Sources: Ashlee Evans-Smith vs. Lauren Murphy targeted for UFC’s ESPN debut
There hasn’t been much in terms of fight bookings when it comes to the UFC’s debut on ESPN, but it looks like a sure fire barnburner in the women’s flyweight division is heading to Phoenix.
Multiple sources have confirmed to mymmanews.com that a bout between Ashlee Evans-Smith and Lauren Murphy will take place at UFC on ESPN 1. The event will take place Feb. 17 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, AZ.
Evans-Smith is looking to continue her winning ways in 2019. The “Rebel Girl” is coming off of a unanimous decision victory over Bec Rawlings at UFC 223 in April. After a 2-0 campaign in 2016 — which included wins over Marion Reneau and Veronica Macedo — Evans-Smith suffered back-to-back losses to Ketlen Vieira and Sarah Moras. The 31-year-old was scheduled to compete this past Friday night at the TUF 28 against the debuting Antonina Shevchenko, but an undisclosed injury forced Evans-Smith to withdraw from the contest.
Murphy will look to bounce back into the win column when she fights in her, now, home state of Arizona. “Lucky” was a contestant on TUF 26 to crown the first ever UFC women’s flyweight champion and lost a decision in her opening round bout with the eventual winner of the tournament, Nicco Montano. After a shuffling of the deck, Murphy got the chance to take on Barb Honchak at the TUF 26 Finale last December, picking up a split decision win in the process. The MMA Lab trained Murphy took on Sijara Eubanks at UFC Fight Night 131 in June and lost a unanimous decision.
Currently, no other fights have been reported or announced for the UFC’s ESPN debut.
