Overview

• Alexander Volkanovski told Submission Radio there "might be a spanner in the works" regarding his expected bout with Lerone Murphy.
• A December title defense targeted for UFC 323 is now in doubt, with Volkanovski hinting he could wait for a card in Sydney in February.
• Lerone Murphy responded on social media that he believes the issue is the date and that he will be ready, before deleting the posts.
• Murphy emerged as the frontrunner after a first-round spinning-back-elbow knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319, following Movsar Evloev’s injury withdrawal.
• Reports continue to float alternatives such as the unbeaten Evloev, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, and Diego Lopes, whom Volkanovski outpointed in April to regain the belt.