This is the live blog for Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy, the featherweight main event at UFC London on Saturday at the O2 Arena in England.
Undefeated in his career at 19-0, no one alive would question that Movsar Evloev is one of the best featherweights on Earth. But despite his gaudy record, Evloev has been unable to get his shot at the UFC featherweight title, and it’s unclear if he ever will. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has repeatedly called for Evloev to get a title shot, but thus far, to no avail. If he wants any chance of being next in line, Evloev needs to win on Saturday, preferably in a big way.
Sporting a spectacular 17-0-1 resume, Murphy also finds himself on the cusp of title contention. Last year, it looked like Murphy would get the call to fight Volkanovski after his brutal KO win over Aaron Pico, but instead, the UFC went with Diego Lopes once again, leaving Murphy in the lurch. Now, like Evloev, he is in a must-win situation on Saturday if he wants to challenge for the 145 title.
Follow along with the Evloev vs. Murphy live blog below.
Let’s be honest, this UFC London card has not been a banger. There have been some decent highlights, and Jones-Sola was probably the best scrap of the year thus far, but man, we really need Evloev and Murphy to do something special here.
We’re getting Sweet Caroline before the walkouts even begin. And let’s be real, I enjoy the song. Haters be darned.
Murphynis out to Ambitionz az a Ridah. Tupac for the win. He looks very locked in. A serious man.
I have no idea what Evloev is out to but it sounds like 80s power rock. I can just visualize some dudes with feathered mullets thriving to this. Which fits. Movsar kinda feels like a dude from the 80s.
Evloev is 2 years younger and 2 inches shorter than Murphy, but he’s the betting favorite coming in at -250 with the comeback on Murphy at +205.
Bruce Buffer gets things going and the crowd is lively, despite some of these fights. Marc Goddard is the referee.
Buffer announces each guy. Murphy gets all the cheers, obviously, and he’s still looking angry. Evloev, meanwhile, gets roundly booed but he looks bored by it all. He sends heart hands to the crowd. This is a man who know who he is.
They meet in the middle for final instructions and touch gloves. Let’s do this!
Evloev out in orthodox, Murphy in southpaw. Murphy moving around the outside, while Evloev holds the center. Murphy looks much bigger in there, though Evloev looks carved from stone.
Tepid low kicks exchanged early. Murphy puts a 1-2 down range to keep Evloev back. Evloev not rushing things, crowding. And throws a heavy right hand that just misses. Murphy on his bike, trying not to get moved to the fence. And he lands a right hand with Evloev in his face.
Strong front kick to the body from Evloev. Slow pace thus far as Murphy isn’t trying to do too much and Evloev is biding his time. A good body kick from Evloev. He’s having some success on the feet while Murphy tries to find his range and keep the space.
Evloev in with a lopping left and then out. He’s doing a really good job of controlling this fight right now, getting offense off in his spots, and keeping Murphy drom doing much. Murphy wants to land when Evloev gets near him but Movsar is limiting good windows. Nice dipping left hook from Evloev.
Murphy with a pair of kicks but Evloev lands his own to the body. Movsar has not even attempted a takedown, and that may have Murphy confused. Murphy opening up with more kicks though. Evloev tried a spinning back fist before the end of the round, but no joy.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Evloev.
That first round could have gone either way. Per the numbers, Murphy landed a few more but there was simply not a ton of action in that one. Let’s hope business picks up.
Murphy holding space early, and that’s good for him. He doesn’t want to get backed up. And he lands a dipping right hand. But then Evloev pressures in and lands his own left. And then hooks exchanged. Nice right hook for Murphy lands around the guard.
A minute in and Evloev still hasn’t shot a takedown. Lands a body kick but falls after it’s caught. Murphy with calf kicks. Back and forth we go. Murphy lands a sharp left hook as Evloev stepped in. But Evloev lands a big right hand a moment later. Both men’s best shots of the evening.
And still Movsar hasn’t shot. He might be in that Curtis Blaydes spot, where he doesn’t want to grapple because he’s trying to be exciting. That is a bad plan if it’s the case.
Both men exchange again. It’s very closely contested on the feet, honestly. Evloev lunges in with a lead left and uppercut that land. He keeps trying a backfist, too, but it’s never close. Four attempted thus far. Murphy lands a good one to the body. Then a kick. Then a really nice combo to the body, and a low kick. Evloev forcing the issue now and Murphy is starting to score.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Murphy, 19-19 overall.
Could easily be 2-0 Murphy right now. Several of the scores they flashed on the TV had Murphy winning the first. Evloev is just not going to win this style of fight, and Murphy is getting much more comfortable.
Evloev gets Murphy to the fence and immediately goes for big punches, missing most. He’s had chances for the grappling, and refuses to do so. Murphy turns him and throw a knee and finally Movsar goes for a takedown, getting it with ease. Right to turtle and Murphy fights his way up quickly, getting free after a short time.
Back in space and they trade shots, and a kick strays low on Murphy, causing a break in the action.
40 seconds later and we’re back to the action. Murphy goes for a wheel kick that gets blocked. Neither man is getting a title shot off of this. Jean Silva must be dancing in his seat right now. Nice right hand from Evloev. Bisping trying to gas up Murphy like this is some elite performance and that’s just not real. Evloev is handing him the easiest version of this fight, and he’s taking it.
Murphy lands a nice combo. He’s in cruise control here because he has nothing to fear on the feet from Evloev. And if Evloev isn’ going to wrestle, he has nothing to fear at all. Decent body kick from Evloev, but it’s so few and far between at this point. The man turfed his undefeated record because the UFC doesn’t like him. That’s tough.
OH! Near the end of the round, Evloev comes charging in! He gets Murphy against the fence and swings away! Murphy covers up but eats a couple shots. Still, probably too little too late.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Murphy, 29-28 Murphy overall.
We start the fourth and another inside low kick from Evloev causes another break. This one is much worse, right down main street. We’re gonna take a break on this for sure.
Oh wow! Goddard takes a point from Evloev! That’s absolutely appropriate but so rare.
Evloev now totally screwed. He’s probably down three rounds, and a point. And when the fight restarts he shows some urgency, landing a right hand into a trip takedown but Murphy gets back up quickly. Evloev in Murphy’s face now, and throwing more. Murphy looking fresh though.
OH! Jab catches Murphy stepping in and sends him stumbling back. Evloev doesn’t press the issue though and Murphy resets. Now Evloev fires a double and gets it. Murphy to the fence and stands up Evloev lands a good punch. Then trip return. Evloev riding the back of Murphy and this is his fight now. Shame he decided to wait until the 17th minute to do it.
Murphy gets free but he’s looking uncomfortable now. And Evloev is coming in. But Murphy does land a good right hand. Evloevs with more pressure, letting the hands go more. Murphy kicks but falls over and Evloev gets on top and starts dropping big hammerfists!
Man, Evloev would’ve easily won this fight if he tried the whole time. But Murphy breaks grips and gets to his feet. Evloev coming forward to end the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 9-9, 38-37 Murphy overall.
Truthfully, this fight could be anywhere from 39-36 Murphy to 38-37 Evloev. Two of the rounds were quite close. Both men should try, but Evloev should really go for a finish.
Both men are in phenomenal shape, and they stand in the middle and trade early. Murphy with some kicks, Evloev swinging the hammers. And he uses an overhand right to move into a clean takedown into space. Murphy fighting the hands as he tries to climb. Murphy to turtle and he rolls, but Evloev is just better at this. He’s in top half and moving to s-mount.
Evloev cooking him on the ground right now as Murphy tries to get free. Nice shots from Evloev as Murphy gets to his feet, but Movsar takes him back down. And another as Murphy gets up.
Murphy looks like he’s fading. He’s exhausted. He gets up but Movsar takes him down again. And he’s peppering in good shots, too. Finally Murphy gets to his feet and to space. He’s bleeding heavily now. Cut around the eye. Two minutes and Evloev may need a finish.
OH! Evloev gets Murphy back to the fence and unloads. Murphy fading fast and tries to shake it off, literally. Can Evloev find something? Evloev eats a body kick. Murphy coming forward now with a minute left, digging deep. Murphy tries a spinning attack and Evloev ducks and grabs the back. Takedown, standup. Another takedown and Evloev is in full guard now. He’s passing with short time and lands some good shots but Murphy stands up just before the bell.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Evloev, 47-47 overall.
Movsar Evloev def. Lerone Murphy via Majority Decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47)
This is awesome. The crowd is so mad. Evloev stays undefeated.
He starts by saying, “I told you, I’m a better striker than he is.” He then points out that Murphy is jacked up, and says he showed he doesn’t have to use his wrestling to win.
Bisping then asks him to send a message to Alexander Volkanvoski. Evloev says Alex has called him out, and he accepts. He then sends a message to the UFC.
“There is no excuse to not let me fight for the title.”
Murphy then hops on the mic, and sends a message to the London fans. He’s all class, says he let them down, but says he wants Movsar to get a title shot, because he deserves it.
Murphy then says his hip popped in the third round.
We end with Evloev thanking London for letting him stay.
Read the full article here
