Movsar Evloev Shocks Home Crowd, Defeats Unbeaten Lerone Murphy in Thrilling UFC London Main Event
By Perplexity News Staff
March 22, 2026
LONDON — In a stunning upset that silenced the raucous O2 Arena crowd, Russian featherweight Movsar Evloev handed British star Lerone Murphy his first professional defeat, winning a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 270 on Saturday night.
The highly anticipated featherweight clash, billed as a potential title eliminator for Alexander Volkanovski‘s 145-pound belt, pitted two unbeaten fighters against each other for the first time in UFC history with a combined record of 36-0-1 entering the bout. Evloev improved to 20-0, while Murphy’s ledger shifts to 17-1-1.[1][2][6]
A Grappling Masterclass Seals the Victory
Evloev, 32, controlled the pace from the opening bell with his elite wrestling, repeatedly taking Murphy down and dominating on the ground. The Russian fighter, who has never been finished in his career and boasts nine UFC wins, neutralized Murphy’s dangerous striking throughout the 25-minute war. Judges scored the bout 49-46, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Evloev, rewarding his pressure and control time.[2][6][7]
Murphy, the 28-year-old Manchester native making his homecoming in front of a partisan London crowd, came out aggressive with sharp combinations and a devastating spinning back elbow threat, reminiscent of his highlight-reel knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319 in 2025. Despite landing cleaner shots on the feet, Murphy struggled to fend off Evloev’s takedowns, spending significant portions of the fight defending from his back.[3][1]
“This was a fascinating main event where grappling trumped striking in a division desperate for contenders,” ESPN analysts noted post-fight.[2]
The victory catapults Evloev, who hadn’t fought since December 2024, into prime position for a title shot. UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski recently voiced a preference for facing Evloev over Murphy, citing the Russian’s undefeated streak and wrestling pedigree.[4]
Co-Main Event Delivers Rising Star Power
In the co-main featherweight bout, Liverpool’s Luke Riley extended his perfect 13-0 record with a dominant performance over Michael Aswell Jr.. The 12-0 prospect, who made his UFC debut with a TKO last November, overwhelmed Aswell with volume striking and ground control en route to a unanimous decision victory (30-27 x3).[2][3][7]
Riley, a teammate of fan-favorite Paddy Pimblett, joins teammate Nathaniel Wood as another British talent shining on home soil. The win solidifies Riley’s status as a top prospect in the loaded featherweight division.[1]
Venom Page Promises Fireworks, Delivers in Patterson Clash
Welterweight entertainment machine Michael ‘Venom’ Page lived up to his billing against fellow Brit Sam Patterson, securing a third-round TKO in a main card thriller. Page, vocal about his matchup prior to the event, promised a finish and delivered with his signature unorthodox striking, dropping Patterson and swarming for the stoppage.[1][2]
“Any fight with me in it is the real main event,” Page had quipped pre-fight, and the O2 crowd agreed with their deafening roars.[2]
Main Card Highlights and Weigh-In Drama
The main card opened with welterweight Kurtis Campbell‘s UFC debut, where he edged Danny Silva via unanimous decision. Middleweight Roman Dolidze returned to London and submitted Brit Christian Leroy Duncan, a result with massive implications for the division’s hierarchy.[2][6]
Prelims featured early stoppages, including Brando Peričić‘s first-round TKO of Louie Sutherland and Shanelle Dyer‘s second-round head-kick knockout of Ravena Oliveira, who missed weight at 116.5 pounds. Luana Carolina also came in heavy at 144 pounds for her bantamweight bout.[6][7]
| Fight | Result | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy | Evloev def. Murphy | Unanimous Decision | 5 Rds, 5:00 |
| Luke Riley vs. Michael Aswell Jr. | Riley def. Aswell | Unanimous Decision | 3 Rds, 5:00 |
| Michael Page vs. Sam Patterson | Page def. Patterson | TKO (Punches) | R3, 2:45 |
| Roman Dolidze vs. Christian Leroy Duncan | Dolidze def. Duncan | Submission | R2, 4:12 |
| Kurtis Campbell vs. Danny Silva | Campbell def. Silva | Unanimous Decision | 3 Rds, 5:00 |
Murphy’s Inspirational Journey Hits First Roadblock
Lerone Murphy’s story is one of resilience. The featherweight survived being shot three times at age 21, turning adversity into fuel for his MMA ascent. Tonight marked the biggest stage of his career, but a major change in preparation — sparring history with Evloev revealed pre-fight — may have factored into the grappling-heavy defeat.[1][3][7]
“I’ve overcome worse than this,” Murphy said post-fight, vowing a quick return.[7]
UFC’s Return to London a Resounding Success
The O2 Arena, hosting its 17th UFC event since the promotion’s debut in London, erupted for local heroes despite the main event outcome. Heavyweight Mario Pinto, Nathaniel Wood, and others represented Britain strongly on the card.[1][6]
Evloev’s win reshapes the featherweight title picture, with Volkanovski likely next. For Murphy, the loss ends his unbeaten run but opens questions about his grappling vulnerabilities against the division’s elite wrestlers.[4]
The event streamed live on Paramount+, drawing massive UK viewership and setting the stage for UFC’s continued European expansion.
This is a developing story. More post-fight reactions and analysis to follow.