Alexander Volkanovski casts doubt on Lerone Murphy fight, Murphy promises to wait. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has cast doubt on whether his next title defense will come against unbeaten contender Lerone Murphy before the end of the year.
Speaking on Submission Radio this week, Volkanovski said that although the matchup had been discussed for late 2025, “there might be a spanner in the works,” hinting that a clash with Murphy could be delayed until early 2026, possibly in Sydney. He stressed that nothing has been signed yet and that other factors including travel and scheduling might push the fight back.
“It’s hard, I thought that’s what it was going to be, but there might be a spanner in the works,” Volkanovski added that he might have to wait until February to fight again, with the UFC possibly heading to his native Australia. “February in Sydney, is it February?” Volkanovski said.
Murphy, who is riding an 17-0-1 record and recently scored a statement win over Aaron Pico at UFC 319, responded almost immediately on social media. He posted that Volkanovski “hasn’t said no to me,” adding: “The only question is when, not if. I’ll be ready whenever. Let’s wait and see!!”
“He didn’t say no to me,” Murphy said. “I think he is referring to the date. I will be ready whenever. Let’s wait and see!”. Murphy issued two quick responses to the Volkanovski news, but quickly deleted his tweets. Murphy has steadily built his case as one of the division’s top contenders with nine straight victories and an undefeated record in the UFC. Volkanovski, meanwhile, reclaimed the featherweight title at UFC 314 after Ilia Topuria vacated it to move up to lightweight. With multiple contenders circling, the Australian champion now faces a decision about who and when to fight next.
As of now, the UFC has not officially announced a date or location for a Volkanovski vs. Murphy title fight. The December target remains uncertain, but both fighters have indicated their willingness to meet and it’s just a matter of timing.
