Summary

  1. Round threepublished at 20:04 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Did Ige put everything into the first round? It seems that way right now. Murphy looks the fresher of the two right now but Ige nails a takedown and is looking for a submission chance.

    Murphy needs to get up if he's to win this fight.

  2. Round twopublished at 20:02 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Much better round from Murphy. His footwork was brilliant and Ige was unable to land anything of note on him. Murphy landed a takedown and looked for a triangle choke.

    Surely that's 1-1 in rounds now? It all comes down to this!

    Dan Ige is punched by Lerone MurphyImage source, Getty Images
  3. Round twopublished at 19:58 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    A more tentative start to the second round from both men after both took considerable damage in the first. Murphy is trying to keep the distance and use his superior striking skills but we've seen just how explosive Ige can be.

  4. Postpublished at 19:56 British Summer Time

    Daniel Cormier
    Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

    When you got power like that, you can let it fly.

  5. Round onepublished at 19:56 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Wow! What an end to the first round that was! I was just about to type how Murphy was well in control in the second half of the round but then Ige dropped him with a massive left hook.

    Murphy did well to scramble to safety. It looked like the referee was just about to step in to stop it when Murphy began to return fire.

    He then took Ige to the ground, a smart move and it is enough to see him to the bell.

  6. Murphy in trouble!published at 19:54 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Huge left hook from Ige takes Murphy off his feet...

    Lerone Murphy is on the canvas with Dan Ige over himImage source, Getty Images
  7. Round onepublished at 19:53 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Ige is right in the face of Murphy but Ige already has a nasty-looking cut at the top of his nose. The cut isn't bothering Ige and he lands a nice takedown on Murphy.

    Great stuff from Murphy to use his strength to get back to his feet.

    Dan Ige is punched by Lerone MurphyImage source, Getty Images
  8. We're under waypublished at 19:50 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Bruce Buffer's introductions are over and we've got a fight here.

    Both men race to the middle of the cage with Ige pushing to pressurise Murphy. Ige lands a nice leg kick and a big right hand.

  9. Murphy going under the radarpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Manchester's Lerone Murphy is going under the radar in the UFC but a win tonight takes him to 15-0. Time for people to take note?

    A split picture of Lerone Murphy and Dan IgeImage source, Getty Images
  10. Fighting is my therapy - Murphypublished at 19:47 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Lerone Murphy has been calm as calm can be this week. As already said, the Manchester fighter has overcome some serious hurdles in his life.

    Now the 33-year-old is at the peak of his powers in his fighting career with an undefeated record, but he says each bout in his 15-fight career has been a "therapy appointment".

    "That's what fighting is to me, you get to know yourself a lot more. I feel like all fighters have some sort of demons; it's a weird thing," Murphy told BBC Sport.

    "It's a constant test, the mixed emotions you get, the rollercoaster of emotions."

  11. Ige a popular fighterpublished at 19:46 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Paul Battison
    BBC Sport journalist

    Lerone Murphy's opponent Dan Ige is coming into this bout with a lot more preparation than he did his last.

    In June, the American stepped in just four hours notice to replace Brian Ortega who had fallen ill, to fight Brazil's Diego Lopes.

    Ige lost the fight by unanimous decision but earned a lot of fans and plaudits in the process.

    I'm unsure who the Abu Dhabi crowd will root for tonight but the 33-year-old is a popular fighter on the roster.

  12. Postpublished at 19:45 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Dan Ige is in the cage giving the crowd a wave as we await the arrival of Lerone Murphy. Should be a cracker, this.

  13. Murphy's two near-death experiencespublished at 19:43 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Manchester native Lerone Murphy really is the mircale man.

    He was shot in the face in 2013 in his first brush with death.

    Then in 2022, he almost died when he was knocked off his bike by a car.

    Murphy says those incidents have helped him develop a "purpose" as he continues the fine start to his UFC career.

    You can watch more on Murphy's story below.

  14. Manchester's Murphy up nextpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time

    We've just seen Shara Magomedov brilliantly knock out Armen Petrosyan in the second round. Next up is Manchester's Lerone Murphy in a featherweight contest against Dan Ige.

  15. 'If I win this I'm 15-0, you can't deny me' - Murphypublished at 19:39 British Summer Time

    Murphy v Ige

    Lerone Murphy in action against Edson Barboza in May.Image source, Getty Images

    Manchester's Lerone Murphy comes into this contest with Dan Ige as perhaps the most under-rated British fighter in the UFC right now.

    The 33-year-old is unbeaten, winning 14 of his 15 bouts (one draw), and is 12th in the featherweight rankings after beating Edson Barboza in his first headlining bout in May.

    Murphy says his fine work inside the octagon is going under the radar because he's a reserved character, much in the same vein as former British welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

    "I think it’s just because I’m quiet, nobody recognised Leon until he won the belt," said Murphy.

    "I think you don’t have to go out there and be a loudmouth, but you have to do more work in the cage if you’re not. But for me I’m just focused on what I’m doing, if I win this fight I’m 15-0, you can’t deny me."

  16. What is the UFC 308 running order?published at 19:35 British Summer Time

    Lerone Murphy faces off with Dan Ige with his fists up in the airImage source, Getty Images

    It really is a brilliant card tonight. So many potentially explosive match-ups.

    While the main event is obviously a mouth-watering contest, Lerone Murphy v Dan Ige is the one we're really looking forward to.

    Last time Murphy was in Abu Dhabi he produced a flying knee knockout...

    • Ilia Topuria v Max Holloway - UFC featherweight title (5x5min rounds)
    • Robert Whittaker v Khamzat Chimaev - middleweight (5x5min rounds)
    • Magomed Ankalaev v Aleksandar Rakic - light-heavyweight (3x5min rounds)
    • Lerone Murphy v Dan Ige - featherweight
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov v Armen Petrosyan - middleweight

  17. Welcome fight fans!published at 19:32 British Summer Time

    Hello fight fans and welcome to our live text for UFC 308!

    I couldn't think of a better way to spend your evening than with me and some cracking UFC action.

    Let's get to it, shall we?

    The UFC 308 cageImage source, Getty Images