UFC Fight Night: Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy -- Predictions, fight card, odds and picks for London event

When Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy collide on Saturday, it'll mark the longest combined unbeaten streak for a UFC fight. It's only appropriate that a bout with such pedigree headlines UFC Fight Night, with a featherweight title shot looming near. The pair meet inside the O2 Arena in London (special start time of 4 p.m. ET on Saturday).

Evloev (19-0) has deserved a crack at Alexander Volkanovski for years now. A mauling grappler, he has overcome every challenge that's come his way. His undefeated run includes wins over former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and two-time featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes. Recently, Evloev has accepted that if there's one thing holding him back, it's his inability to finish any of his nine UFC opponents.

"Finishes are what guarantee you the next title shot. So, for me, what's most important is just to get this victory and to make sure that I show levels," Evloev told CBS Sports' Brian Campbell. "I want to make sure there are no questions left unanswered about my performance, no matter the way it goes. It will show that this man can't be denied the title."

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Murphy (17-0-1) knows that feeling all too well. Like Evloev, he's won nine consecutive UFC fights. While he enjoyed a couple of knockouts early with the promotion, his run up the featherweight ladder was largely comprised of decision wins. That was until he agreed to fight UFC debutant Aaron Pico after a proposed fight between Pico and Evloev fell apart. Murphy capitalized on the moment, knocking out Pico with a spinning back elbow to capture Volkanovski's attention. Murphy, despite the brilliant stoppage, is the underdog inviting Evloev into his backyard. 

"I just think I'm very creative, very smart in there," Murphy told Campbell. "I don't just fight. I'm always setting things up, I'm always changing distance and letting it go. I think that's just where the difference will be. 

"I think he can hang with anyone on the feet for a certain time, but I think the longer he stands with me, the greater chance he has of getting knocked out."

The co-main event features a pair of rising featherweight prospects Luke Riley and Michael Aswell. Riley is undefeated at 12-0 with nine stoppages to date. He made his UFC debut in November and scored a second-round TKO of Bogdan Grad. Aswell, meanwhile, is also coming off his first UFC win. He scored a first-round TKO of Lucas Almeida last October. 

Plus, former Bellator standout Michael "Venom" Page returns to action when he takes on Sam Patterson at welterweight. "MVP" has gone 3-1 in his four Octagon appearances to date with the lone defeat coming against an expected title challenger in Ian Machado Garry.

Let's take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: March 21 | Start time: 4 p.m. ET (main card) | 1 p.m. ET (prelims)
Location: O2 Arena -- London
Stream: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as little as $8.99 per month)

Prediction

Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy: Make no mistake, this is an elite matchup of grappler vs. striker. Neither man will deviate from the winning path to force a desperate finish. To that end, it's easy to see why Evloev is favored. Murphy's takedown defense is a paltry 52%. In Murphy's last three fights, Pico took him down twice, Josh Emmett grounded him four times, and Dan Ige controlled him for nearly five minutes off one takedown and two sweeps. Evloev would largely feast on the version of Murphy that showed up in those fights. Now, let's give the underdog some credit. Murphy has made significant progress with his grappling since first signing with UFC. His takedown offense has improved immensely, and he's made headway defensively. Crucially for this fight, he's harder to hold down. Murphy must get up quickly if he has any hopes of winning this fight. 

The English striker has a right to feel confident in other avenues. He's a brilliant technical striker whose volume sustains over five rounds. He'll need that gas tank against Evloev's pressuring style. I agree with Murphy's assessment of his fight IQ. The English striker makes great split-second decisions. It's part of why he's sustained an 18-fight undefeated streak even in close contests. By contrast, Evloev is sometimes error-prone. I won't be surprised if Murphy pulls off the upset. However, it wouldn't be sensible to pick against Evloev. He's terribly difficult to beat on a bad day and specializes in areas where Murphy has historically struggled most. Pick: Evloev via unanimous decision 

Who wins Evloev vs. Murphy, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 19, 2018, and find out.