Movsar Evloev doesn’t blame the UFC for passing him over for a title shot after he was forced to drop out of a scheduled fight in 2025, but he’s obviously hoping to get that opportunity with a win over Lerone Murphy at UFC London on Saturday.
Unfortunately even with both fighters in this main event sporting undefeated records, and a combined 18-fight winning streak in the UFC, neither has been promised anything by the promotion. Murphy previously disclosed that the UFC didn’t guarantee him a title shot with a win and Evloev said much the same, although he obviously believes that opportunity is warranted given the stakes in this matchup.
“No [title shot guaranteed], nothing like that,” Evloev told MMA Fighting. “It looks like it’s a [No. 1] contender fight. If I win or Murphy wins, I don’t see no excuse to not give a title shot the winner of this fight.
“Who else? [Jean] Silva is talking after his fight, but he just lost, and he had one win and then he needs the title? He can wait his turn or get another victory to show us he deserves it or wait until I get the title and I’m ready to fight this guy also.”
Now to be totally fair, UFC officials including Dana White have promoted plenty of fights as a No. 1 contender’s matchup where the winner is supposed to get a title shot and it never happens. Bad timing, injuries or less than enthusiastic results have often changed the UFC’s plans and so even if Evloev or Murphy were told a title shot was next, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee it.
That said, reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski already pushed for Evloev to get a title shot in the past, and he did the same thing after defending his belt against Diego Lopes in February. Volkanovski made it clear he wants to face the toughest challenges possible, and the winner of Evloev vs. Murphy definitely qualifies.
“Look, that’s how real champions talk,” Evloev said about Volkanovski. “I was waiting for him, nothing [disrespectful] but this guy is a real man. He’s fighting with the best and that’s why he became the best featherweight of all-time.
“He deserves this, and I can’t wait to fight with him after Murphy. I have in my list a name like him.”
While he obviously jumped at the chance to face Murphy at UFC London, Evloev actually felt like his upcoming opponent already did enough to deserve his own title shot after scoring a brutal knockout over Aaron Pico last year.
That was originally Evloev’s fight but Murphy replaced him and he certainly made the most of the opportunity. But the UFC ultimately decided to give Diego Lopes the title fight instead so now Murphy is facing Evloev on Saturday.
“To be honest, I was shocked when they gave Lopes the title shot instead of him,” Evloev said. “Because when he take the fight for short notice after I didn’t fight him, he won with a good knockout. A spinning elbow and in my head he’s supposed to fight for the title but for some reason UFC didn’t give him [the title shot].
“Maybe he doesn’t have enough good fighters who he’s beat and me and him, two undefeated guys who need the title and it’s just one title. We’ll fight each other to see who deserves more.”
When it comes to this matchup, Evloev is very confident that he’ll vanquish Murphy and then earn his long-awaited title shot.
As impressive as Murphy has been during his winning streak, Evloev hasn’t been overly blown away by his performances — even the jaw-dropping knockout he delivered against Pico.
“Even his last win it was by a mistake of his opponent,” Evloev said. “Pico was pretty good until this elbow. He just got knocked out, because he started playing too much. He didn’t give him enough respect and that’s why he paid a big price.
“But I’m not going to underestimate this guy. He’s strong, good [wrestling defense], pretty good skills of striking. But the pressure will work against him, especially my pressure. He’s not going to stop me. Like he said, he’s going to push me, he’s going to win by pressure. We’ll see who has more pressure.”
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