The UFC is heading back to London this weekend – and it will have massive ramifications for Aussie featherweight king Alex Volkanovski.
Unbeaten contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy are set to throw down in a headline bout that will likely decide the next challenger for the title.
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Both men have spotless records. Both have been pushing hard for their title shot. And now, in front of a packed O2 Arena crowd, one will likely punch their ticket to a crack at “The Great”.
Volkanovski made it clear after his near-faultless recent title defense against Diego Lopes that his next opponent will come from the top of the division.
“There are rankings for a reason and people who deserve it,” he said.
Asked to pick a winner, the Aussie is leaning towards the Russian bogeyman.
“But I just think Movsar is going to be stronger. I think Movsar takes that,” he replied.
“It’s an interesting fight. And if anyone can work a good game plan to keep him on the outside and make it hard for Movsar, Lerone could do that.
“But if I have to pick someone, Movsar.”
Evloev has long been the dark horse in the division, grinding his way up the rankings with a suffocating grappling-heavy style.
He’s certainly not a fan-favourite, but a win in London would make it difficult for matchmakers to ignore him for very much longer.
Standing opposite him, Lerone Murphy — a slick striker responsible for one of 2025’s standout knockouts — will look to keep the fight upright and put Evloev away in front of his home crowd.
Murphy is confident the winner won’t just earn a title shot — but will end up also dethroning the Windang Warrior later in the year.
“It’s all on Saturday night. It’s all on the performance,” Murphy said. “It’s all about how this fight goes, who looks good.
“I think we’ll find out by the end of Saturday night who’s fighting Volkanovski next.
“This fight should have been for the title really. It’s a massive fight.
“I think the winner goes on to be champion, for sure.”
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Explosive Brazilian featherweight Jean Silva is also headed to London to be cageside this weekend – and he claims he will sign a contract to fight Volkanovski afterwards.
“We are going to travel, invited by Dana White and Hunter (Campbell), to watch Evloev’s fight against Lerone Murphy closely and sign the contract for the belt,” Silva said.
“It’s going to be the biggest promotion people have ever seen in history when that contract for the belt gets signed, because I’m going to sell this fight.
“After that boring fight [Evloev vs. Murphy], I’m going to go up there and hand both of them their termination.”
It’s a stance that flies in the face of Volk’s own view.
The champion has made it clear that Silva, who is ranked sixth in the division, is out of the picture.
“Everyone knows me, I’ll fight anyone,” said Volkanovski.
“But I don’t think that’s [a title fight with Silva] very likely to happen. I don’t think he’d be in a position to fight for the title, especially when you’ve got Lerone Murphy and Movsar fighting very soon.”
Still, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question for Silva to force his way into a title shot – particularly if Saturday’s main event fails to deliver.
Of course, Silva may well have been standing opposite Volkanovski in Sydney earlier this year if he had not been stopped by Lopes in their September showdown.
Since that setback, ‘Lord’ has rebuilt momentum with a gritty decision win over Arnold Allen at UFC 324 – and he’s clearly hoping that rebound performance has thrust him straight back into the champion’s line of sight.
He’s not the only one.
Former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling has also thrown his name into the mix, backing his style as a perfect matchup for the Aussie legend.
“Me and Volk, we’re two technicians,” Sterling told MMA Junkie Radio earlier this week.
“We would put on a masterclass of MMA. I really do believe that. So, that’s why that fight really intrigues me, and if they want to give me somebody else, I’m going to figure out and strategize a way how to beat a guy like that.
“Whoever they put in front of me, I’ve never told anybody no. I know Volk likes to stay active. I’ve done everything these guys have wanted.
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“I don’t know what else they want from me. Just please give me a shot. Give me a fight to earn my shot again, and we go from there.”
“The rematch (with Lopes) kind of slowed everything up – not kind of, it did slow everything up for everybody.
“I really think that they thought that he was going to be able to get it done the second time around, the champ proved them wrong and stopped him again – even worse this time.”
Elsewhere this week, top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan took a cheeky dig at Volkanovski, declaring he will retire the featherweight legend – and then hire him as his personal chef.
Tsarukyan has made it clear he’s willing to chase a title by dropping down a division.
“Yes, it makes sense,” he said.
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“I’ll beat Volk and then I’ll hire him as my chef because when I beat him, he’s going to retire and he’s gotta do something and I can pay good money for him, to have a good chef like him.”
Jokes aside, a matchup with Tsarukyan isn’t entirely off the table – Volkanovski has admitted he’d be willing to test himself against him and other top contenders after his next featherweight defence.