Six-and-a-half years earlier, while lying on the hospital bed, Lerone Murphy might not have guessed that he would be a combat sports star. But now things have changed and ‘The Miracle’ is a pretty prominent star in the world of mixed martial arts, competing in the UFC’s featherweight division. With a record of 14 wins no defeats and a single draw, the Brit is known for his striking skills and tenacity inside the octagon. Born on July 22, 1991, in Manchester, Murphy has rapidly gained recognition for his thrilling fighting style and determination to climb the ranks in MMA.

As he is preparing for a notable bout against Dan Ige at the upcoming UFC 308, speculations about his personal life are becoming a topic of interest gradually. So on that note, let’s check out what we know about him and his family life.

All we know about Lerone Murphy’s wife and children

The 33-year-old juggernaut has gone through a lot in his life. He was raised in Old Trafford and after leaving college, he had the misfortune to indulge in the local gang culture. He went to St. Edward’s Primary School in Rusholme, St Mary’s Levenshulme, and St Anne’s High Catholic High School in Heaton Chapel, Stockport. Interestingly he was adept at soccer and even went for trials for Liverpool F.C. when he was 16 and had trained with both Stockport County and FC United as a teenager.

Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury and had to stop soccer. Meanwhile, boxing was right up his alley since he is the nephew of Manchester boxing trainer, the late Oliver Harrison, who had trained the likes of Amir Khan and Rocky Fielding. However, when he was a rebellious teen, things started to change.

“I was just not doing anything with my life,” he said to BBC “I had no direction, no goals. I was just living day by day.” He said to BBC Sports. Then came the life-changing traumatic event of being shot after coming out of the barber’s shop and fighting for his life. This dangerous incident did get a healing balm though and it came when his son was born.

Even though nothing is known about his wife and very little about his son, we do know how the star was raised. He is truly a miracle because the gunshot was not the only thing he survived in his early life.

More about Lerone Murphy’s early life

“It’s a miracle that I’m here,” said Lerone Murphy as he prepared for the biggest fight of his martial arts career at UFC 267. He was not speaking about the grand opportunity to fight in Abu Dhabi that night though he was elated because of it. In fact, he was talking about being alive.

It was 3:30 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2013, 21-year-old Murphy, had just left a barber shop in Fallowfield when a gunman opened fire at him. Bystanders heard his shouts but three gunshots were fired and hit the future athlete in the face and neck.

“When it happened it kind of knocked me out for a second then I woke up and thought ‘Wow I’m still here,“ said Lerone. ‘The Miracle’ spent one week in intensive care and even underwent surgery. His nickname that he now uses inside the octagon came from his doctors who were astonished at how he survived. Despite the near-fatal experience, he came out unscathed albeit with some new teeth and a shard of bullet permanently lodged in his tongue.

However, this was not the only deadly experience he had. At 31, he again was face to face with death as Murphy lay on the tarmac going in and out of consciousness, blood oozing out of a gaping wound on his head as he waited for an ambulance. Murphy was coming to a halt from a 30km cycle/bike ride when a car came towards him without looking, causing a huge collision.

He was catapulted into the windshield and then fell with a thud on the ground opposite the vehicle. The ambulance took 40 minutes to reach him and he recalled the incident and told BBC about what he could register at the semi-conscious moment.

“It’s weird because someone called my mum and I’m sat there waiting, and my mum is there, and I’m thinking ‘I’m going to die here now’, Murphy told BBC Sport.

Murphy who is scheduled to fight against Dan Ige at UFC 308 recalled both the deadly incidents but said that the cycling experience made him better. He realized what potential he had and became more focused at UFC.

Murphy is truly an enigma and setting an amazing example for many. “I know that time is not promised, tomorrow is not promised for anybody, so it’s like I’ve got a purpose now,” He said during the BBC interview. These words are still relevant as we all strive to be someone in this world. What are your views on Murphy’s journey till now?