acknowledges Evloev’s credentials, noting the Russian’s undefeated record and strong case as a top challenger. But with Evloev sidelined and Murphy unbeaten in the UFC with momentum on his side, the decision seems straightforward. “I tried to get Evloev, I really did,” Volkanovski explained. “Now, it just makes sense to do Murphy. It’s a no-brainer.”
With Volkanovski (27-5) chasing another dominant defense and Murphy (17-0-1) rising as the freshest threat in the division, the UFC featherweight division looks set for another high-stakes clash before the year ends.
