EXCLUSIVE – Lerone Murphy will fight Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267

Rising British star Lerone Murphy will face ‘Mr Finland’ Makwan Amirkhani in featherweight showdown on Fight Island at UFC 267

  • Lerone Murphy is one of the UK’s most exciting rising stars in the UFC
  • He remains undefeated and is now set for the biggest test of his career so far  
  • Manchester native will take on Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267 as a replacement 
  • He is stepping in after Tristan Connelly pulled out for undisclosed reasons 

Lerone Murphy will face Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 267 on October 30, Sportsmail can exclusively reveal. 

The undefeated British star has agreed to replace Tristan Connelly, who pulled out of the bout for undisclosed reasons.  

Murphy has been making waves in the featherweight division and will encounter one of his sternest examinations so far against ‘Mr Finland’. 


Lerone Murphy (left) will take on Makwan Amirkhani (right) in Abu Dhabi on October 30 

Murphy remains undefeated and won his last fight against Douglas Silva de Andrade

The 30-year-old Manchester native will jet to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi for the three-round contest.

Having made his UFC debut after just eight professional fights, ‘The Miracle’ fought to a creditable draw against Zubaira Tukhugov in the same location back in 2019, though many believed he deserved to have his hand raised. 

He followed that up with an impressive TKO win over Ricardo Ramos and a unanimous decision over Douglas Silva de Andrade. 

By contrast, Amirkhani arrives on a two-fight losing streak, but is the significantly more experienced fighter. 

Murphy’s story is well told but astonishing nonetheless. The moniker ‘Miracle’ is in reference to surviving being shot in 2013.

He was leaving a barbers in Fallowfield, a suburb of Manchester, when the gunman opened fire. The bullets struck him in the face and the neck. 

Murphy spent a week in intensive care before pulling through after surgery. 

He has since spoken about being unsure whether it was a case of mistaken identity or retribution for something he had done in the past. 

After surviving the near-death experience, Murphy redoubled his commitment to MMA and has been flourishing. 

A knee injury ended his aspirations to be a professional footballer at 16 but it was a family connection that helped him develop himself in combat sports. 

The 30-year-old Manchester native will be in familiar territory on Fight Island 

His uncle, the late Oliver Harrison was a renowned boxing trainer who worked with the likes of Amir Khan and Rocky Fielding showed his nephew the ropes. 

Murphy eventually transitioned to MMA when he was 22 and despite the late start, has taken to the sport like a duck to water.  

Huge opportunities lie ahead for him if he can find a way past Amirkhani in Abu Dhabi next month.  




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