Movsar Evloev is still fighting without guarantees.
After 15 months on the sidelines, the No. 1-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight contender returns to action next month when he faces No. 3-seeded Lerone Murphy in the main event of UFC London on Sat., March 21, 2026, inside the O2 Arena in London, England.
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On paper, it looks like a No. 1 contender fight — especially considering both Evloev and Murphy were bypassed for a title opportunity against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325. But despite the stakes, the UFC has not officially labeled the bout as a title eliminator, and according to Evloev, no promises have been made behind the scenes either.
“No,” Evloev told Submission Radio when asked if the UFC has guaranteed him a title shot with a win. “People within the UFC are saying this, but I haven’t talked to the main guy — to be honest, I don’t even know who the main guy is. For me, it’s just important to win the fight — title or not — and then we’ll see.”
It’s worth noting that Murphy heard the same message.
Evloev has long hinted that the promotion may be hesitant to push him toward a championship opportunity, but he stopped short of accusing the UFC of deliberately holding him back. In fact, he believes his recent matchmaking suggests otherwise.
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“I don’t see that they don’t like me,” Evloev said. “They booked me in a good fight against Aaron Pico — then I pulled out — but right after that they gave me a main event in London. So it’s not like they don’t like me. They gave me the best options other than a title fight.”
“If someone is better than me, I’ll fight them,” he added. “We’ll fight Murphy first, then we’ll fight for the title.”
Whether that title fight actually materializes remains the unanswered question.
Evloev hasn’t competed since his unanimous decision win over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 and currently sits at 9-0 inside the Octagon.
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