Liverpool's Luke Riley stepped into the co-main event at UFC London tonight, but his performance fell short of the hype surrounding teammate Paddy Pimblett. Riley, a former Cage Warriors star, faced American Michael Aswell at The O2 Arena, losing via unanimous decision after a gruelling three rounds.
Riley, who knocked out Bogdan Grad in his UFC debut in November 2024, struggled to find his rhythm against Aswell's relentless pressure. Despite flashes of his trademark aggression, the 28-year-old was outworked on the feet and taken down multiple times, failing to replicate the dominant displays that earned him a UFC contract.
The loss is a setback for Riley, who had hoped to follow in the footsteps of Pimblett, his Next Generation Gym stablemate. Pimblett has become a fan favourite in the UFC with his charismatic persona and finishing ability, but Riley's cautious approach tonight drew criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Elsewhere on the card, Manchester's Lerone Murphy headlines against Russian Movsar Evloev in a featherweight title eliminator. Murphy, ranked No.3, is on a nine-fight win streak and aims to secure a shot at champion Alexander Volkanovski.
UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs Murphy airs live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with prelims starting at 5pm GMT and the main card at 8pm.
