UFC London Main Event Sparks Controversy Over Decision

Movsar Evloev's majority decision victory over Lerone Murphy leaves fans questioning the judges' scoring.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 11:48pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The main event of UFC's London card on March 21, 2026 ended in controversy, as Movsar Evloev was declared the winner over Lerone Murphy in a featherweight bout. Despite Evloev entering the fight with a perfect 18-0 record, many fans watching the event on Paramount+ felt the decision was questionable, with two judges scoring it 48-46 for Evloev while the third had it a 47-47 draw.

Why it matters

The main event was billed as a title eliminator, meaning the winner would likely get the next shot at UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. However, the disputed decision has left many wondering if Evloev truly deserved the victory and whether he is ready for a championship opportunity.

The details

Evloev was deducted a point in the fourth round for an illegal groin kick, which may have impacted the judges' scoring. Despite the two 48-46 scores in his favor, many fans on social media felt Lerone Murphy had done enough to win the fight. The event also featured several other notable results, including a unanimous decision win for former Bellator champion Michael Page over Sam Patterson in the co-main event.

  • The UFC London event took place on March 21, 2026.
  • The main event between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy lasted the full 25 minutes.

The players

Movsar Evloev

A 27-year-old Russian featherweight fighter with an 18-0 professional record prior to the UFC London event.

Lerone Murphy

A 30-year-old British featherweight fighter who entered the UFC London main event with an 11-0-1 record.

Alexander Volkanovski

The reigning UFC featherweight champion, who many fans believe would have an easy time against the winner of the Evloev-Murphy fight.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

It remains to be seen how UFC officials will proceed following the controversial main event decision. The promotion will likely need to determine whether Evloev has truly earned a title shot against Volkanovski or if a rematch with Murphy is warranted.

The takeaway

The UFC London main event highlighted the ongoing debate around judging in MMA, as a close fight between two undefeated fighters resulted in a majority decision that many fans felt was questionable. This raises questions about the criteria used by judges and whether changes are needed to ensure more consistent and accurate scoring of MMA bouts.