At UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy in London, undefeated featherweights clashed, with one fighter maintaining his perfect record and making a strong case for a title shot. Below are our power rankings for the standout winners from the main card at The O2 Arena.
UFC London Power Rankings
1. Iwo Baraniewski
Reviewing the UFC London main card, one performance truly outshone the rest, and its swiftness meant you might have missed it. Polish light heavyweight Iwo Baraniewski, already recognized for a “Round of the Year” contender against Ibo Aslan, delivered an even faster knockout in London. His opening two punches precisely landed on former heavyweight Austen Lane’s chin, sending the ex-NFL defensive lineman to the canvas. A rapid follow-up barrage secured Baraniewski his second consecutive UFC victory. His remarkable striking power and immediate aggression make the Pole a must-watch fighter whenever he enters the Octagon.
2. Christian Leroy Duncan
England’s Christian Leroy Duncan rose to a significant challenge, facing veteran contender Roman Dolidze in London. The former Cage Warriors middleweight champion delivered an impressive performance on home turf, showcasing exceptional striking and mature defense to secure a unanimous decision victory. Duncan outstruck Dolidze on the feet, forcing the Georgian to rely on his wrestling and grappling. Even when Dolidze managed to take the fight to the ground, Duncan’s robust defensive skills neutralized any submission threats. This unanimous win solidifies Duncan’s position in the top tier of the UFC’s 185-pound division, and with Dolidze ranked 11th prior to the event, “CLD” is expected to enter the official middleweight rankings this week.
3. Danny Silva
Many underestimated Danny Silva heading into UFC London, but he emphatically reminded everyone of his capabilities. Previously, Silva went the distance with hard-hitting Kevin Vallejos, and despite a decision loss, his performance was encouraging. Facing debuting grappler Kurtis Campbell, Silva had to be sharp to defend against the Liverpudlian in the first round. However, in the second round, Silva unleashed his striking, connecting powerfully. His shots immediately hurt Campbell, and a violent flurry of fists quickly secured Silva a spectacular stoppage victory – his 11th career win, third in the UFC, and his first finish in the Octagon.
4. Movsar Evloev
Russia’s Movsar Evloev pushed his fight with Lerone Murphy to the judges’ scorecards, securing a majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47) despite a point deduction in the fourth round. From Octagonside, I personally scored the bout a 47-47 draw, giving Murphy the initial two rounds. However, the judges, with a superior vantage point for assessing strike impact in close rounds, could reasonably have scored them differently. Despite the fight’s contentious nature, accusations of a “robbery” seem unfair to Evloev, who demonstrated a willingness to stand and trade, aiming to impress UFC officials for a title shot. Having competed effectively against Murphy in striking and dominated the grappling exchanges, Evloev appears well-positioned to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the title. While perhaps not the flashiest contender, he may be uniquely equipped to face the Australian legend. A title bout at UFC International Fight Week is a distinct possibility.
5. Luke Riley
Despite his own dissatisfaction with his performance, Luke Riley gained invaluable Octagon experience in his victory over Michael Aswell Jr. The highly-touted Next Generation MMA talent, a former Cage Warriors star, aimed for a stoppage win in the co-main event. However, Aswell’s resilience and sturdy chin forced the fight to the judges’ scorecards. Riley’s unanimous decision win sets the stage for more significant contests and provides ample footage for him and his team to refine his game as he ascends the featherweight division.
6. Michael Page
Michael Page’s bout against Sam Patterson left some fans perplexed even before it began. Unfortunately, the fight itself failed to ignite, as Patterson appeared hesitant to engage, and Page maintained distance in a contest ultimately decided by a handful of impactful strikes per round. These decisive strikes originated from Page, whose striking superiority was enough to secure the decision. However, for “MVP,” it wasn’t the performance he desired, and he has candidly acknowledged the fight’s shortcomings. Page aims for highlight-reel finishes, and his career demonstrates that few strikers in his weight class are faster in MMA gloves. Yet, such spectacular performances require willing and equally aggressive opponents.
