TLDR
- Murphy will fight without long-time coach Carl Prince following a disagreement, relying on teammate Jordan Barton instead
- Both Murphy (17-0-1) and Evloev (19-0) are undefeated and ranked in the top three featherweight contenders
- Evloev returns after 16 months away and is known for his wrestling, while Murphy excels in striking
- Champion Alexander Volkanovski said this fight will determine his next challenger
- UFC London takes place March 21 at The O2 Arena with the main card starting at 4 PM ET
Sources: Times of India | Sportsnet | Economic Times
Lerone Murphy will headline UFC London on Saturday without his long-time coach Carl Prince for the first time in his UFC career. The Manchester fighter faces undefeated Russian contender Movsar Evloev at The O2 Arena in a fight that could determine the next featherweight title challenger.
Murphy and Prince ended their working relationship following a reported disagreement. Instead, Murphy’s teammate Jordan Barton has stepped into a larger coaching role for this fight.
Barton has trained alongside Murphy for years and understands his fighting style. He said headlining a UFC event in London is a dream opportunity for Murphy and believes the fighter is fully prepared.
Both Fighters Carry Unbeaten Records
Murphy enters the fight with a 17-0-1 professional record. He has won all his UFC fights since a draw in his debut, including recent victories over Josh Emmett, Edson Barboza, and Aaron Pico.
His knockout of Pico last summer with a spinning elbow earned him attention. Murphy currently sits at No. 3 in the featherweight rankings.
Evloev holds a perfect 9-0 UFC record and is 19-0 as a professional. The 32-year-old Russian sits at No. 1 in the contender rankings after wins over Diego Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling.
🥶This Lerone Murphy promo before the Movsar Evloev fight goes hard. #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/XSn0LfJo4r
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) March 16, 2026
Evloev has not fought in 16 months since his December 2024 victory over Sterling at UFC 310. All nine of his UFC wins have come by decision.
Champion Alexander Volkanovski has said he views this matchup as the clear path to determine his next opponent. Volkanovski regained the featherweight title after Ilia Topuria vacated to move to lightweight.
Murphy Relies on Experience and Fight Intelligence
Murphy has lived through a gunshot and recovered from a serious accident earlier in his life. These experiences earned him the nickname “The Miracle” and shaped his mental approach to fighting.
Barton said Murphy stays calm under pressure and makes calculated decisions during fights. He does not take unnecessary risks and picks the right moments to attack.
Evloev presents a challenge with his wrestling and ground control. He lands 4.67 takedowns per 15 minutes of fight time, while Murphy has only a 51 percent takedown defense rate.
Murphy said he has worked on his defensive wrestling and fight strategy. He plans to use his fight intelligence and timing to succeed rather than rushing into exchanges.
The event takes place Saturday, March 21 at The O2 Arena in London. The main card starts at 4 PM ET in the United States on Paramount+ and 8 PM GMT in the UK on TNT Sports.
This marks the 17th UFC event in London and the fourth consecutive March with a UFC card in the city. The O2 Arena has hosted six UFC events since 2020.
Murphy has fought in England only once during his UFC career, a 2023 decision win over Josh Culibao at the same venue. Murphy has fought twice per year in each of the past three years and moved from No. 10 to No. 3 in the rankings during that time.
The co-main event features Luke Riley against Michael Aswell Jr. in a featherweight bout. Other main card fights include Michael Page vs Sam Patterson and Roman Dolidze vs Christian Leroy Duncan.
