Lerone Murphy Reflects on First Loss, Targets Evloev Rematch

Lerone Murphy says his first professional loss, a majority decision to Movsar Evloev at UFC London, has pushed him to train with more urgency as he plots his return to featherweight title contention.

Murphy dropped a 48-46, 48-46, 47-47 decision to Evloev in the March 21 main event at The O2, ending an 18-fight unbeaten run. The lone 47-47 scorecard came after Evloev was docked a point in the fourth round for repeated low blows.

What Does Murphy Think of the Scorecards?

Murphy believes the fight was closer than the judges had it, saying he took at least two rounds and that the opening round could have gone either way. He told Combat Evolved that after reviewing the tape, he felt the bout "should have been a draw at best" for Evloev, crediting himself with clear rounds in the second and third.

Still, Murphy did not lean on the scoring to explain the result. He said he drifted into expecting to win rather than fighting with full urgency, and that the defeat has sharpened his approach heading into his next camp.

The Hip Injury That Complicated the Fight

Murphy fought through a torn left hip flexor that he believes happened either during a wrestling exchange or when he landed awkwardly on a spinning elbow attempt. He said he felt clicking and discomfort on every kick afterward but continued through the full five rounds. He acknowledged his training camp had its issues, saying his focus wandered at times, but stopped short of using either the injury or the camp disruptions as an excuse for the loss.

Murphy, now 17-1-1, is already back at Apex Combat & Conditioning, working through rehab alongside a return to sparring. He said he was in his second week of MMA sparring at the time of the interview, mixing in situational wrestling and grappling as part of his regular training group.

What's Next for Murphy?

Murphy is eyeing a return in September or October, with UFC Abu Dhabi among the cards he's considering, though no opponent has been finalized. He named Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez as potential next opponents on his path back to a title shot, and made clear he wants a rematch with Evloev, ideally with the UFC featherweight belt on the line.

"I need that one back," Murphy said. "If it's for the title, even better."

Betting Angle

Murphy's stock took a hit with the loss, but a closely contested five-rounder against a ranked contender like Evloev is not the kind of result that should tank his market value long term. Bettors should watch how sportsbooks price his next outing, since a healthy Murphy coming off a competitive decision loss could open up value if oddsmakers overcorrect. A rematch with Evloev, especially one tied to the title picture, would likely draw significant betting interest given how tight the first fight played out on the cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who beat Lerone Murphy?

Movsar Evloev beat Lerone Murphy by majority decision in the UFC London main event at The O2 on March 21, handing Murphy his first professional loss.

What injury did Lerone Murphy suffer against Movsar Evloev?

Lerone Murphy tore his left hip flexor during the fight, an injury he believes happened either in a wrestling exchange or while attempting a spinning elbow, and he fought through it for the full five rounds.

Will there be a Lerone Murphy vs Movsar Evloev rematch?

Lerone Murphy has said he wants a rematch with Movsar Evloev, ideally with the UFC featherweight title on the line, though no fight has been officially booked.