Imagine your biggest dream, the one you've worked tirelessly for, suddenly feeling like it might slip through your fingers forever. That's precisely the reality a top contender in the UFC featherweight division faced last year. He was so close to a title shot, yet a severe health battle made him question if he'd ever fight again.
Last year, a surprising nine ranked UFC fighters remained inactive, a list that included some serious title hopefuls. Among them was a fighter that even the current champion, Alexander Volkanovski, was actively championing as his next opponent. This is particularly poignant given that Volkanovski just secured his second victory over Diego Lopes this past weekend, a rematch that, frankly, left many fans scratching their heads. A significant portion of the audience felt there were two more deserving contenders who should have been in line for a shot at 'The Great'. However, one of those highly-touted contenders was sidelined due to a significant health issue.
But here's where it gets personal and deeply concerning: Movsar Evloev, the fighter in question, has been on an incredible streak, boasting nine consecutive wins in the UFC. Many believed he had already done more than enough to earn a featherweight title opportunity. His scheduled bout against Aaron Pico last July was supposed to be the final stamp on his claim, but fate intervened. Evloev was forced to withdraw due to an illness that would profoundly impact his career trajectory.
Lerone Murphy stepped in and impressively knocked out Pico at UFC 319, catapulting himself into the conversation as another potential challenger for Volkanovski's belt. However, Evloev recently shared in an interview with Submission Radio the true extent of his struggles. He revealed, "I pulled out because of, I don’t know, some type of corona [virus] in Thailand. I was ready to fight but two weeks before the fight, I started feeling so bad. Even doing some easy exercises made me feel so bad. So, I decided to pull out because my body wasn’t ready to fight."
And this is the part most people miss: The recovery from this illness was so arduous that Evloev genuinely feared it might be the end of his fighting career. He confessed, "Bro, even the first two months, I feel like, okay, maybe I’m not gonna come back because every time when I feel okay, then I go to the gym, then the feeling comes back." It’s a stark reminder of how fragile an athlete's health can be and the immense mental fortitude required to overcome such adversity.
Despite his perfect UFC record and multiple wins against ranked opponents, Evloev is yet to compete for the title. What more does this undefeated Russian need to do to secure his shot? His record speaks for itself:
- Aljamain Sterling (Unanimous Decision)
- Arnold Allen (Unanimous Decision)
- Diego Lopes (Unanimous Decision)
- Dan Ige (Unanimous Decision)
- Hakeem Dawodu (Unanimous Decision)
- Nik Lentz (Split Decision)
- Mike Grundy (Unanimous Decision)
- Enrique Barzola (Unanimous Decision)
- SeungWoo Choi (Unanimous Decision)
Now, after a long and challenging wait, Movsar Evloev has a golden opportunity to silence any remaining doubters. He is set to headline UFC London on March 21st against Lerone Murphy. This fight is a massive stake for the featherweight division, and a win here would undoubtedly cement his position as the next rightful challenger to Alexander Volkanovski's throne.
When asked about his upcoming opponent, Evloev stated he sees "nothing special" in Murphy. However, he was intrigued by Murphy's stated intention to use pressure to secure a victory. Evloev's response was confident: "Very interesting [to see] how he’s going to do this against me because my plan is the same. I’ll push this guy until [the] referee puts my hand up."
Now, I want to hear from you: Do you believe Movsar Evloev has done enough to earn a title shot, or should other contenders be considered? Is his upcoming fight against Lerone Murphy the definitive final step he needs to take? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
