Lerone Murphy‘s victory over Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 105 was more than just overpowering; it was a calculated and mature performance by a fighter nearing his peak. Murphy’s undefeated streak now stands at 16-0-1, and he has the division’s longest active win streak of eight. His composure, movement, and Octagon control sent a message: Lerone Murphy isn’t knocking; he’s kicking the door down. And now, as he aims for the top five, a veteran possibly finds himself eventually coming face-to-face with the flourishing Brit.

While Emmett fought hard, Murphy’s technical superiority proved more effective and this win cemented the Englishman’s place among the top. “Obviously, I want that title shot, but give me anything in the top five or top three,” ‘The Miracle’ said in the post-fight interview. “I’ll fight again in July. I just want to keep this train going.” Well, Lerone Murphy appears to have already decided on a name: Brian Ortega.

A former two-time title contender, once regarded as a future champion, ‘T-City’ now finds himself at a crossroads. Ortega hasn’t fought since being defeated by Diego Lopes at UFC 306, and he’s lost three of his last four. Regardless, however, his name carries weight in the division, which Lerone Murphy is eager to lift.

““It’s just a fight I’ve been look at for a while. Obviously, you see Diego Lopes go in to get a title shot after beating him [Ortega], so I want to take a similar route.” Murphy stated after being asked why he wanted the Mexican-American fighter next, in the post-fight press conference. And what would the outcome of that fight look like according to’The Miracle’? “I finish him. Simple, I finish him. I get better with every fight, I get more experience, and I get more confident.”, Murphy said.

With the UFC ready to crown a new featherweight champion between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev looming as a potential next challenger, ‘T-City’ is swiftly becoming the odd man out. A fight with Murphy would not only put Ortega’s standing among the top to the test, but it would also provide the UFC with a clear next title candidate if Murphy extended his winning streak to nine fights.

Lerone Murphy’s timing couldn’t be better, as a win over Brian Ortega will most definitely put him right at the cusp of the top 5. He’s on the rise, he’s eager, and he’s taking the initiative. As the featherweight division prepares for a new champion, competitors like Murphy make it clear that 2025 will not be a quiet year at 145 lbs. However, it is worth noting that ‘T-City’ isn’t the only fighter who may go toe-to-toe with ‘The Miracle,’ as there is another interesting name in the mix.

Lerone Murphy may possibly cross paths with Movsar Evloev

With Brian Ortega on the sidelines and the division in chaos, all indicators point to Movsar Evloev as the next man to face Lerone Murphy. Evloev was expected to be the next in line for a title opportunity, but MMA rarely goes as planned. Just as Murphy is building up and demanding a big name, Evloev finds himself in an unusual situation—offered a fight on May 17, not for gold and not against Ortega. If ‘T-City’ is no longer an option, Murphy becomes an obvious choice. And, honestly, it could be a perfect storm for both.

You have two fighters on long unbeaten runs—Evloev with nine and Murphy with eight—and both are looking for that next-level opportunity. But they got there in very different ways. ‘The Miracle’ combines flair, timing, and a fan-friendly style. Evloev is a grinder, with complete control and pressure, sometimes to a fault. That’s where this matchup becomes fascinating. Murphy needs a name to get into the title race. Evloev requires a fight that truly delights people. This is more than simply a rankings battle; it’s about showing whose style the UFC considers championship-worthy.

And the timing couldn’t be better. The majority of the top guys are already booked or recovering. With the belt up for grabs at UFC 314, Murphy vs. Evloev might serve as the unofficial title eliminator bout, even if the fight is not called as such. One person is attempting to break in. The other is fighting to maintain his position. It’s one of those rare matches that matters—not just for the standings, but also for how this division will appear by the end of 2025. What do you think? Who do you think should face Lerone Murphy next? Let us know in the comments.