Lerone Murphy watched his title ambitions slide away on home turf in front of Noel Gallagher at UFC London.
The British featherweight was handed the first defeat of his career by Movsar Evloev, the division’s boogeyman, hampered by what he later revealed was a popped him in the third round.
A wrestle-fest many had anticipated did not come to fruition but the Russian spoiled the party all the same.
It may not have packed the punch of UFC London cards in recent memory but there was more than enough stardust in the stands.
Louis Theroux, Tinie Tempah and Noel Gallagher were among the VIPs dotted about the O2 Arena. Gallagher was given the full treatment by UFC president Dana White, posing for photos in the cage between fights.
In the main event, he watched on as little by little, Murphy’s dream of a fight with champion Alexander Volkanovski disappeared. Given all he’s been through, this damage won’t be irreparable.
Lerone Murphy lost his fight with Movsar Evloev by decision at the O2 Arena on Saturday
Dana White took Oasis star Noel Gallagher into the cage for some photos between fights
Louis Theroux was another celebrity in the crowd and is a regular at UFC London events
‘The Miracle’ is more worthy of his nickname than anyone in the UFC.
His story is well told but never fails to make the eyes widen. He was shot three times in the face aged 21, taking two to the neck and one in the mouth. A fragment of the bullet remains in his tongue. Somehow he survived, a fighter to the core from boxing stock in Manchester. The gunman was never found and Murphy says he doesn’t know who is was or why it happened.
If his survival was a miracle, his elevation to one of Britain’s finest MMA exports was not.
It had been a long road to headlining a show on home shores, right on the precipice of a title opportunity. Murphy strutted to the octagon having never tasted defeat in his 18 pro fights, with a draw on his UFC debut the only slight blemish.
A ridiculous spinning-elbow KO of Aaron Pico last August was the kind of show-reel moment any contender needs to hang their hat on and bolster their credentials for a go at the belt, particularly after going to the scorecards five times on the trot.
And yet the momentum from that video-game finish, win streak and home comforts at the O2 Arena weren’t enough to make the bookies budge.
Evloev is frankly a pain in the backside. He’s not interested in promoting himself or the event, could probably go 10 rounds without breaking sweat and has a gruelling wrestle-heavy style.
Undefeated, unglamorous and the kind of ugly challenge is a necessary evil if a fighter has grand ambitions but Murphy came up short.
Murphy later revealed he popped his hip out the socket in the third round of the fight
In the opening round, the 5ft 7in Russian ball of muscle was often the pursuer but received the cleaner, crisper shots from Murphy, who was diligently watchful of a takedown.
A few bludgeoned overhand rights from Evloev kept the Brit honest in a tight one that could have been given either way.
A howitzer of a Murphy left hand punctuated the first couple of minutes of the second before a right of similar venom found a home. Evloev also had a punishing flurry and narrowly missed the mark three times with a spinning back-fist.
There were still no takedown attempts by this point but one soon arrived in the third.
Evloev secured it with relative ease but couldn’t hold his man down, with Murphy popping up to a chorus of cheers before being booted in the groin.
He recovered rapidly and found some flow, clearly winning the round until the last 15 seconds when Evloev hurt Murphy with a right hand, sensed it and followed up with some efficient work to give the judges another headache.
A potentially huge moment came at the start of the fourth. Referee Marc Goddard deducted a point for a second groin strike from Evloev.
Replays showed it was a sickening one but a point in a close fight could make all the difference. Evloev went on to have the better of the rest of it, forcing the Brit to have to work his way back to his feet a couple of times but he still looked fresh going into the final round.
Murphy was ahead on many scorecards and the decision proved controversial online
Perhaps sensing scoreboard pressure, Evloev put his foot on the accelerator, taking Murphy down in the centre of the octagon, an ominous position but one he failed to take full advantage of.
The No 1 contender has never finished a UFC opponent and usually doesn’t have to.
He’s not a pull it out the bag fighter and that was a comfort to Murphy in a tense climax when he was on his back but never really threatened.
You never quite know how the gentlemen with the paper and pens will tally it.
When the moment came, the O2 eru 48-46, 48-46 and 47-47.
‘I told you I’m a better striker than him!’ Evloev taunted the crowd.
‘Look at his face, he’s damaged, I don’t have to use my wrestling to get a win. UFC there are no excuses not to let me fight for the title.’
Murphy then said: ‘Sorry to let you down tonight, I gave it my all but I’d like to say make sure Evloev gets the shot, I’ll be back don’t worry. My hip popped in the third I think.’
It was a night of mixed fortunes for the Brits. Wales’ Mason Jones sent Axel Sola back to France with a blood pouring from his face but cash flooding into his bank account after the pair put on a 15-minute slugfest to win Fight of the Night honours and $100k each.
Nathanial Wood edged out top Belgian prospect by split decision to belie his three-to-one underdog status, while Christian Leroy Duncan and MVP also registered in the win column.
MVP was given one of the loudest receptions of the night but his fight with Sam Patterson drew boos from the frustrated crowd and never caught fire.
In the co-main event, which had put some noses out of joint for the positioning on the card given Luke Riley’s short time in the big show.
Luke Riley (right) defeated Michael Aswell Jr in the co-main event – winning by decision
Mason Jones delivered a sensational performance in an epic scrap with Axel Sola (right)
With Paddy Pimblett in his corner, the Liverpool fighter would have been hoping for an emphatic statement and landed some concussive blows, only for Michael Aswell Jr to swallow them up.
The 15 minutes of high octane striking did at least justify a co-main slot and Riley comfortably won it unanimously 30-27 to remain undefeated.
‘He’s got a head like a cinder block’, a downcast Riley reflected, giving himself a five out of 10. Harsh, but a measure of the standards many think will carry him a long way in the sport.
