Report: Emmett-Murphy expected to headline April 5 UFC event

A featherweight bout between Josh Emmett and Lerone Murphy is expected to serve as the main event for UFC Fight Night on April 5, sources told MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Damon Martin.

The card is scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Emmett is returning to the Octagon for the first time since his Knockout of the Year-candidate win over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 296 in December 2023. The 39-year-old Sacramento resident is 2-2 in his last four appearances and ranked No. 8 at 145 pounds.

The 11th-ranked Murphy is one of the division's rising contenders. He earned wins over Dan Ige and Edson Barboza last year, the latter of which came in his first UFC main event in May. The 33-year-old Englishman is 7-0-1 in the Octagon and 15-0-1 as a professional.