Lerone Murphy shuts down Jean Silva's title claim before UFC London as Alexander Volkanovski's next opponent debate heats up

Lerone Murphy is not letting anyone take his moment. Just days before UFC London, the unbeaten fighter has made it clear that the next title shot should come from his fight, not outside noise. With Alexander Volkanovski waiting as champion, the pressure is already high, but now, Jean Silva has added more drama. Many fans believe the winner of Movsar Evloev vs Lerone Murphy will fight for the featherweight title next. Both fighters are undefeated and have strong records. But suddenly, Jean Silva claimed he is close to getting that title shot. In a social media video, Silva said the UFC invited him to London and hinted that a deal could be near. That did not sit well with Murphy. He believes the title path should be simple and fair. The focus, he says, should stay inside the cage this weekend.Lerone Murphy did not hold back when asked about Jean Silva’s claims. He said, “Well who knows? [Silva’s] 1-1 in his last two. The winner of me and Mosvar fights for the title and it shouldn’t be any other way.” He added, “You just never know in this game. It’s all about perform a finish. I want it to be undeniable so they can’t not give me the shot.”Murphy’s point is simple. Both he and Movsar Evloev are unbeaten, while Silva has already suffered a loss recently. Silva was knocked out by Diego Lopes, which slowed down his rise. On the other hand, Murphy and Evloev have kept winning and building their case step by step.Inside the cage, both bring different styles. Murphy is known for his sharp striking and has finished many fights that way. Evloev, meanwhile, depends more on wrestling and control, often winning by decision or submission. That contrast makes their UFC London main event even more exciting.At the same time, champion Alexander Volkanovski has also shared his view earlier, saying he prefers Evloev as the next challenger. But in the UFC, things do not always go by rankings alone. Big moments and big performances often decide the future.Jean Silva, however, is not backing down. He recently said, “We have a trip invited by Hunter Campbell and Dana White to watch Evloev and Lerone’s fight up close, really close, and sign the belt contract. Let’s go.”He also sent a strong message to Volkanovski. “I know that Volkanovski is asking for [Movsar] Evloev. Bro, sorry to inform you, if you want to stay good and without getting hurt, I understand you. I’m going there to camp with [Ilia] Topuria to break you.”That statement has only added more tension to the division. Silva is even planning to train with Ilia Topuria, the same fighter who knocked out Volkanovski in 2024. So now, everything comes back to UFC London. If Murphy or Evloev wins in a strong way, it could shut down all outside talk. But if things stay unclear, the debate will only grow.For now, the message from Murphy is clear, the title shot should be earned, not talked into.