UFC LONDON’s main event was seemingly just days away from sensationally falling apart.
MMA‘s top promotion returns to the Big Smoke tomorrow night with a stacked card at the O2 Arena.
Topping the 2026 UFC London bill is a pivotal featherweight showdown between undefeated duo Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy.
Both will look to punch their ticket to the next crack at Alexander Volkanovski‘s 145lbs strap at the North Greenwich dome.
But the unofficial No.1 contender’s match was just days away from falling through.
That’s because there was a delay from the UK Government in granting Evloev a visa to enter and compete in the country.
The visa, thankfully, ended up being issued and the grappler touched down in London town on Wednesday.
Recalling the rumours of him being out of the fight, he told Full Send MMA: “I saw what people were saying and they almost believed that I wasn’t fighting.
“They’re just hating me about this. I don’t control the UK government to give me visa or not.
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“To be honest, this situation with the visa, I almost believed that I was cursed.
“I’m a religious guy, so I believe that all that happens come from God.
“So everything that will happen, I will accept it.”
Evloev, however, admits the delay did make him think that his cage hiatus would be extended due to circumstances out of his control.
He said: “Last week I almost knew I wasn’t fighting but I still kept my diet and did what I have to do.
“Because there’s always one chance. I almost felt cursed about potentially not getting a visa”
Evloev’s visa wouldn’t have been granted had he not gone to the British Embassy in Moscow and pleaded with them to expedite things.
He said: “I just go to the embassy and ask the main guy who [was] working there, ‘Just please give it to me because now all my career depends on this visa.’
“And they helped me. This is the only thing what helped me with my visa.
“To be honest, otherwise it can take a couple more days which is like ‘no more fight for me’. But I’m here.”
