Brendan Miller
One of MMA’s most prolific strikers looks to fend off another hungry newcomer at UFC Fight Night on Saturday. Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy headlines the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Barboza (24-11) is celebrating 15 years as a professional MMA fighter. The veteran striker – whose spin kick on Terry Etim in 2012 is still arguably the biggest knockout in UFC history – continues his reinvention at featherweight after a career primarily in the 155-pound division. Barboza fights for the third time in a row against a rising contender after wins over Sodiq Yusuff and Billy Quarantillo. At 38, Barboza is unlikely to achieve that elusive UFC title shot. But three straight wins should answer his call for a top-10 opponent.
“When you get older, there’s a greater chance you’ll get younger opponents…” Barboza told CBS Sports. “Anyone in the top 10 [next] it would be amazing. Everyone knows me. I never choose an opponent. I fight with anyone. Just give me someone. Most of the time, I fought someone behind me in the rankings.”
Murphy (13-0-1) admits his first UFC main fight is a cheat check. The undefeated fighter faces his most experienced and talented opponent. Headlining a UFC card is a notable achievement for Murphy and a reminder of how far he’s come after nearly losing his life. Murphy was the victim of a gang-related shooting at age 21. The future fighter was hit once in the face and twice in the neck. He still has a piece of candy in his tongue and dentures. It was a crossroads moment that paved the way for Murphy to explore MMA.
“I’m dead. I thought I was dead,” Murphy told CBS Sports. “I thought it was over. It all happened in slow motion. It’s like in the movies, when the barrel turns and you see it in slow motion.”
“It was a great decision [starting MMA] and I feel like it’s destiny. Obviously we don’t know what will happen on Saturday, but now I feel like I can help support my family and do good things. My mom is obviously worried about me fighting, but she’s not worried about me leaving the house every day wondering if she’ll ever see me again. I’m in a much better place now, mentally and physically.”
Check out the full interview with Lerone Murphy below.
Adrian Yanez x Vinicius Salvador is one of the most interesting fights on this weekend’s main card. Expectations were high for Yanez after racking up a nine-fight winning streak and seven knockouts. Back-to-back stoppage losses to UFC featherweights Rob Font and Jonathan Martinez brought the hype to a screeching halt. Yanez has phenomenal boxing and showing it against Salvador is essential to improve his image.
“I’m really excited to show myself and get back in the win column,” Yanez counted CBS Sports. “I want to show everyone that I’m me. I know how I feel personally, but I need to prove it to all of you… I’m going to go there, knock out Vinicius and try to get back into the rankings.”
Below is the rest of the fight card for Saturday with the latest odds before we come up with a prediction and pick the main event.
UFC Fight Night card, odds
| Leron Murphy -145 | Edson Barboza +122 | Feather weight |
| Khaos Williams-135 | Carlson Harris +115 | Welterweight |
| Themba Gorimbo-145 | Ramiz Brahimaj +122 | Welterweight |
| Adrian Yanez -380 | Vinícius Salvador +300 | Bantamweight |
| Angela Hill -145 | Luana Pinheiro +122 | Women’s strawweight |
UFC Fight Night Viewing Information
Date: May 18 | Start time: 7pm ET (main card)
Location: UFC Apex – Las Vegas
Television channel: ESPN+
Prediction
Edson Barboza x Lerone Murphy: Barborza, despite his elite striking pedigree, actually absorbs more strikes than he deals on average. He is not the most defensively responsible striker and gaps in his takedown defense, particularly early in his career, have resulted in ground strikes against him. Expect Barboza to keep the fight standing and look for a standout finish. Murphy is a wild card. He has solid power in his punches, but it’s unclear how well he scales at a higher level. He scored three takedowns against Josh Culibao in his last fight, but before that he was knocked down five times each by his two opponents. Murphy won’t have to worry too much about takedowns, but he should apply his offensive wrestling carefully. People have been trying to overthrow Barboza for 15 years. If you don’t approach carefully, Barboza will put a dynamite knee to your jaw – just ask Billy Quarantillo and Beneil Dariush. This comes down to who operates most effectively on the feet. I lean slightly towards Barboza’s explosive power and mid-fight adjustments. It may not be pretty, but I hope Barboza’s experience surpasses Murphy’s. Barboza via UD
