Wood is in action against Andre Fili on 22 July (Picture: Getty)
Nathaniel Wood believes he has unfinished business with Lerone Murphy having attempted to revive their all-British showdown for UFC London on 22 July.
The Londoner has picked up two wins from two since moving up to the featherweight division last year, rediscovering some much-needed momentum after a difficult run of injuries and fight cancellations.
At the start of 2023, he was on collision course with Murphy heading into UFC 286 in the capital in March, only for a freak injury that left him with a gruesome cut across his knee to shelve those plans.
There was heartbreak for Wood as he missed out on the hometown show, with Manchester fighter Murphy going into beat Gabriel Santos with a split decision win at the O2 Arena.
With Wood, 29, stricken at home, ‘The Miracle’ took aim at his rival after his win. ‘Where’s Nathaniel Wood? Is he under here? Because he’s running from me,’ Murphy said in his post-fight interview.
Wood is back in action as UFC returns to the capital later this month, taking on Andre Fili as he chases a win he hopes will propel him into the featherweight top 10 rankings.
Murphy is also on the bill, in action against Josh Culibao with Wood revealing he had hoped to get the chance to silence his fellow Briton.
Murphy is undefeated in 13 pro bouts, five of those with UFC (Picture: Getty)
‘There were a couple of things said that I maybe took a little bit personally,’ Wood told Metro.co.uk.
‘At the start, it was banter. My mates say worse things to me. But then there were things that were getting a little too personal from his side.
‘But at the end of the day, the great thing about this sport is that we can put our money where our mouths are. That is why I tried to get the fight rebooked. He is talking s**t, I’m talking s**t, you’re saying you can knock me out, I’m saying I can knock you out. Here, you can fight each other, not get arrested and prove who is the better fighter. But unfortunately it didn’t get made this time.’
Wood seeking his third win at featherweight (Picture: Getty)
A meeting further down the line remains a real possibility, but isn’t necessarily a prospect that will keep Wood up at night.
‘If he goes away and wins his fight and I go away and win my fight, there is something we can get set up. I would love the fight, I was trying to get it for this one.
‘But also, I am kind of over it, I’m not going to keep crying about it. If it gets made, amazing. If it doesn’t, as far as I am concerned, I will go onto do better things. I don’t need him, that is the way I look at it.’
Wood’s trainer, UK MMA legend Brad Pickett, believes the events of the last six months have thrown further fuel on the fire should the two Britons eventually come face-to-face in the Octagon. Although as far as the former bantamweight contender is concerned, he would prefer to see two emerging talents from the same country kept at a distance until there is more at stake.
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‘It got under Nathaniel’s skin a little bit and he isn’t really much of trash talker anyway,’ Pickett said. ‘There is definitely some extra fuel on the fire for if and when it happens.
‘I think he [Wood] would like it. I am not saying Lerone is scared but I am not too sure if Lerone wants it as much now. Before the fight was going to happen, I didn’t really want it. It is great having prospects fighting each other in the UFC but when they are from the same region, it didn’t make a lot of sense.
‘You are just killing a prospect. It didn’t happen. If it happens again there is more to it. But for now, we are focusing on the job at hand against Andre Fili.’
On July 22nd 2023, Nathaniel Wood will be fighting at the O2 London for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: ASPINALL vs. TYBURA. To book your tickets, please visit, https://www.axs.com/uk/events/482598/ufc-fight-night-tickets.
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The Londoner is now focusing on Andre Fili at the O2 Arena later this month.