The man who accepted a short-notice bout in just a matter of hours, Dan Ige, is returning for a properly scheduled bout against Lerone Murphy. The featherweight duo will battle on the prelims of the UFC 308 pay-per-view this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. As we approach fight night, let’s analyze the upcoming matchup and how each could fare against the other.

Dan Ige was one of the saviors of the problem-stricken UFC 303 PPV in June. However, he could not earn a win as most of the factors were against him, including the fact that it was a catchweight matchup, even though he weighed 10 pounds more than his opponent, Diego Lopes. But Ige got rewarded for his troubles, as he earned a sum that was double or triple the amount of his usual payout. But can he win this time against Lerone Murphy? Let’s evaluate the duo’s chances.

UFC 308 fight – Dan Ige vs Lerone Murphy stats

‘The Miracle’ is way ahead of Dan Ige from the statistics standpoint. At 33 years old, the English featherweight boasts an outstanding 14-0-1(Draw) record, making him one of the most credible contenders in the division. He’s undefeated, but Dan Ige, at the same age, has experience on his side. With 28 career matchups, ’50K’ has amassed an 18-8 record, having more wins under his belt than Murphy.

However, The English fighter does have one more knockout win than Dan Ige with seven, but the latter also has 5 submission wins under his belt. As for Lerone Murphy, he’s yet to score a submission win in his MMA career. It’s clear now that Ige, this time with better preparation, could be in for a tough fight on paper, but given how he put up an impressive fight against Diego Lopes with no time for preparation whatsoever, could be in a position to register a victory.

However, predictions are going on with less than 24 hours for UFC 308, and hence, let’s take a look at Dan Ige and Lerone Murphy’s attributes and what the oddsmakers see them performing this Saturday.

Ige vs Murphy breakdown and prediction

Kickboxers have done quite well in the UFC, and just like Alex Pereira, Lerone Murphy is also a powerful kickboxer, with more than 50 percent striking accuracy. To go with that, the Englishman also has a great striking defense. But being mostly a striker hasn’t stopped him from shooting takedowns, and he’s fairly good at it. However, not many in the MMA community think his wins have not been dominant enough to garner significant buzz.

When it comes to Dan Ige, the longer-tenured fighter of the two is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, possessing a lot of power to overwhelm his opponents. ’50K’ has also garnered attention for his heavy right hand, quick feints, footwork, and creative combinations. However, Dan Ige’s fights have been far from close, well, on most occasions, but the last fight against Diego Lopes surprised many fans and pundits alike.

The oddsmakers, looking at the record of both fighters, have Lerone Murphy as the favorite to clinch victory by a long shot. However, we can never really know what will happen until it happens. It will be interesting to see who earns victory and possibly make a climb in the rankings. How do you see Murphy vs Ige going down? Drop your prediction in the comment box below!