Aljamain Sterling warns Lerone Murphy of the challenge that awaits him in UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC) remained unbeaten when he scored a first-round, spinning back elbow of octagon debutant Aaron Pico in Saturday’s UFC 319 co-headliner at United Center in Chicago. The incredible finish got the attention of Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC), who said a Murphy title shot is a no-brainer after UFC 319.
“Lerone Murphy is a tough and smart fighter,” Sterling told MMA Junkie. “Volkanovski is a tough and very smart fighter. I got to train with him, I know Volk first hand. He’s a cardio machine, and very technically sound, well rounded everywhere. He’s the champ and has been the champ for quite some time for a reason. So, I don’t think he got there by accident. Lerone’s going to have his work cut out for him.”
Sterling (24-5 MMA, 16-5 UFC) meets former title challenger Brian Ortega (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 257 co-main event from Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China. As he looks to enter the title picture, Sterling knows Murphy’s special finish separates him from the other contenders.
“It’s going to be very hard for me to top a spinning back elbow,” Sterling laughed. “Kudos to him, fair play, and hopefully things go well this weekend for me, and I’m at least in the conversation again.”
