Movsar Evloev outclasses Lerone Murphy to Stay Undefeated. Movsar Evloev remained undefeated, defeating Lerone Murphy via majority decision at UFC Fight Night London.
The main event of UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy featured a pivotal featherweight clash between two undefeated contenders who are Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy on March 21, 2026 at the O2 Arena.
Evloev entered the fight with a flawless 19–0 professional record, including nine straight wins inside the UFC. Evloev has never lost in his MMA career and consistently pushed the pace against top featherweights. His notable UFC wins include unanimous decision victories over former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, and other elite 145‑pound fighters like Arnold Allen and Diego Lopes, his performances with them helped him secure the No. 1 ranking in the division. Despite his undefeated status, Evloev is yet to earn a UFC title shot, a situation he hopes will change with a win in London.
Murphy entered into the matchup with a 17–0–1 record, including a long unbeaten streak in the UFC. The 34‑year‑old has steadily climbed the featherweight ranks, mixing strong boxing with a dangerous striking arsenal. One of his biggest recent highlights came in August 2025, when he scored a highlight‑reel first‑round knockout over Aaron Pico at UFC 319 with a spinning back elbow that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. Earlier in his UFC tenure he also notched key wins over Dan Ige and Josh Emmett, further establishing himself as a top contender. Although a title shot was expected after his Pico finish, UFC officials instead booked other contenders, making his showdown with Evloev even more critical.
The fight opened with both featherweights measuring each other. Murphy pressed forward with combinations and leg kicks, trying to establish his rhythm from the start. Evloev stayed composed, using his jab and movement to stay safe and chip away at range. The round was fairly even, but Evloev’s cleaner counters and cage control gave him a slight edge on the judges’ scorecards.
Murphy continued to use volume striking early, landing a few quick punches and trying to force advantage. Evloev responded by staying patient, mixing in counter shots and adjusting his distance well. Neither man went for a big finish, but Evloev’s precise striking and ability to land on Murphy when openings appeared likely helped him pick up another round.
As the fight progressed into the third round, both fighters showed confidence. Murphy still stayed busy with combinations, but Evloev began asserting his pace, landing counters that drew reactions from the crowd. At various points the fight became tighter on the feet, yet Evloev’s timing and variety in attacks gave him a noticeable presence during the fight.
The fourth round opened with both fighters coming out eager to keep the momentum. Early in the round, Evloev accidentally landed a low blow on Murphy, which prompted the referee to pause the action and take one point away from Evloev. After the restart, Evloev didn’t let the penalty shake him. He stayed composed and continued to bring pressure. Evloev mixed up his offense with striking and brief takedown attempts, forcing Murphy to stay disciplined on defense. Rather than backing off, he kept moving forward with jabs, hooks, and combinations that kept Murphy on the back foot at times.
Murphy responded by throwing his own punches and trying to keep Evloev at range, but he wasn’t able to really separate himself or gain a big advantage in the round. By the end of Round 4, the point deduction had tightened the scoring, but Evloev still looked composed and on track to win the round through activity and pressure.
In the final round, both fighters charged forward with urgency. Murphy boxed strongly early, but Evloev mixed in jabs, leg kicks, and occasional takedown attempts to keep Murphy guessing. Evloev’s ability to mix striking, clinch work, and wrestling threats allowed him to maintain control and close the fight strongly.
The final tally read 48-46, 48-46 and 47-47 including a fourth round point deduction on Evloev as he got the majority decision victory.
“I told you, I’m a better striker than him … joke,” Evloev said with a laugh after his latest win. “With Mike my head coach, we prepared for level change attacks … I think my punches are hard, I can hurt an opponent even if I didn’t finish him. But look at his face, he’s damage. I showed, I don’t necessarily have to use my wrestling to get wins.
“[Alexander Volkanovski] mentioned my name a lot of times, I’m accepting his challenge. let’s f*cking fight. UFC, there is no excuses to not let me fight for the title.”
While obviously disappointed with the result, Murphy offered no excuses and even he championed Evloev getting the title shot next.
“Sorry, London fans,” Murphy said. “Sorry to let you down tonight. I give all I could give tonight and obviously it wasn’t enough. Make sure Movsar Evloev gets a title shot. That man deserves it. He’s next in line. “My hip popped in the third. No excuses. I’ll be back. I’ve got work to do, I’ll back.”
With the win, Movsar Evloev solidifies his place as one of the top featherweights in the UFC, maintaining his undefeated record. Lerone Murphy showed heart and skill in his first professional loss, leaving fans eager to see what both fighters do next in the division.
