Movsar Evloev has revealed the desperate measures he took to resolve his visa issues ahead of UFC London, where he faces Lerone Murphy in the main event. The Russian featherweight, ranked number one in the division, was at risk of missing the fight entirely after his UK visa was not issued until the last minute.
Evloev, 32, admitted he went to the embassy and pleaded with staff to grant his entry. 'I just go to embassy and ask the main guy who working there “just please give it to me because now all my career depends on this visa”, and they helped me,' he said. The undefeated fighter, who has not competed since December 2024, denied visa problems last week but now confirms the issue was critical.
The 19-0 contender was originally scheduled to fight Aaron Pico last summer but withdrew due to injury. Murphy stepped in and knocked out Pico, keeping his own undefeated record intact. Now, Murphy fights in front of a home crowd against Evloev, whose grappling-heavy style is not fan-friendly.
Despite expecting boos, Evloev insists the venue is neutral once the fight begins. 'I think once the Octagon door closes, this is now our territory. It's now neutral ground because at this point it's skill versus skill,' he said. The winner could earn a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski.
