Tomorrow on the main card of UFC Long Island, we are going to see a very fascinating matchup in the women’s flyweight division. Former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (19-8) will be dropping down to 125 for the first time to take on former title challenger “Lucky” Lauren Murphy (15-5).
The last time we saw Tate was at a UFC Fight Night in November when she took on Ketlen Vieira. In that fight, she was hoping to earn a bantamweight title shot, but she lost by decision. That combined with her close friend Julianna Pena winning the bantamweight title made her move to 125.
She’s going right towards the top of the division at UFC Long Island and once again finds herself in a good spot. If she wins tomorrow, she’s likely going to be the next one to take on the undisputed queen Valentina Shevchenko.
Speaking of taking on Valentina Shevchenko, that’s what Lauren Murphy did in her last fight at UFC 266. Now, Murphy claims that she was dealing with an illness leading up to that fight that should’ve caused her to pull out. However, she went through with the fight.
It went about as you expected and Murphy was demolished getting stopped in the fourth round. The loss snapped a five-fight winning streak and she’s hoping to come back with a statement win tomorrow against Miesha Tate.
UFC Long Island Prediction
This fight is going to be so interesting in that both fighters are very similar. Miesha Tate and Lauren Murphy both use their volume in their striking and both utilize their wrestling to have success inside the octagon.
The real question is, who is better at those strengths and we fill find that out at UFC Long Island. I think the volume of striking is a wash, but I would give the power advantage to Miesha Tate. Granted, we will have to see how she looks at 125.
I would also give Tate the advantage in wrestling, but once again, a lot will depend on how she looks. For UFC Long Island, I’m going to assume she’s at her peak and I’m going to assume that Lauren Murphy is at her peak.
If both show up at their best, I think Miesha Tate wins a decision. I just think she’s better wherever the fight goes and I think she’ll show that and earn a title shot tomorrow night.
Prediction: Miesha Tate by Decision