Lerone Murphy fell short at UFC London, and he may have suffered an injury in the process.
Murphy was hoping to get one step closer to a UFC Featherweight Championship opportunity this past Saturday. Standing in his way was Movsar Evloev. Murphy had success early on, but Evloev began to take control of the competitive five-round affair.
Ultimately, Evloev scored the majority decision win despite having a point deduction due to repeated accidental low blows.
During his post-fight interview with UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, Murphy said that Evloev is deserving of a shot at Alexander Volkanovski (via MMAJunkie).
“Sorry London fans, sorry to let you down tonight. I gave it my all,” Murphy said. “I gave all I could give tonight. Obviously it wasn’t enough. One thing I would like to say, make sure Movsar Evloev gets a title shot. That man deserves it. He’s next in line. I’ll be back. Don’t worry.”
During the interview, “The Miracle” also revealed he suffered a hip injury.
“My hip popped in the third, I think,” Murphy said. “But no excuses, man. I didn’t show up tonight. That’s it. I’ll be back. I’ve got work to do. I’ll be back.”
The severity of Murphy’s hip issue isn’t known at this time. He’ll hope to avoid significant time off as he remains near the top of the heap at 145 pounds. A solid win or two could put him right back in title contention.
Going into the bout with Evloev, Murphy was the No. 3-ranked UFC featherweight. His place in the rankings isn’t likely to change at this time. He could be moved up to the No. 2 spot if Diego Lopes suffers an upset loss to Steve Garcia at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14.
How did you score the fight between Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev? Who should Murphy be matched up against next? Sound off in the comments below.