Alexander Volkanovski has signaled that Movsar Evloev is the clear frontrunner for his UFC featherweight title, following the Russian’s hard-fought majority decision victory over Lerone Murphy at UFC London. Volkanovski lauded Evloev’s performance and impeccable record, emphasizing that this is the significant bout he now seeks to bolster his legacy.
Volkanovski Impressed: Undefeated Evloev ‘Has to Be Next’ for Featherweight Title Shot
In the high-stakes featherweight main event at London’s O2 Arena, Movsar Evloev secured a majority decision victory over Lerone Murphy in what was widely considered a title eliminator. The judges’ scores were 48-46, 48-46, and 47-47 in Evloev’s favor, despite a tension-inducing point deduction in the fourth round due to a second low blow.
This marked Lerone Murphy’s inaugural professional defeat, altering his record to 17-1-1, while Evloev extended his pristine record to 20-0 overall and 10-0 within the UFC. Post-fight, even Murphy himself conceded that Evloev ‘deserves’ the upcoming title opportunity, solidifying the fight’s status as a critical eliminator.
During the post-fight analysis, Alexander Volkanovski expressed his surprise at Evloev’s reliance on striking against Murphy, expecting more grappling. He acknowledged Evloev’s ‘much stronger’ takedown game, yet praised his ability to outstrike Murphy over five rounds as ‘quite impressive,’ concluding, “He’s 20-0 now, and I suppose he’s next.”
Further elaborating in another interview, Volkanovski speculated that Evloev’s preference for striking was a deliberate attempt to make a statement, rather than solely relying on his wrestling. The champion declared his desire for Evloev to ‘try everything possible’ in their eventual clash, asserting his intent to neutralize takedown attempts and compel extended stand-up exchanges.
Volkanovski has openly expressed his interest in a title defense against Evloev for a considerable period. He had previously forecasted Evloev’s victory over Murphy on his YouTube channel, citing the stylistic challenge as a key reason for his preference. This interest dates back to at least 2024, when an initial attempt to schedule their fight didn’t materialize, leading Evloev to take an alternative bout and delaying this potential title opportunity.
The reigning champion, who recently reclaimed and successfully defended his belt via dominant unanimous decisions against Diego Lopes at UFC 314 and UFC 325, has positioned Evloev as the most deserving contender following his extensive climb through the rankings. Volkanovski particularly views facing an undefeated 20-0 challenger as a rare and significant opportunity to enhance his legacy at this point in his career.
During his post-fight interview at UFC London, Evloev issued a direct challenge for a title fight, humorously suggesting it happen ‘before he ages too much,’ referencing the 37-year-old champion (who turns 38 in September). Volkanovski, in turn, welcomed the prospect of an imminent defense, aiming for a mid-to-late summer return, though Evloev optimistically proposed May as an ideal timeframe.
