Lerone Murphy’s strength could be the key to overcoming his biggest challenge against Movsar Evloev
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy have both maintained their unbeaten records, though each has taken a very different approach to get there. After some travel issues, Evloev finally arrived in London. Both fighters made weight on Friday morning, confirming Saturday’s main event.
This time around, the stakes are much higher than when they last shared a training mat. This isn’t just about preparation anymore; it’s about taking a step closer to a title shot. The head-to-head record tells an interesting story.
The pair have trained together before, and according to Murphy’s coach, Kieran Keddle, the sessions were quite even. But Evloev disagrees, saying he came out ahead every time. Murphy is known for his knockout power—his last three wins have all come by stoppage within two rounds.
Evloev hasn’t finished an opponent since 2018 but remains unbeaten thanks to his grappling skills and ability to control fights over the full distance. Evloev’s journey to this point hasn’t been smooth either. He lost his original opponent and then faced further setbacks when his replacement pulled out due to visa issues.
Now back in England after some travel headaches of his own, he’ll need to be fully focused against a highly motivated challenger like Murphy. Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC Why Murphy could have a hard time stopping Evloev’s wrestling Evloev may not have the highest takedown success rate at 48%, but he still manages to land nearly five attempts per fight, according to UFC Stats. His wrestling has been the foundation of his success in the Octagon so far, and just looking at the numbers, Murphy hasn’t exactly shown himself to be a brick wall against it.