Lerone Murphy Unbeaten, Defeats Josh Emmett at UFC Fight Night

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Lerone Murphy maintained his perfect record with a unanimous decision victory over Josh Emmett at UFC Fight Night on Saturday night, April 5, 2025, at UFC APEX. The main event featured two highly regarded featherweights, with Murphy overcoming Emmett’s power with superior movement and tactics.

Murphy, now 16-0-1, strategically avoided Emmett’s heavy punches while employing an effective striking game. “I was focused on staying out of range and capitalizing on my speed and footwork,” Murphy said after the fight. Emmett struggled to find an opening, finishing the fight frustrated as he fell short on the judges’ scorecards, which read 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.

The co-main event saw Pat Sabatini dominate Joanderson Brito, earning a decision win with lopsided scores of 30-26, 30-26, and 30-27. Sabatini’s grappling skills stifled Brito throughout the match, ensuring he controlled the pace and position.

Earlier in the preliminary bouts, Dione Barbosa opened the card with an impressive first-round submission victory over Diana Belbita. Barbosa, after a tough previous fight, quickly settled into her rhythm, choking Belbita into submission just 4:13 into the first round with an arm-triangle from side control. “I needed this win to bounce back,” Barbosa declared triumphantly. “I felt strong and in control throughout.”

Rhys McKee also secured a notable win in the preliminaries, stopping Daniel Frunza at the end of round one via a doctor stoppage due to a significant injury. McKee, who received a warm reception from the crowd, stated, “This victory is crucial for my career. It’s been a long journey to get here.”

Loma Lookboonmee continued her winning streak to four fights with a close unanimous decision over Istela Nunes. Lookboonmee utilized effective grappling to dominate the rounds and secure a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 victory. “It was a tough fight, but I believe my strategy worked,” Lookboonmee said post-fight.

Victor Henry showcased his resilience, winning a close decision against Pedro Falcao. Throughout the back-and-forth battle, Henry landed precise strikes, managing to edge ahead on the scorecards with all judges awarding him 29-28.

Martin Buday secured a unanimous decision against Uran Satybaldiev, extending his fight record to 6-1 in the UFC. Buday controlled much of the fight despite Satybaldiev’s challenging moments in the third round. “I knew I needed to pace myself and stay in control,” Buday remarked.

In the opening preliminary bout, Talita Alencar earned a decisive unanimous decision victory over Vanessa Demopoulos, with scores of 30-26, 30-27, and 30-27, showcasing her grappling superiority.

The event closed with Murphy likely moving up in the rankings as officials are expected to update them in the following week. “I am looking forward to the next challenge, and this win puts me in position for bigger fights,” Murphy concluded.