Evloev Beats Murphy by Majority Decision in London
Movsar Evloev defeated Lerone Murphy by majority decision on March 21, 2026, at The O2 in London. Scores of 48–46, 48–46 and 47–47 settled a five-round featherweight headliner between unbeaten contenders and preserved Evloev’s perfect professional record.
The matchup and early action
Murphy began sharply, using footwork and counters as Evloev advanced. The Manchester fighter’s early effectiveness made the opening rounds a demanding test for an opponent accustomed to winning through sustained pressure and wrestling.
Evloev improved in the third and carried that momentum into the fourth. A second accidental kick below the belt cost him a point, making the scoring picture more complicated before the concluding round.
The decisive developments
The final five minutes featured stronger offense from Evloev, including clean punches and repeated takedowns. Murphy continued defending and working back into the contest rather than conceding an uncontested finish.
After twenty-five minutes, two judges preferred Evloev while the remaining card was level. The deduction therefore contributed to an unusual set of totals without preventing the Russian from earning the official victory.
What the result meant
Evloev improved to 20–0 with ten consecutive UFC wins. Murphy’s unbeaten professional run ended after a competitive contest against another leading featherweight contender.
Luke Riley and Michael Page also won by unanimous decision on the main card, while Iwo Baraniewski supplied a twenty-eight-second stoppage. The London headliner nevertheless carried the clearest immediate implications for the featherweight championship picture.
Sources
- UFC: official results and scorecards
- Cageside Press: weights and matchup context
- UFC: main-event report
