When Lauren Murphy squared off with Mara Romero Borella, it was the start of an incredible run at 125 pounds.
After splitting her first two appearances at flyweight, Season 26 “Ultimate Fighter” alum Murphy faced Borella at UFC on ESPN 5 in August 2019.
The leg kicks were landing for Borella early, but a pressuring Murphy started backing Borella up with some hard punches. Murphy continued to press forward, but just over two minutes into Round 2, Borella was able to time a perfectly executed takedown. Murphy worked her way back up rather quickly and the two spent the rest of the round exchanging positions in the clinch.
In Round 3, Murphy landed a lead uppercut that seemed to stumble Borella and she put her foot on the gas pedal and stormed forward. Borella attempted to duck under for another takedown, but she was met with a big Murphy knee which floored her. Murphy dropped a few elbows, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Murphy (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) would go on to win her next four fights in a row, en route to a title shot. She returns to action on Sept. 25 when she challenges women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (21-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 266, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Before she faces Shevchenko, relive Murphy’s finish over Borella in the video above.
