Why Lerone Murphy Hired a Mental Coach Before UFC London
Lerone Murphy will walk into UFC London as a home-country headliner who has already survived more than most fighters face in a career, and he says bringing a mental performance coach into his camp is the latest step in maximising what he can produce on fight night. The Manchester featherweight meets unbeaten contender Movsar Evloev in a five‑round main event at the O2 Arena on 21 March, a bout widely viewed as a title eliminator at 145 pounds.
Lerone Murphy: Chasing the extra 1%
Murphy describes himself as naturally confident but turned to a mental coach to fine‑tune his approach ahead of the highest‑stakes bout of his career. “For me, having a mental coach is about getting that extra 1% out of yourself. I’m strong‑minded anyway, I’m a good fighter, but how can I get better? Can I get better? I’m always trying to improve in every area possible. So it’s helped. It’s helped switch me on, focus me, and not carry baggage into fights.”
The 34‑year‑old enters UFC London unbeaten in 18 professional outings, including 11 in the UFC, and is coming off a breakout knockout win over Aaron Pico at UFC 319 that pushed him into the top tier of featherweight contenders. With a possible shot at Alexander Volkanovski looming for the winner, Murphy has framed the mental side of preparation as crucial as his usual work on striking and grappling.
Balancing travel and a home team
Murphy’s decision to add a mental coach comes alongside changes to his support network for this camp. He is preparing for the first time without long‑time head coach Carl Prince after a reported split, instead leaning on teammate‑turned‑coach Jordan Barton and a wider mix of training influences while remaining anchored in Manchester.
“I’m a big believer in having your team at home. But I also believe you can get knowledge from everywhere. The more people you train with, the more coaches you expose yourself to with an open mind, the better you can become. I believe in the travel, but you still need a core team at home that you’re going to the top with.”
Murphy’s emphasis on mindset is rooted in a life story that has already tested him far beyond the cage. In May 2013, he was shot twice in the face outside a barbershop at age 21, and nine years later he survived a serious cycling accident that left him in intensive care, episodes that he has said forced him to reassess his career and life goals.
“Well, that’s it, and that’s why I’m grateful more than anything. I’m grateful that I’m here today. I’m still grinding, still chipping away at my goals, at my dreams. And that’s why I don’t do this for the applause of everyone else. I do this for myself – personal challenge and whatnot. So when I’m here on this stage now, main‑eventing in London, it’s massive for me. And if I was to die today, I’d be proud.”
A bucket‑list UFC London main event
UFC London itself represents a milestone Murphy has long targeted. The event at the O2 will see him face Evloev in front of a British crowd on a card that also features home names like Luke Riley and Michael “Venom” Page, but for Murphy the focus is on ticking off a goal he carried from his early days in the sport.
“It’s always been on the bucket list of fighting in London, especially headlining. That’s what the goal was, and we’re ticking that off now. So it just shows where my career’s gone and the work I’ve put in to get here as well. So proud moment.”
