Movsar Evloev revealed a mystery virus forced him to withdraw from a fight last July against 'Pico', leaving him scared his career might be over as he questioned if he'd fight again. The illness impacted his title path, allowing Diego Lopes a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325 on Jan 31, which Volkanovski won decisively. Evloev, undefeated prior, now faces a chance to rebound against an opponent named Murphy on March 21 at O2 Arena in London. This matters for featherweight as a win could position him for a 2026 title shot against Volkanovski. He holds no resentment, focusing on his next opportunity.
Movsar Evloev has opened up about a mysterious illness last July that forced him out of a scheduled bout against "Pico" and left him genuinely uncertain whether he would ever compete again.
The Russian featherweight, who trains out of American Top Team, described the experience as frightening, saying he questioned whether his fighting career was finished. The withdrawal had significant divisional ripple effects: with Evloev sidelined, Diego Lopes stepped in for a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325 on January 31, a fight Volkanovski won decisively. Evloev heads into his next assignment carrying a perfect 20-0-0 record and the number-one featherweight ranking. At 32, he stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game to the cage, averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 3.91 significant strikes landed per minute at 47 percent accuracy.
Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, remains the division's benchmark. The 37-year-old Australian holds a 28-4-0 record and sits third in the pound-for-pound rankings. He outputs a high-volume, precise striking attack — 5.99 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy — and has proven durable against the division's best challengers.
Diego Lopes, ranked seventh at featherweight, carried a 28-8-0 record into his UFC 325 opportunity. The 31-year-old Brazilian is five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and averages 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a credible finishing threat on the ground.
Why it matters
- Evloev's unbeaten record makes him the featherweight division's most prominent contender, and a win over Murphy on March 21 at the O2 Arena in London keeps his title case intact.
- A convincing performance could position him for a 2026 featherweight title shot against Volkanovski.
- Evloev reports no resentment over how events unfolded, suggesting he is focused entirely on reclaiming momentum rather than relitigating the missed opportunity.
