By Samuel Faris-Clark
The main event of UFC Fight Night 270 in London was supposed to provide clarity regarding the next challenger for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Instead, it delivered a firestorm of controversy.
Movsar Evloev remained undefeated (20-0) by securing a majority decision victory over hometown favorite Lerone Murphy on March 21, a result that sparked intense debate among fans, analysts and fighters regarding the judging criteria.
A clash of styles and a costly deduction
The bout was a classic clash of styles. Murphy utilised sharp striking and movement to stifle Evloev’s wrestling in the early rounds, appearing to take control of the fight.
The controversy deepened in the fourth round when Evloev was deducted a point by referee Marc Goddard for a second low blow, a foul that left Murphy doubled over in agony.
With the deduction, logic dictated that Murphy held a significant advantage on the scorecards.
Judges spark outrage
However, the judges saw it differently. Two officials scored the contest 48-46 in favor of Evloev, while the third scored it a 47-47 draw.
This means that despite the penalty, two judges believed Evloev won four rounds.
Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling voiced the frustration of many on social media, calling the scoring “nonsense” and questioning how Evloev could win a fight where he had a point deducted.
TNT Sports pundit Michael Bisping also disagreed, arguing that Murphy clearly won the first three rounds.
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Title shot looms despite controversy
Despite the polarising nature of the verdict, the result carries massive title implications.
With the win, Evloev is now widely expected to be the next contender for Alexander Volkanovski’s featherweight championship.
Interestingly, Murphy himself, despite suffering a dislocated hip during the fight, showed immense class in defeat.
He did not make excuses for the injury or the controversial scoring, instead telling the media, “Make sure Movsar gets the title shot. He deserves it.”
While UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the controversy, stating he didn’t see an issue, the statistics tell a different story.
According to MMADecisions, 12 out of 13 media outlets scored the fight as a draw, underscoring the disconnect between the official result and the public perception of the bout.
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