Movsar Evloev may have secured the biggest win of his career at UFC London, but not everyone was convinced by how he got it done.
Evloev (20-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) defeated Lerone Murphy (17-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) via majority decision in Saturday’s main event, a bout widely viewed as a No. 1 contender fight in the featherweight division. With the victory, Evloev moves closer to a title shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC).
Known for his elite wrestling pedigree, Evloev took an unexpected approach against Murphy. For much of the fight, he chose to stand and trade on the feet rather than lean on his grappling. It wasn’t until later rounds that he fully utilized his wrestling, ultimately completing 9 of 10 takedown attempts.
While the strategy proved effective enough to earn the win, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (25-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) believes Evloev left little doubt on the table.
“I told you he was pretty good. And Movsar is really good,” Sterling said in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Monday. “I just didn't think he won the fight based on what we watched, and I think he could have made it super clear cut and right to the point, ‘I am the most dominant fighter.’”
Sterling, who moved up to featherweight and dropped a decision to Evloev at UFC 310 in December 2024, pointed to Evloev’s delayed wrestling approach as a missed opportunity to dominate more convincingly.
“Had he had used his wrestling, I think it would have been night and day,” Sterling said. “And again, we would not even be having this conversation right now. So there's that.”
Despite the criticism, Evloev remains undefeated in the UFC with 10 wins. However, his lack of finishes continues to be a talking point, especially in high-profile bouts where highlight reel moments can influence title contention.
With the featherweight title picture beginning to take shape, the question now is whether Evloev’s performance was enough to secure a shot at Volkanovski, or if the debate surrounding his latest win will complicate that path.
