Lauren Murphy plans on making her final walk to the octagon at UFC on ESPN 70.
Former title challenger Murphy (16-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) takes on Eduarda Moura (11-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a flyweight bout on Saturday’s prelims (ESPN, ESPN+) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
The 41-year-old returns from an almost two-and-a-half year layoff after having not competed since a unanimous decision loss to Jessica Andrade in January 2023.
“This is the last fight, this is the last one,” Murphy told Sportsnet. “I have two fights left on my contract, and I don’t want to fulfill the last one. I love the idea of retiring as a UFC fighter. Even if they cut me and end my contract or whatever, I’m not going to go fight anywhere else. I don’t want to go backwards. This is the best promotion in the world. It has the best fighters in the world. I’ve been here most of my career. I went from Alaska to Invicta to here, and I’m just really proud of that.
“I’m proud of how long I’ve been in the UFC. I’m proud of the things I’ve accomplished there, and I don’t want to do anything else, so this will be the last one. I also just feel like I’m not in a position anymore to chase the title, but I didn’t want to leave that fight after Andrade. I didn’t want to leave on that note. It kind of felt like I’d be tucking my tail in between my legs and running away. I knew I had a better performance in me than that, so I didn’t want to end on a sour note like that.”
So what’s next for Murphy after she hangs up her gloves?
“I’m still going to be involved in the sport,” Murphy said in an interview with the UFC. “I’m still going to work out with the fighters. I’m still going to come give sparring rounds to people that need them. I am not going to be out of the gym and just gone.
“Maybe it’s my last fight, but it’s not the last time that I’m going to diet. It’s not the last time that I’m going to spar. It’s not the last time I’m going to see these people. And hopefully I’ll be accompanying other fighters to fight week and still be going through this process, but just on the other side of the cage. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with up-and-coming fighters and giving everything I have to that end.”
