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Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lauren Murphy knows who she is after a decade in the UFC — and her final fight is one last chance to show it
All those years ago, back when she stepped into an MMA cage for the first time, Lauren Murphy had a question she wanted to answer. It's the whole reason she was even there to begin with, at a small regional event in Alaska, where she grew up. 'I wanted to find out how tough I was,' Murphy told Uncrowned this week. 'I was like, 'I wonder if I could be in a fist fight and handle it?' That's it. I've never been in a fight outside the cage. Literally why I started the sport was to find out how tough I could actually be.' Advertisement A little over three years later she was undefeated as a professional and had captured the inaugural 135-pound title with the all-female MMA organization Invicta FC. So yeah, pretty tough, as it turns out. But now Murphy is 41 years old and closing in on the end of her MMA career. Her fight against Eduarda Moura on the undercard of Saturday's UFC Nashville event will be her last, according to Murphy, regardless of the outcome. It comes more than two years after her last trip into the Octagon — a unanimous decision loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 283, which was only Murphy's second defeat in this decade. On an occasion like this, facing the end of something, one almost can't help but get a little reflective. Murphy has been a professional fighter for the better part of 15 years now. What started as a personal test became a career and, to some extent, an identity. She's lived an entire life in this sport, which is one of the reasons she doesn't particularly care what kind of sendoff she gets from the UFC or its fans. 'I don't need anybody's validation to know what kind of career I've had,' Murphy said. 'They don't know my entire story, they don't know where I come from. They don't know the fears that I had or the way that I was brought up. They don't know the things that I've really overcome to be where I'm at. For me, I'm very, very proud of my career and I don't need anybody's validation to feel that way. I don't need anybody's permission to feel good about what I've done, because I know how hard I've worked. I know the things that I've overcome to be here. I know that to go from Alaska to Invicta to the UFC, and then spend most of my career in the UFC, the odds were so f***ing slim. And I made it anyway, so I'm very proud of the way that I played the hand I was dealt. I think I played it really, really well.' Advertisement That sense of inner peace didn't always come so easy. When she first got to the UFC, Murphy admitted, she struggled with a kind of imposter syndrome. She looked around at the other fighters, some of them former Olympians who'd seemingly spent their entire lives as elite athletes, and wondered if she belonged. She also had to learn how to deal with being a public figure, subject to the scrutiny of everyone with a television or a laptop, many of whom felt totally comfortable reaching out over social media to let her know what they thought her deficiencies might be. 'When the fans would write mean stuff to me on Twitter or something, I would take it so personal,' Murphy said. Advertisement One time she was at a UFC meet-and-greet event with fans in Houston, she said. A man waited in line to get his picture with her and get her signature on some piece of MMA memorabilia. 'And then he was like, 'Oh my God, I'm such a fan. Do you know I talked so much s*** to you on Twitter one time and you actually responded?'' Murphy said. 'My mouth dropped open. I was like, 'Are you serious? You talked to s*** to me on Twitter and then stood in line to get my autograph?' I couldn't understand that.' It reminded her of something that former UFC champ Benson Henderson had told her in the gym once, she said. How the same fans who love to hate you online will be the ones who can't wait to meet you in person. How they'll never miss one of your fights, simply because now they're emotionally invested. It made her realize that, as personal as it felt on her end, to many fans it was just a game, part of the appeal of following a sport like this. They get to see the fighters laid bare, their emotions raw and visible in the cage on fight night. They form emotional connections, both good and bad. Then they know where to find you on the internet, whether or not they know how to act like decent people after that. Advertisement These are the kinds of things she never thought she'd learn from fighting in a cage. That's the funny part, she said, how you start out trying to answer one question about yourself and end up learning so much you never expected. Take, for instance, how UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko taught her the value of focus and hard-earned confidence when Murphy challenged her for the 125-pound championship back in 2021. Murphy's showdown with Shevchenko came with the UFC flyweight title on the line. (Chris Unger via Getty Images) 'A bomb could have gone off in that arena and she wouldn't have even blinked,' Murphy said. 'She was so focused and so confident, and that can be scary just by itself. That was the biggest thing she taught me. She didn't have to talk or say anything. You just felt it, like holy s***. I learned that if you can bring that focus and intensity and confidence into the fight, it'll break people. They can feel it. Everybody else in the top 10, you can back them up, make them flinch, hear them breathing hard. But not her. It was a stark contrast to everyone else in the division, and that's why she's the champ. Advertisement "t was a good lesson for me to see how that focus and confidence, it has to be earned and cultivated, and then you can use it in your fights.' When the UFC first offered her Moura for her final fight, Murphy had never heard of her opponent. When she looked into it and saw a younger fighter just beginning to make her way in the UFC, not to mention the current BetMGM odds that have Murphy as about a 4-to-1 underdog, she could see what matchmakers were thinking. Take a fighter on the way out and use her to boost a fighter on the way in. Murphy has been in this game long enough to know what the UFC's plans were. 'But I didn't care,' she said. 'I've been the underdog for most of my career. That stopped bothering me years ago.' Advertisement For now her focus is on going out on a win. She's been through all the ups and downs of life in the UFC enough times to know how it can make all the difference. 'When you win and you go out with your team after, the food tastes better. The jokes are funnier. Everything — life — just feels sweeter then,' Murphy said. That's what she'll miss most when the ride is finally over after Saturday. There are other parts she won't miss, like seeing her name in clickbait headlines or doing interviews for stories that end up leading with close-up images of her getting punched in the face. 'But the thing I'll really miss is standing there getting my hand raised, hearing [UFC announcer] Bruce Buffer say 'winner by whatever, 'Lucky' Lauren Murphy, I love that part,' she said. 'It's just an amazing feeling. You look up, see your name in lights all over the arena, and it's just … there's nothing like winning a UFC fight, man. You feel like, 'I did it. I really did it.'' Advertisement Saturday night in Nashville, she gets one more chance to feel that feeling. And the fact that the oddsmakers (and likely many of the fans) don't expect her to, she said, well, that seems like maybe the most fitting note to end on.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ABC 8: Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. odds, picks and predictions
In a 5-round light heavyweight bout in the main event, Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 8 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The main event is expected to start approximately at 5:45 p.m. ET, following the prelims scheduled to kick off at noon ET (ESPN/ESPN+) with the main card set for 3 p.m. ET (ABC / ESPN+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's UFC odds around the UFC on ABC 8: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. odds, and make our expert UFC picks and predictions. Records: Hill (12-3-0) | Rountree Jr. (14-6-0) Hill looks to halt a 2-bout skid. He picked up a light heavyweight championship Jan. 21, 2023 at UFC 283 against veteran Glover Teixeira, but he gave it back when Alex Pereira knocked him out in Round 1 at UFC 300. He followed the loss up with a Round 3 KO/TKO loss against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311. In 7 of Hill's past 8 fights, we had a single unanimous-decision win over Teixeira at UFC 283, while the other 7 ended by way of KO/TKO, with 4 wins and 3 losses via the method. Rountree also has a title loss to Pereira, falling last time out via Round 4 KO/TKO at UFC 307. That halted a 5-bout win streak that included 4 knockouts and a split-decision victory against Dustin Jacoby. Hill has a 2.5-inch reach advantage over his fellow southpaw Rountree. Hill also has a 7.05-to-3.73 significant strikes landed per minute, while landing 55.44% of those strikes, while Rountree has managed a 41.53% mark. Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here. UFC on ABC 8: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET. UFC on ABC 8: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. picks and predictions Fight result (2-way line or moneyline) HILL (-110) is a great value in what the sportsbooks consider a bit of a coin-flip bout. However, Hill is the better play, as he is a punching machine, racking up 7.05 significant strikes per minute, he is accurate with those punches, and he has the 2.5-inch reach advantage he can use to push and pull Rountree Jr. out at his choosing. It's hard to understand why this is considered essentially a pick 'em, but take advantage and play Hill. If you want to play the method of victory. HILL BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+200) for the chance to double up on the 7-way line is a strong play, too. Rountree's defense isn't great, and has been knocked out 3 times in his past 10 fights, including a loss to Pereira last time out at UFC 307, he didn't lose that fight until Round 4. Hill's defense isn't great, either, losing 3 times via KO/TKO since June 12, 2021, while winning 4 times by way of knockout since Dec. 2020. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! Over/Under OVER 2.5 ROUNDS (-105) is worth a look, as both Hill and Rountree are veterans who know how to hang around. Both fighters have some issues with defense, so proceed with caution with the Over play. However, both of these guys should feel each other out in a 5-round fight. Expect a slow start before we get a flurry in the middle to late rounds. Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis. For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ABC 8 full fight: Jamahal Hill TKOs Thiago Santos in barn-burner fight
UFC on ABC 8 full fight: Jamahal Hill TKOs Thiago Santos in barn-burner fight A well-earned Fight of the Night. Jamahal Hill's win prior to his championship breakthrough was a wild one. Back in 2022, Hill headlined a UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas against veteran and former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos. Fireworks were expected, but few saw coming the war that both Hill and Santos put on in the octagon. The two light heavyweights went toe to toe for over three rounds, with Hill picking up a TKO win in Round 4. It was that victory that ended up propelling Hill to a title opportunity months later against Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. You can watch Hill's thrilling win over Santos in the video above. Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) returns to the cage this Saturday in the main event of UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. He takes on former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in a pivotal bout at 205 pounds.
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ABC 8 pre-event facts: Curtis Blaydes joins exclusive club of heavyweight veterans
UFC on ABC 8 pre-event facts: Curtis Blaydes joins exclusive club of heavyweight veterans The UFC travel to new territory on Saturday with UFC on ABC 8 at Crystal Palace Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The main card aired on ABC following prelims on ESPN+. A key matchup in the light heavyweight division tops the card, with former champion Jamahal Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) set to clash with one-time title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in a five-round contest. For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts about UFC on ABC 8. Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Jamahal Hill Hill enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since January 2023. Hill is the first fighter to win a UFC title after signing with the promotion through Dana White's Contender Series. Sean O'Malley also accomplished the feat. Hill lands 6.76 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Carlos Ulberg (6.82). Hill landed 232 significant strikes at UFC 283, the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout. Khalil Rountree Jr. Rountree Jr.'s seven knockout victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Chuck Liddell (nine) and Mauricio Rua (eight). Rountree Jr.'s 13 knockdowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Liddell (14) and Rua (14). Rountree Jr.'s four knockdowns landed at UFC 236 are the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout. Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Rafael Fiziev's (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) three-fight listing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since July 2022. Fiziev is one of 16 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 31. Fiziev defends 90 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class. Ignacio Bahamondes (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is one of 16 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 29. Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) becomes the ninth fighter in UFC history to make 20 or more heavyweight appearances. Blaydes' three knockout victories stemming from elbow strikes in UFC competition are tied with Paul Felder for most in company history. Blaydes' 62 takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history. Blaydes' 14 takedowns landed against Alexander Volkov at UFC on ESPN 11 is the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight bout. Blaydes' 14 takedowns landed at UFC on ESPN 11 are tied for the third-most in a single UFC fight behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (21 at UFC 160) and Sean Sherk (16 at UFC 73). Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta Nazim Sadykhov (10-1-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins. Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Azat Maksum Tagir Ulanbekov's (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (seven), Andre Lima (four) and Joshua Van (four). UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC on ABC 8 pre-event facts: Curtis Blaydes joins exclusive club of heavyweight veterans
The UFC travel to new territory on Saturday with UFC on ABC 8 at Crystal Palace Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The main card aired on ABC following prelims on ESPN+. A key matchup in the light heavyweight division tops the card, with former champion Jamahal Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) set to clash with one-time title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in a five-round contest. Advertisement For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts about UFC on ABC 8. Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Jamahal Hill Hill enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since January 2023. Hill is the first fighter to win a UFC title after signing with the promotion through Dana White's Contender Series. Sean O'Malley also accomplished the feat. Hill lands 6.76 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Carlos Ulberg (6.82). Hill landed 232 significant strikes at UFC 283, the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout. Khalil Rountree Jr. Khalil Rountree Jr. Rountree Jr.'s seven knockout victories in UFC light heavyweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Chuck Liddell (nine) and Mauricio Rua (eight). Advertisement Rountree Jr.'s 13 knockdowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Liddell (14) and Rua (14). Rountree Jr.'s four knockdowns landed at UFC 236 are the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout. Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Justin Gaethje Rafael Fiziev's (12-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) three-fight listing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since July 2022. Fiziev is one of 16 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 31. Fiziev defends 90 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class. Advertisement Ignacio Bahamondes (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is one of 16 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 29. Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev Curtis Blaydes Curtis Blaydes (18-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) becomes the ninth fighter in UFC history to make 20 or more heavyweight appearances. Blaydes' three knockout victories stemming from elbow strikes in UFC competition are tied with Paul Felder for most in company history. Blaydes' 62 takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history. Blaydes' 14 takedowns landed against Alexander Volkov at UFC on ESPN 11 is the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight bout. Advertisement Blaydes' 14 takedowns landed at UFC on ESPN 11 are tied for the third-most in a single UFC fight behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (21 at UFC 160) and Sean Sherk (16 at UFC 73). Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta Nazim Sadykhov (10-1-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins. Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Azat Maksum Tagir Ulanbekov's (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (seven), Andre Lima (four) and Joshua Van (four). UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC on ABC 8 pre-event facts: Curtis Blaydes joins exclusive club
