Evloev shoots for his first takedown of the fight and it's successful. The Russian gets his arms around the legs of Murphy, drags him off the fence and slams him to the canvas.

But Murphy quickly scrambles to his feet.

A bit of a confidence boost for men.

Paul Battison
BBC Sport journalist at the O2 Arena

It's not as loud in here as in previous years but there are some "oh Miracle Murphy" chants coming from a pocket of fans behind me.

Movsar Evloev has mostly been booed but he isn't completely without support in here as I can hear some sporadic chanting for the Russian.

It's a close contest so far which has lacked any defining moments for either fighter

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports

At the end of these exchanges, it's Murphy who is finding the better shots.

Murphy is really starting to settle into this. His gameplan appears to be working and he's now throwing first rather than waiting to counter.

There's a danger he could become over confident, of course, but that was a much better round from the Mancunian.

When Evloev was walking to the cage, commentator Michael Bisping said he'd heard the Russian had been trying to master the art of spinning attacks. Evloev has already missed with two spinning backfists and now goes wide with a spinning head kick.

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports

The reason Murphy isn't shooting is because of the constant moving of Evloev.

There's some really calm messaging in the Evloev corner between rounds. Clearly a lot of trust in their fighter to take on board what has been said and put it into action.

Murphy is using his kicking as a form of defence. Every time he directs one to the body of Evloev it prevents the Russian from shooting for a takedown.

This fight is just teetering on the edge at the moment.

Evloev attempts a spinning backfist in the final seconds of the round but Murphy ducks underneath.

Not a huge amount of damage on either fighter yet but I'd give that round to Evloev.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports

Murphy hasn't really done much yet, to be honest.

He is a patient fighter. He will take his time.

We've already heard referees warning fighters about having their fingers outstretched tonight and Evloev will be lucky if he avoids a warning. His hands, when he's in a defensive position, are spread wide and pointing up, rather than in a closed fist.

Evloev attacks with the feet for now, anyway. A stabbing front kick lands to the gut of Murphy and sends him stumbling back to the fence.

Image source, Getty Images

Evloev takes the centre of the octagon as Murphy seems happy to shuffle from side-to-side and assess the picture in front of him.

They both throw a calf kick at the same time and crash their shins together.

Evloev loops a right hand over the top but Murphy ducks and stays out of danger. Murphy times an uppercut to perfection.

A touch of gloves and the first of five rounds in this main event is under way.

Two undefeated fighters hoping to put themselves in the driving seat for a shot at the featherweight title - what more could you want?

Big cheers for Murphy as his record is read out by ring announcer Bruce Buffer.

Image source, Getty Images

And here is Movsar Evloev.

It's also a business-like walk from the Russian.

Yesterday's face-off was tense and that tension continues to build as we're minutes away from tonight's main event.

Lerone Murphy sits down with BBC Sport to look back at five moments that have shaped him both inside and outside the octagon.

It's a big night for Manchester Lerone Murphy - headlining in his home country - but he doesn't look fazed by the occasion.

Murphy marches into the O2 Arena and straight to the cage. There's barely a look to the crowd and he looks like he just wants to get on with this contest.

He walks into the octagon with his arms outstretched and they crowd cheer the home fighter.

Image source, Getty Images

There's a lot riding on tonight's main event.

Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev both put undefeated records on the line and there's an added incentive of possibly earning a featherweight title shot with victory.

So it was no surprise to see Murphy and Evloev involved in a tense face-off on Friday as they took one final look at the man who will be standing opposite in the octagon shortly.

"Ready for a war," said Murphy. "That's it - simple."

In perhaps a statement of intent, Murphy was first on the scales out of every fighter on the card during the morning's official weigh-ins, clocking 145lb (10st 3lb), with Evloev weighing one pound heavier.

Paul Battison
BBC Sport journalist at the O2 Arena

I've not seen Lerone Murphy get the same admiration from fans this week like previous UFC London stars before him, like Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann.

He's been warmly greeted, but there has not been a buzz in the air you'd expect for a Briton who is headlining in London and on the verge of a title shot.

Murphy's reserved personality means he doesn't stand out like some of his peers, but he has a golden opportunity tonight to let his fighting do the talking.

If he can repeat the performance he put on against Aaron Pico in August, where he delivered a stunning spinning elbow knockout, the British fans will be in for a treat.