Lerone Murphy says first UFC loss has 'kicked me into gear'

Lerone Murphy says defeat by Movsar Evloev has prompted him to take fights more seriously. He is back in training after a hip injury and hopes to return in September or October.

Lerone Murphy says his first professional defeat has prompted a rethink of his approach to fights as he returns to training, [Low Kick MMA](Low Kick MMA/lerone-murphy-breaks-silence-on-first-ufc-loss/) reported.

“I almost got into the rhythm of just thinking I’d win the fight regardless,” Murphy told Nick Dacres of Combat Evolved. “This has kicked me into gear, really, to take the fights more seriously.”

Murphy said he had put the work into his camp but acknowledged lapses in concentration during parts of his preparation. He dismissed the suggestion that he had been looking past Movsar Evloev towards a title shot.

Evloev ended Murphy’s 18-fight unbeaten run with a majority-decision victory in the UFC London main event at The O2 on 21 March. Two judges scored the fight 48-46 for Evloev, with the third returning 47-47 after a fourth-round point deduction for repeated low blows.

Having reviewed the fight, Murphy believes he won the second and third rounds and that the opening round could have gone either way, leaving him convinced he deserved a draw. He also acknowledged that his performance fell short of what he expected from himself.

Murphy said he tore his left hip flexor during the bout. Following rehabilitation and strengthening work, he had reached his second week of MMA sparring at Apex Combat & Conditioning when the interview was filmed.

“I want to be fully fit next camp,” he said. “I’m going to take my time. I want to get out again this year, so it’s important I take my time.”

Murphy hopes to fight in September or October and would consider UFC Abu Dhabi in October. No opponent has been confirmed; he named Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez among those he would like to face.