Recently, UFC competitor Lerone Murphy has drawn parallels between the MMA organization and professional wrestling, suggesting that combat prowess alone no longer guarantees success in the octagon.
“I feel like MMA nowadays, like the WWE, you’ve got to have it all. You’ve got to have the acting skills. There’s a lot that comes with a game,” he explained in a recent interview with Ariel Helwani that has sparked debate across combat sports circles.
The fighter elaborated on this revelation, saying, “That’s what I’m referencing there when I’m saying the penny just dropped. It’s not just about who’s the best fighter. If it was, there’s a lot of guys that would have fought for the title a long time ago. It’s not. It’s about who’s the fan favourite.”
This critique appears rooted in personal experience. Despite claiming significant achievements in the promotion—including victories in two five-round main events and defeating three ranked opponents—the athlete expressed frustration at watching others receive accelerated opportunities.
“You see other guys in division getting big, fast pushes,” the fighter noted. “I fought two main events, beat two guys in main events, two five-rounders. I beat three guys in the top 50. And I’ve still got to fight these people.”
The UFC’s evolution from pure sport toward sports entertainment, where marketability and fan engagement can sometimes outweigh competitive records when determining promotional opportunities.
The comments also echo sentiments previously expressed by former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub, who has similarly compared the organization’s current direction to WWE’s entertainment-focused model.
“It’s business. I get it. It’s business,” Murphy concluded, showing acceptance of the sport’s entertainment demands despite the evident frustration.
