UFC confirms long-awaited return to London with Paddy Pimblett set to feature

The leading MMA promotion in the world will return to the UK for the first time in three years later this year, with a number of top British fighters set to be involved

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Paddy Pimblett talks Jake Paul callout

The UFC will return to London’s O2 Arena on March 19 for a highly-anticipated fight night featuring the best of Britain.

It will have been three years since the promotion’s last visit to the UK when they return later this year, when Jorge Masvidal brutally knocked out Darren Till in a stunning main event.

It is expected that a number of Britain’s top fighters will be competing on the card, with the likes of Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann having confirmed they will be competing.

Promotional boss Dana White has spoken of his excitement at returning for what will be their first international show barring Fight Island in Abu Dhabi since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Every time we put on an event in London it’s an unbelievable experience,” White said. “The fans are incredible, and the fights are always off the charts, it’s a different kind of energy in England.

“And I can’t wait to get back there with a fight card on March 19.”

A number of fascinating match-ups have been all but confirmed for the card, with Tapology showing a pretty full fight card of bouts which have been confirmed through various reports.

Pimblett has been expected to face Jared Gordon in his highly-anticipated return to the octagon, although their managers Graham Boylan and Brian Butler have said no deal has been arranged as yet.

“No it hasn’t [been announced],” White told Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports recently. “Jared Gordon is probably going to be his opponent.”

Arnold Allen is also in talks to face Dan Hooker in a massive featherweight bout, but that fight is also not confirmed for that bout either.

Allen’s manager has confirmed they have not been sent bout agreements for the fight, but they are hopeful it will happen in London.

“I think so, that’s what they’re planning. It will probably be that March card in London if it goes ahead,” Allen toldMirror Fighting.

“That would be ideal especially fighting in London, as it’s been a couple years since there’s been an event in London, so that would be really nice.

“That fight [with Hooker] I could see that being a main event fight, I don’t see why not. If it is that date [March 19], it works for me.”

Tom Aspinall will look to continue his winning run in the promotion since signing in 2020 when he faces No.8-ranked heavyweight Shamil Abdurakhimov.

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There is also a make-or-break fight said to be signed between Mike Grundy and Makwan Amirkhani, as well as the long-anticipated debuts of unbeaten prospects Muhammad Mokaev against Cody Durden and Jake Hadley against Allan Nascimento.

Jack Shore will aim to get win number 16 of his professional career against Timur Valiev, while McCann is set to take on Luana Carolina and Cory McKenna will take on Elise Reed.

“I feel like a lot of this silliness is starting to go away,” White told BT Sport last week. “I think common sense is starting to prevail finally, and I’m hoping that this year we’re going to come to the UK.

“We are going to go to other cities we haven’t been to in a long time.

“Hopefully there’s more out of the country events, so I’m hoping that ‘22 is gonna be the year. I’m feeling it.”

Following previous sell-out events, UFC fans are advised to register their interest now via UFC.com/London for early access to tickets and more information on the event.

Tickets will go on general sale at 10:00 a.m. GMT on Friday, February 4, via AXS and Ticketmaster.