Upcoming women’s flyweight contender “Lucky” Lauren Murphy is convinced she can dethrone the division’s current champion, Valentina Shevchenko. She is ranked #3 in the women’s flyweight division, but Shevchenko has been unstoppable in the division.
Murphy told MMAFighting.com that she believes she alone has what it takes to dethrone Shevchenko: “I really do believe in my coaches and they believe in me. I think we can find holes in Valentina’s game and I think I’m strong enough to exploit them.
Lauren Murphy on Valentina: “She hasn’t faced anybody as tough as me!”
I think I’m tough enough to get to where I need to go with her. She hasn’t faced anybody as tough as me. She hasn’t faced anybody that can grind like I can grind.”
Murphy is clearly hoping that her five-fight win streak will be rewarded with a shot at Shevchenko’s title. Shevchenko, for her part, is no slouch in the division. The champ hasn’t lost a fight since 2018. In fact, since 2011, her only mixed martial arts losses came against Amanda Nunes. Nunes is the reigning champion in both the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions, and the #1 pound-for-pound female fighter on the planet.
Shevchenko, in her title reign, has displayed a broad variety of techniques and capabilities. She outclassed her opponents both in striking and grappling, with as many submissions as knockouts and points decisions to her name. Shevchenko is as comfortable throwing head kicks as punches, elbows, or rear naked chokes.
Murphy acknowledges the terrifying power Shevchenko wields in the division, but wholeheartedly backs herself to take the strap: “Seriously. I mean, look at my resume and look at my past fights.
I have the biggest heart, I’m one of the toughest girls ever. Not just in the division, I’m one of the toughest girls ever. I’m the strongest girl in the division. I’m a huge flyweight. And I think my top game in jiu-jitsu is second to none.”
Lauren Murphy’s recent fights reflected this, with Murphy displaying a similar variety of finishes and techniques to that which made Shevchenko such a dominant champion. Her most recent bout was a decision win over Joanne Calderwood at UFC 263. In a hard-fought bout, the contender ground out a win by dominating her opponent.
Do you think Lauren Murphy has what it takes to take on Valentina Shevchenko? Will Shevchenko, like Nunes, remain dominant at the top of the women’s game? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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