UFC 308 Preview: Lerone Murphy vs Dan ’50K’ Ige

Dan Ige may have had poor results in the win/loss columns when fighting ranked featherweights, but there is no doubt that he still belongs an echelon above the chaff he threshes.

He makes a perfect #14 contender, able to cut back all the unworthy, save those who truly belong in UFC contention, in the vaunted (not so much of late, actually) rankings. Although England’s Lerone Murphy blew us away in his first UFC main event — against his first ranked UFC opponent — by blowing the doors off Edson Barboza’s proverbial hinges, the decline for the legend has been oncoming for some time.

As a result, whenever a fighter beats the legendary lightweight who did the Aldo, i.e. went down in weight after his prime and did well in another difficult weight division, we cannot be totally sure Edson was not just washed.

For some fighters, he is a perfect matchup. His weaknesses are well documented, like his inability to deal with pressure and wrestling. What was impressive about Lerone Murphy’s performance is he didn’t have to do that to out-strike the Brazilian striking great.Lerone Murphy was just sharper, faster, more aggressive, more dangerous. So how can we be sure Edson is not just past it? Well, that is where Dan Ige comes in, a true gatekeeper, not a post-prime legend. Shall we review the evidence regardless, do Dan’s job for him?

Although Barboza beat Sodiq Yusuff one bout before the fight in question, Edson did the opposite of what he usually does in his wins. Even as recently as his fight with unranked Billy Quarantillo, ‘Junior’ had won early with his lightning reflexes and explosiveness, landing his second thrilling knockout with a knee in his career.

Yet just like Lerone, ‘Super’ Sodiq just made Barboza look slow and sloppy in the first round, forcing him to be tough as well. He then dislocated his shoulder and Edson won on veteran grit and savvy.

Will Dan Ige poke holes in Lerone Murphy’s shiny undefeated record? It has a few already. He has never proven a capable defensive wrestler, especially not in chain wrestling situations. He arguably lost to Gabriel Santos and Zubaira Tukhugov, getting out with just a draw against the latter.

‘The Miracle’ has proven himself a more than capable 4oz gloves kickboxer, and his toughness is not in question; he once survived a bullet to the face and walked himself to the hospital.

Still, will Lerone have enough to deal with a ranked fighter who brings a diverse set of skills to the table in one of the best divisions in the sport? Ige is not the world’s greatest wrestler, but he can use his level changing overhands and straights to set up takedowns.

’50K’ has five career submissions, including one rear-naked choke with the UFC and one on their “Contender Series.” When Lerone proves he can grapple, I will reconsider thinking he cannot, but after what he showed me against Amirkhani and Khabilov I am not too confident.

Even on the feet the bout will be close. Murphy is no knockout artist; he rarely turns up the tempo and runs away with fights. His sharpness, reach, and process of building on reads throughout the fight may be enough to deal with Ige.

Dan Ige himself is a one-tempo fighter. Unless he lands a takedown or a foe makes it otherwise, ’50K’ lives in a pattern of engagement, circle, engage again. I doubt Lerone will do anything to change that, so the fight will take place on even terms.

Ige has some decent tactical ideas and technical tricks in the midst of fights. Yet his lack of strategy, and someone average physical tools, keep him from advancing.

Murphy may have more of those physical tools, but he is now 33 years old, despite his meager fifteen fights of pro MMA experience. Ultimately, that fact makes me lack confidence in his ability to develop past what he has shown thus far.

Ige’s veteran status makes me slightly more confident in what his side brings to the table. So does his coach, Eric Nicksick, even though Ige does struggle to change course mid-fight or fight to his strengths at times.

This is one more fight on the stacked UFC 308 card which could end in a tight decision. In this one just like the last, I am picking the underdog to win by decision, may I live to regret it and the capricious judging gods spurn me for eternity.