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Top contender Lerone Murphy can’t stomach the idea of Yair Rodriguez being next up for the UFC featherweight championship.
Murphy, an undefeated title contender at 145 pounds, thinks it would be a bad call to put Rodriguez in a rematch with champion Alexander Volkanovski, who’s in need of a challenger. Aside from Rodriguez campaigning for the title shot, some have made the argument that he could indeed be next, given this year’s Noche UFC event is scheduled to go down in Guadalajara, Mexico. “El Pantera,” being a star and a pioneer for Mexican MMA, could be a solid candidate to headline the event on Sept. 13.
Murphy sees Rodriguez as undeserving of the opportunity and wouldn’t like to see that happening.
“That would be terrible for the division, for the sport, because realistically – not to say Yair is not a good fighter – but he’s lost about three or four title shots,” Murphy told Submission Radio. “He’s only had one win in three fights, and it was against a guy that’s unranked.
“It wouldn’t make sense. Personally, me being in the division, I would want a shot, but I know I probably need one more, as well, but I wouldn’t be against Mosvar getting the shot. I believe out of everybody, if someone is going to get a shot, it would be Movsar (Evloev) or myself. We’re the both undefeated fighters, fresh fighters, never challenged for the title, and never fought Volkanovksi. You can’t put Yair back in there.”
Rodriguez has had one crack at the UFC featherweight belt. That opportunity came in 2023 when he collided with Volkanovski in a title-unification bout, as Rodriguez held the interim belt. He lost the fight by third-round TKO. Since then, he was submitted by Brian Ortega in 2024 and last month bounced back with a unanimous decision win over former Bellator champion Patricio Freire.
Meanwhile, both Movsar Evloev and Murphy remain undefeated. Evloev is coming off a decision win over Aljamain Sterling, and Murphy a decision win over Josh Emmett.
Murphy doesn’t think much has changed since Rodriguez and Volkanovski fought in 2023. He expects a similar outcome should the two get matched up again, reinforcing his stance on the title picture.
“It wasn’t close. It wasn’t close,” Murphy said regarding the potential rematch. “Who wants to see that fight again? What’s really going to change? Nothing is going to change in that fight.”
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