TLDR
- Lerone Murphy believes he defeated Movsar Evloev at UFC London despite losing by majority decision on March 21
- Murphy claims he won the first three rounds and that the fight should have been scored a draw at worst
- Evloev received a point deduction in round four for accidental fouls, which Murphy says made that round 9-9
- UFC CEO Dana White told reporters he did not find the scorecards controversial
- Murphy expressed interest in a potential title fight rematch with Evloev in the future
Sources: BJPenn.com | MMA Junkie | Sherdog
Lerone Murphy believes he defeated Movsar Evloev at UFC London on March 21, despite losing by majority decision. The British featherweight took to his YouTube channel to contest the judges’ scorecards five days after the fight.
“UFC London this past weekend, I took my first ‘L,’ took it like a man, but I believe I should have got the nod,” Murphy said. “I believe I won the first three rounds.”
The pivotal featherweight clash took place inside The O2 Arena with possible title implications on the line. Murphy started strong as Evloev chose to engage with him on the feet during the early rounds.
Murphy’s Round-by-Round Breakdown
Murphy argued he controlled the majority of the third round before Evloev landed a late shot. “The third round, I took four minutes and 40 seconds of it, and he caught me with a shot which caught my eye, which is why the judges probably gave him that round,” he explained.
The fourth round saw Evloev receive a point deduction for accidental fouls. Murphy calculated this should have made the round a 9-9 draw.
Lerone Murphy now believes the judges got it wrong in the #UFCLondon main event against Movsar Evloev 👇🏽https://t.co/efoPDixUy9
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) March 26, 2026
“The fourth round, he got a point deduction so that was 9-9,” Murphy stated. “So, I think 47-47 was probably a fair result, which would have been a draw.”
Despite the point deduction, Evloev rallied to win the majority decision. The scorecards have sparked heavy debate among fans and analysts.
Murphy softened his initial reaction in the YouTube video, now claiming the worst possible outcome should have been a draw. He praised Evloev’s performance while maintaining he deserved the victory.
“At worst, it was a draw,” Murphy said. “But with that being said, I believe it was a great fight. Both fighters fought well – high-level fight.”
Dana White Defends Scorecards
UFC CEO Dana White addressed the controversy at a post-event press conference. He told reporters he did not find the scorecards controversial.
White stopped short of promising Evloev an immediate title shot. However, he said the top-ranked featherweight is now in a good position.
Murphy acknowledged Evloev’s likely path forward despite his disagreement with the result. “Movsar fought a good fight, a smart fight. He was harder to hit than I thought, he didn’t leave many openings,” he said.
The British fighter expressed interest in a potential rematch if Evloev earns a title shot. “I’m glad someone’s at least a winner, and Movsar is probably going to go on and fight for the title next,” Murphy said.
“Maybe we run it back for the title at some point. That’s my goal,” he added.
The loss marked Murphy’s first professional defeat. He emphasized he accepted the official result while believing the judges made an error.
Murphy gave Evloev credit for executing a smart game plan throughout the five-round contest. He noted the Russian fighter presented fewer openings than expected.
The UFC has not announced next opponents for either Murphy or Evloev. White’s comments suggest Evloev could receive a high-profile matchup in the featherweight division following his victory at The O2 Arena.
