MMA Preview – Lerone Murphy vs Gabriel Santos at UFC 286
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LERONE MURPHY VS GABRIEL SANTOS FACTS
When is UFC 286? Saturday 18th March, 2023 - 19:00 (Prelims) 21:00 (PPV - £19.95)
Where is UFC 286? The O2 Arena, London (UK)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 286? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 286 at the O2 Arena
What channel is UFC 286 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 286? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
LERONE MURPHY VS GABRIEL SANTOS LOWDOWN
Luck has not made a habit of being on Lerone Murphy’s (11-0-1) side as he has struggled to stay active since his UFC debut in 2019. He was scheduled to make his comeback after the Makwan Amirkhani (2021) knockout against fellow English favourite Nathaniel Wood. However, the Londoner suffered a freak accident while wrestling gashing his knee. It seemed Murphy would miss out on the stacked card and the opportunity to extend his unbeaten streak, but thankfully an eager debutant has stepped up.
Gabriel Santos (10-0) heads to London for the biggest opportunity of his career. He is also an exciting and unbeaten prospect with seven finishes to his name (three knockouts and four submissions). He is coming off two knockouts for the Legacy Fighting Alliance featherweight tournament ending Marcio Barbosa (2022) in the semis and Jose Delano (2023) in the finals.
LERONE MURPHY VS GABRIEL SANTOS PREDICTION
Although Santos’ unbeaten record is on the line, he has little to lose taking this fight on eight days’ notice. He is also fully expected to bring the fight to Murphy as a fellow striker.
He is quick and dangerous, switches stances well and will be difficult to prepare for with such little time. Murphy’s only hole has been his takedown defence, but fortunately for him Santos prefers to stand and bang.
We expect a feisty and competitive first round, but once Murphy gets a read on the Brazilian, he will be able to win the exchanges and land more damage. His cardio is also better especially as Santos has not had long to prepare so we expect a Murphy decision or late knockout.
Prediction: Murphy via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Santos to win
