Liliya Shakirova Steps In At UFC 254 vs. Lauren Murphy

Liliya Shakirova will make her UFC debut this weekend, replacing Cynthia Calvillo against Lauren Murphy.

The new was announced during the UFC Fight Island 6 broadcast.

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Murphy (13-4-0) enters the contest on a three fight winning streak, picking up wins over Mara Romero Borrella, Andrea Lee and Roxanne Modafferi. Murphy hasn’t been defeated in over two years, with that last loss coming to Sijara Eubanks at UFC Fight Night Utica. Murphy has competed seventeen times as a professional MMA fighter and none of her bouts have ended by submission.

Shakirova (8-1-0) is making her aforementioned UFC debut in this bout and does so on the strength of a three fight winning streak. Shakirova has suffered a single defeat as a professional MMA fighter and that came to Julia Borisova at Fight Nights Global 85 in March of 2018. Shakirova has competed nine times as a professional MMA fighter and five of those encounters went the distance.

UFC 254 takes place on Saturday, October 24 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on ESPN+.

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