THE ULTIMATE INSIDER UFC COLUMN: Undefeated featherweights meet at the O2 Arena as they chase champion Alexander Volkanovski, while Liverpool’s Luke Riley makes a big second step in the Octagon
London’s calling and there will be plenty of brawling as the UFC brings the Octagon across the pond and holds court at the O2 Arena this Saturday, March 21.
The famous Thames-side venue has been hosting UFC cards for nearly 20 years – UFC 75, which was headlined by the legendary ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Dan Henderson, kicking off proceedings back in September 2007.
Last year’s O2 card, topped by Leon Edwards versus Sean Brady, generated a staggering gate of $4.7m, but who will be on the money this year? Here Daily Star Sport’s The Ultimate Insider to break down the headlining bouts with all you need to know.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
MOVSAR EVLOEV v LERONE MURPHY
No fighter deserves the main event spotlight more than Manchester’s Murphy, who has had to overcome the odds inside and outside the cage.
Picking up his ‘Miracle’ nickname after surviving being shot in the face and neck outside a barbers in 2013, the undefeated 34-year-old has had nothing handed to him during his nine-fight winning streak, but a perfect 10 will finally land him a shot at the featherweight title.
Russian Evloev stands in the Brit’s way, with his 19-0 record built on the back of his impressive wrestling, though his last fight was back in December 2024.
Assessing the main event, Middlesbrough featherweight Harry Hardwick said: “It is an interesting one because we haven’t actually seen Movsar in a five-round fight yet, while we have seen Lerone tested over five.
“Movsar has a very attritional style, but he has shown issues with endurance slightly in the past. He is winning his fights, but they are close. I believe Lerone has what it takes to get it done. Whether he can finish Movsar, I don’t know, he is tough. But I am going with Lerone.”
PREDICTION: Murphy will lay down the law with an early stoppage win. Spinning back elbow?
LUKE RILEY v MICHAEL ASWELL JR
The co-main slot in just his second fight in the UFC shows how highly UFC match-makers think of Liverpool featherweight Riley.
Training alongside Paddy Pimblett at Next Gen gym and proving a stand-out in Cage Warriors helped get Riley’s foot in the door, but his punch-perfect left hook to KO Bogdan Grad last November in Qatar put him on everyone’s radar.
Riley, who is 12-0 as a pro, said: “I never get too far ahead. I have a main goal in mind, but I don’t really think too deeply into that. It is whatever the UFC wants to give to me, whoever they want me to fight and I’m down for that.
“As long as I am fit, healthy and injury-free, I’ll be there. I love fighting and I need to stay in the gym.”
PREDICTION: ‘The Texas Kid’ Michael Aswell Jr will be seeing more than lone stars as Riley continues his rapid rise.
UP NEXT: UFC London, Saturday, 8pm. Michael ‘Venom’ Page versus Sam Patterson, and Nathaniel Wood taking on Losene Keita, are further stand-out fights on a packed undercard.
MONEY MATCH: Murphy (7/4) can get the next crack at champion Alexander Volkanovski. Odds and full UFC betting available at boylesports.com
FINAL SAY: “When life tries to stop, you fight back, and keep fighting back. Some people call it luck. Others call it fate. I call it ‘The Miracle’.” Murphy ahead of his main event date on TNT Sports.