Patricio Pitbull targets Lerone Murphy as the clearest path to UFC featherweight title

Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire has challenged Lerone Murphy to a featherweight title eliminator, positioning himself as the most logical next opponent for the Englishman after Alexander Volkanovski defended the UFC featherweight title by finishing Movsar Evloev at UFC 333.

Murphy (17-1-1) opened the conversation on X, arguing that every leading contender — not just himself — should be required to beat a top-five opponent before earning a title shot. ‘Who’s next for the featherweight title? I still think all contenders need 1 more fight,’ Murphy wrote. ‘I was told I need to beat someone in the Top 5 before I do, that should apply to all.’

Freire (38-9) responded by methodically dismantling the rest of the top 15. ‘Of the Top 15, Evloev just lost, Lopes, Costa and Ortega moved up, Sterling is fighting Vallejos, Jean is waiting for the title shot,’ the Brazilian wrote. ‘Yair and Allen are injured, Zalal, Garcia and Onama are coming off losses, and you beat Pico. I’m the one that makes sense now. Let’s get it done.’

The case Freire is making is rooted in circumstance as much as ambition. Murphy had been building serious title momentum before his first professional defeat — a loss to Evloev in March — temporarily stalled his campaign. Freire, meanwhile, has gone 2-2 since joining the UFC, most recently finishing Doo Ho Choi in September, and is looking to string together consecutive wins in the promotion for the first time.

With the featherweight division thinned out by injuries, weight-class moves, and fighters already booked, a Freire-Murphy matchup would serve both men’s interests. Murphy gets the ranked, credible opponent the UFC has reportedly demanded; Freire gets the high-profile win that could finally cement his place among the division’s genuine title contenders.