Tag: Lauren Murphy

Lauren Murphy Shares A Potential Path To Victory Against Shevchenko

Lauren Murphy will challenge for Valentina Shevchenko’s 125-pound belt this weekend and believes she may have found a kink in the armor of the “Bullet.” Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will look to make history against Lauren Murphy this Saturday with a potential sixth title defense. The Kyrgyzstan native captured UFC gold in 2018 and has […]

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Lauren Murphy will challenge for Valentina Shevchenko’s 125-pound belt this weekend and believes she may have found a kink in the armor of the “Bullet.”

Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will look to make history against Lauren Murphy this Saturday with a potential sixth title defense. The Kyrgyzstan native captured UFC gold in 2018 and has laid waste to the 125-pound division since wearing the crown. While many thought Jéssica Andrade would present the stiffest test for Shevchenko with her violent slams and jousting hooks, Shevchenko won in utter dominance and showed why she believes she will sit atop the throne forever.

Nonetheless, accolades will not matter to Lauren Murphy who has been cutting her teeth on the MMA scene since 2010. In Murphy’s claim to her first shot at gold, the Alaskan fighter has notched five wins in a row against all UFC-ranked opponents at 125 pounds.

Speaking to MMA News reporter James Lynch, Murphy illuminated a possible avenue of success when she offered to put her clinch game on the line against anybody—including “The Bullet”.

“I just have a lot of respect for her as a champion. Obviously, she’s known for her kickboxing, but I think she has probably the best clinch in all of women’s MMA. And I’ve always said I’m willing to put my clinch on the line with anybody. So I’m really excited to see how it matches up against Valentina because I truly believe her clinch is one of the best in the world. Her ground game is actually super-underrated.

“So just watching her, I mean, she does have a submission win over Julianna Peña, who’s known for her ground game. I watched the way that she dealt with Jennifer Maia on the ground, who’s a black belt. Valentina has super, super, super good hips, and she knows how to move.” Murphy said.

Lauren Murphy will have the chance to fight and become only the third flyweight champion in UFC history. Inside a packed T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega will not only feature two title fights but the return of the one and only Nick Diaz. In a rematch seventeen years in the making, Diaz will face Robbie Lawler right before Murphy attempts to rip the title from the hands of one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.

Do you think Lauren Murphy can pull off the upset at UFC 266?

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Murphy Feels Valentina Shevchenko’s Opponents All Made One Mistake

Lauren Murphy believes all of Valentina Shevchenko’s fallen victims have one thing in common. On Sept. 25, Murphy will challenge Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. The title bout will serve as the co-main event of UFC 266. This will be Shevchenko’s sixth title defense. MMA News’ James Lynch spoke to Murphy ahead of […]

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Lauren Murphy believes all of Valentina Shevchenko’s fallen victims have one thing in common.

On Sept. 25, Murphy will challenge Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. The title bout will serve as the co-main event of UFC 266. This will be Shevchenko’s sixth title defense.

MMA News’ James Lynch spoke to Murphy ahead of the fight. The title challenger shared the one common mistake that she believes Shevchenko’s opponents have made.

“I think some people end up fighting her reputation instead of fighting the person in front of them, and that can be really detrimental. I’ve definitely fallen prey to that before. Like when I fought Sara McMann, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m fighting Sara McMann.’ Instead of just focusing on the moment and kind of owning the moment, I got really caught up in the name of who I was fighting. And so I’m glad I made those mistakes before now so that hopefully I don’t repeat them,” Murphy said with a laugh.

That fight with Sara McMann took place back in 2014. Going into that bout, Murphy was undefeated with a record of 8-0. Murphy ended up suffering the first defeat of her pro MMA career via split decision.

As far as a prediction goes for her showdown with “Bullet,” Murphy kept it simple.

“Man, I would love to make a prediction, but I don’t know. I just know I’m gonna get my hand raised at the end of it, and it’s gonna be ‘And New.’”

UFC 266 will be headlined by a featherweight title clash between champion Alex Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. Also scheduled for the card will be the return of Nick Diaz, who will meet Robbie Lawler in a rematch.

Continue Reading Murphy Feels Valentina Shevchenko’s Opponents All Made One Mistake at MMA News.

Shevchenko’s UFC 266 Game Plan: Show Up, Break Murphy, And Leave

UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko has revealed her plan heading into her co-main event clash with Lauren Murphy at UFC 266 this weekend. Shevchenko will be looking to make the sixth successful defense of her 125-pound gold. Since winning the vacant title with a victory over Joanna J?drzejczyk in 2018, “Bullet” has fought off […]

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UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko has revealed her plan heading into her co-main event clash with Lauren Murphy at UFC 266 this weekend.

Shevchenko will be looking to make the sixth successful defense of her 125-pound gold. Since winning the vacant title with a victory over Joanna J?drzejczyk in 2018, “Bullet” has fought off the challenges of Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, and Jéssica Andrade.

The Kyrgyzstani’s motivation to remain at the flyweight mountaintop is clear every time she enters the Octagon, something she’ll hope to demonstrate again when she faces Murphy on September 25.

“Lucky” has built a five-fight win streak that includes victories over Roxanne Modafferi and Joanne Calderwood. Despite Shevchenko’s dominance, and the doubts about her title credentials that the likes of Cynthia Calvillo hold, the 38-year-old believes she’s the toughest contender the champ will have faced.

Ahead of her upcoming fight, Shevchenko revealed her UFC 266 game plan to Sports Illustrated. While it may not be the sort of masterplan we’ll be seeing in the new James Bond film, it’s simple, effective, and is a pretty accurate description of her reign so far; enter, destroy, and leave.

“I will go there, break my opponent, take the belt, and go back home,” said Shevchenko. “That’s what I am preparing to do. That is what I will do.”

Shevchenko may acknowledge the toughness of her opponent, but she’s confident she’ll “destroy” yet another challenger come fight night.

“I know this level of competition is the top level. There are no easy or weak opponents, and everyone brings danger to the fights. I train to be capable to stop my opponent and do what I have to do to win the fight. I know my opponent will be strong, but I am going to destroy her.”

Shevchenko’s latest title defense joins a number of exciting matchups set for UFC 266. The pay-per-view, which will be held inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, will be headlined by a featherweight title clash between champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Brian Ortega. After the pair coached this year’s return of The Ultimate Fighter, the animosity between them is certainly higher than when they were originally set to collide at UFC 260.

The main card will also see the highly anticipated return of fan-favorite Nick Diaz. In a rematch 17 years in the making, the Stockton native will run it back with former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler in what will be the UFC’s second five-round non-title and non-main event bout.

Who do you think will have their hand raised on Saturday? Valentina Shevchenko or Lauren Murphy?

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Murphy Believes She’s The “Toughest” Contender Shevchenko Has Faced

UFC women’s flyweight Lauren Murphy believes she is the “toughest” and most “well-rounded” contender that Valentina Shevchenko will have faced. In the first of two championship fights at UFC 266 this weekend, Murphy will get her first shot at UFC gold. An inconsistent start to her career in the promotion saw defeats to the likes […]

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UFC women’s flyweight Lauren Murphy believes she is the “toughest” and most “well-rounded” contender that Valentina Shevchenko will have faced.

In the first of two championship fights at UFC 266 this weekend, Murphy will get her first shot at UFC gold. An inconsistent start to her career in the promotion saw defeats to the likes of Liz Carmouche and Katlyn Chookagian leave her with a 2-4 record. But “Lucky” certainly found form in 2019. Since a loss to Sijara Eubanks, Murphy has built a five-fight win streak that includes successes against Roxanne Modafferi and Joanne Calderwood.

If she’s to extend her streak to six and, in doing so, leave the Octagon with the flyweight title, the 38-year-old will have to go through one of the most dominant champions in the UFC.

Despite Shevchenko’s accolades and ongoing dominance at the top, Murphy is confident heading into her clash with “Bullet.” And while the flyweight queen may have have breezed past the likes of Jessica Eye, Katlyn Chookagian, and Jéssica Andrade, the Alaskan believes the Kyrgyzstani will be facing her toughest test yet in her her sixth title defense.

In an interview with MMA News’ own James Lynch, Murphy described the challenge she’ll be bringing to the table when she enters the cage with Shevchenko.

“I think I’m the best contender she’s ever faced, I think I’m the most well-rounded contender she’s ever faced, I believe in my heart of hearts I’m the toughest contender she’s ever faced, just in terms of pure grit and able to bring the fight to anybody in the world. And so that’s what I’m bringing to the table.”

Catch our full interview with Lauren Murphy ahead of UFC 266 below:

Murphy’s first title challenge is set to go down this Saturday, September 25. The pay-per-view, which will be held inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, will be headlined by a blockbuster featherweight clash between champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Brian Ortega.

The event will also signal the return of fan favorite Nick Diaz. The Stockton native hasn’t entered the Octagon since 2015 and is without a win since 2011. He’ll be facing former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler for the second time in his career. The pair previously fought at UFC 47 in 2004.

Do you think Lauren Murphy can defeat Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 266?

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Murphy Shares A Story For Her Doubters Ahead Of Shevchenko Fight

Lauren Murphy has taken some time to address her doubters, though she doesn’t let their words bother her. Following her split decision win over Joanne Calderwood, Lauren Murphy extended her winning run to five and ultimately earned herself a shot at the 125lb title. While this could well be her final push for UFC gold, […]

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Lauren Murphy has taken some time to address her doubters, though she doesn’t let their words bother her.

Following her split decision win over Joanne Calderwood, Lauren Murphy extended her winning run to five and ultimately earned herself a shot at the 125lb title. While this could well be her final push for UFC gold, the ever-dangerous Valentina Shevchenko stands in her way.

Since dropping down to flyweight, Valentina Shevchenko has been flawless, besting all seven women who have opposed her and looking unstoppable while doing so, making her arguably the most dominant champion with the promotion.

Despite the champ’s division dominance, 38-year-old Lauren Murphy looks intent on ending Shevchenko’s reign and hopes to do prove the doubters wrong when the two come face to face at UFC 266 this weekend.

Lauren Murphy (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

While talking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Lauren Murphy replied to those who believe she has no chance of winning this Saturday by sharing a brilliant story of herself overcoming the odds.

“It doesn’t affect me. People have really said that about me my whole career. Like, I fought for a championship way back in Alaska, and that’s my home state, and I fought for the championship, and people were saying it about me even in Alaska. They were like, ‘She doesn’t have a chance!’ this and that,” Murphy said. “That was one of the best wins of my life. It was one of the bloodiest TKOs I’ve ever been a part of, and it make the win that much sweeter in the end.”

As she continued, Murphy expressed her disinterest in involving herself with pre-fight talk in order to stay focused on the task at hand.

“Somebody asked me the other day, we were in the gym, and somebody I hadn’t seen in the while was asking me about it, and they were like, ‘So, is it time to shut a bunch of people up?’ And I was like, ‘People are gonna talk no matter what I do. So I don’t even think about it like that because if I start thinking about, ‘I’m gonna control what other people say about me,’ or ‘I’m gonna control what other people think about me,’ then it takes me off course.”

Lauren Murphy will be hoping to shock the world in less than a week’s time when she puts herself to the test against one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time in Valentina Shevchenko.

Will we see Lauren Murphy pull off a huge upset against Valentina Shevchenko this weekend?

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Calvillo Has Grim Outlook On Murphy’s Chances Against Shevchenko

Cynthia Calvillo doesn’t like Lauren Murphy’s chances against Valentina Shevchenko. This Saturday night (Sept. 25), Murphy will challenge Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. The title fight will serve as the co-main event of UFC 266. Murphy earned this opportunity after amassing a five-fight winning streak. Calvillo will also be in action at UFC […]

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Cynthia Calvillo doesn’t like Lauren Murphy’s chances against Valentina Shevchenko.

This Saturday night (Sept. 25), Murphy will challenge Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship. The title fight will serve as the co-main event of UFC 266. Murphy earned this opportunity after amassing a five-fight winning streak.

Calvillo will also be in action at UFC 266. She will take on former UFC Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade. The bout will be contested in the flyweight division.

Speaking to MMA News’ James Lynch, Calvillo explained why she doesn’t see Murphy’s night ending well against Shevchenko.

“I mean, if you see it on paper, obviously, you can see, all right, Lauren’s really tough. She’s on a great winning streak. But how does she win her fights? She barely wins her fights. They’re split decisions. When Valentina fights the people that Lauren Murphy barely wins by decision, Valentina murders them. So it’s really hard to see Lauren win this fight. You can’t barely win a fight to beat the champion. To beat the champion, you have to beat them decisively or finish them. And I don’t really see Lauren pulling it off. So that’s why I definitely see Valentina getting the job (done), whether it’s by finish or very decisively.”

Shevchenko has been on a tear in the 125-pound division. She is undefeated in the weight class with a record of 8-0. Her first flyweight fight was actually outside of the UFC. Shevchenko captured the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship, defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision back in Dec. 2018.

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