Lauren Murphy calls for Cynthia Calvillo, spots on flyweight and women’s pound-for-pound list

After dispatching No. 6 ranked flyweight Roxanne Modaferri, Lauren Murphy wants a big step up in competition.

Murphy, who currently stands at No. 7 in the UFC’s 125-pound rankings, called for a fight with No. 2 Cynthia Calvillo, who one week earlier dominated one-time title challenger Jessica Eye in the headliner of UFC on ESPN 10.

“Katlyn Chookagian is ranked No. 1, but I already fought her,” Murphy told reporters after winning a unanimous decision over Modaferri at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. “[Cynthia] is the girl to beat right now.”

Murphy took home two scores of 30-27 and one 29-28 tally after 15 minutes with Modaferri. It was her third consecutive octagon win, which she said justified a bump up in competition and stature.

“I definitely deserve a spot in the top-five,” she said. I believe I deserve a spot on the women’s pound-for-pound list, and I want to fight for contendership. So I want to fight Cynthia, and I believe I can beat her.”

Calvillo’s win over Eye marked her first outing in the flyweight division after repeated struggles to make weight in the strawweight division. Despite issues with weight, she is 6-1-1 in the octagon.

Murphy, a former Invicta bantmaweight champ, is 5-4 overall in the octagon, but she is 4-1 since moving to the flyweight division. She lost a decision to Chookagian prior to moving down a division.