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Tag: UFC London

  • UFC London Results & Highlights: Aspinall Submits Volkov

    UFC London took place today from the O2 Arena, and we’ve got you covered with all the results and highlights.

    Tonight’s main event featured Alexander Volkov taking on England’s own Tom Aspinall. In the co-main event, Dan Hooker returned to the featherweight division against the streaking Arnold Allen. Also on deck was the highly anticipated return of Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, who took on Kazula Vargas.

    Also on the main card, Jai Herbert faced off with undefeated Ilia Topuria, Molly McCann took on Luana Carolina, and Gunnar Nelson returned against Takashi Sato.

    You can view all the UFC London highlights below.

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden

    The first UFC event in the UK for over two years kicked off with a bang as local fighter Muhammad Mokaev made light work of Cody Durden, submitting the American via guillotine choke after just 58 seconds. Catch the finish below.

    Paul Craig def. Nikita Krylov

    In this light heavyweight bout, Scotland’s Paul Craig survived some savage ground and pound to pull off a come from behind win, submitting Nikita Krylov via triangle choke in round one. Catch the highlights below.

    Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov

    In this all-Russian heavyweight affair, Sergei Pavlovich made easy work of Shamil Abdurakhimov, earning a first-round TKO with some heavy ground and pound. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Makwan Amirkhani def. Mike Grundy

    In this featherweight bout, Finland’s Makwan Amirkhani snapped a three-fight losing streak by submitting Englishman Mike Grundy with an anaconda choke in less than a minute. Catch the finish below.

    Main Card Highlights

    Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert

    The main card opener saw a lightweight matchup between local favorite Jai Herbert and Ilia Topuria. Herbert dropped Topuria early in round one with a vicious headkick, and had the better of the striking exchanges. But in round two, Topuria flipped the script by putting Herbet to sleep to earn his third-straight KO victory, before calling out Paddy Pimblett. Catch the highlights below.

    Molly McCann def. Luana Carolina

    In this women’s flyweight bout, Liverpool’s Molly McCann defeated Luana Carolina with a contender for KO of the year. A wild round one saw McCann unload on Carolina mutiple times. In round two, McCann had more striking success, and dominated Carolina on the ground. In round three, Carolina came out on the offensive, but McCann landed a spectacular spinning elbow KO out of nowhere. Catch the highlights below.

    Gunnar Nelson def. Takashi Sato

    Gunnar Nelson dominated Takashi Sato in this grappling-heavy welterweight matchup. Round one saw Nelson take Sato’s back and land successive head strikes. It was more of the same in round two, with Nelson dominating Sato on the ground and taking his back again. In round three, Nelson took Sato’s back once more and spent much of the round attempting a submission finish. Catch the end of the fight below.

    Paddy Pimblett def. Kazula Vargas

    In this lightweight bout, Paddy Pimblett blew the roof off the O2 arena with a first-round submission of Kazula Vargas. Pimblett was caught early and taken down, but the Liverpudlian rebounded to take the back of Vargas and sink in a rear-naked choke. Catch the highlights below.

    Arnold Allen def. Dan Hooker

    Local favorite Arnold Allen dominated Dan Hooker in this wild featherweight bout, earning a first-round TKO victory. Allen blitzed Hooker with a barrage of strikes early on. Hooker countered and dazed the Englishman, before Allen unloaded on the New Zealander once again, before the ref stepped in. Catch the highlights below.

    Tom Aspinall def. Alexander Volkov

    In the main event of the evening, Tom Aspinall showed why he’s a future heavyweight title contender with a first-round submisison of Alexander Volkov. The Englishman took Volkov down twice and dominated on the ground before cranking on a straight armlock to get the win, afterwards, call out Tai Tuivasa. Catch the highlights below.

    UFC LONDON MAIN CARD (4:00 PM ET)

    Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Tom Aspinall def. Alexander Volkov via submission: R1, 3.45

    Co-Main Event – Featherweight Bout: Arnold Allen def. Dan Hooker via TKO: R1, 2.33

    Lightweight Bout: Paddy Pimblett def. Kazula Vargas via submission: R1, 3:49

    Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson def. Takashi Sato via unanimous decision (30-26×3)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Molly McCann def. Luana Carolina via KO: R3, 1.52  

    Lightweight Bout: Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert via KO: R2, 1.07

    UFC LONDON PRELIMINARY CARD (1:00 PM ET)

    Featherweight Bout: Makwan Amirkhani def. Mike Grundy via submission: R1, 0.57

    Heavyweight Bout: Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via TKO: R1, 4.03

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Paul Craig def. Nikita Krylov via submission: R1, 3.57

    Bantamweight Bout: Jack Shore def. Timur Valiev via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 29-27)

    Women’s Strawweight: Elise Reed def. Cory McKenna via split decision: (27-30, 29-28×2)

    Flyweight Bout: Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden via submission: R1, 0.58

  • Pimblett Explains Why UFC London Fight Is A “Lose-Lose” For Him

    Rising UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett has described his upcoming fight at UFC London this weekend as a “lose-lose” situation.

    In 2021, Pimblett burst onto the scene in MMA’s leading promotion with a memorable debut. After much anticipation for his first walk following a March signing, Pimblett was matched up with Luigi Vendramini on the main card of UFC Vegas 36 last September.

    Despite appearing to be hurt early on, “The Baddy” found his rhythm as the first round developed, eventually making good on his pre-fight prediction by knocking the Brazilian out before the end of the opening frame.

    Now, with his stock risen and his name firmly established as a hot prospect, Pimblett will take to the Octagon for the second time today at UFC London. With a home crowd behind him, the Liverpudlian is certain he’ll draw the loudest cheers of the night when he shares the cage with Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas inside the O2 Arena.

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    But despite looking forward to his first outing of 2022, Pimblett also sees his sophomore clash on the sport’s biggest stage as a lose-lose scenario.

    During an interview with BT Sport’s Nick Peet, Pimblett suggested that because most fans expect him to dispatch Vargas with ease, there’s little upside to a comfortable victory. On the flip side, a defeat would be extremely damaging.

    “I’ve said this, this fight’s a lose-lose for me,” claimed Pimblett. “Everyone’s like, ‘Ah, he should be winning anyway.’ But if I lost the fight, they’d be like, ‘Ah, he’s a hype train.’ If I win the fight, ‘Ah, he should’ve won anyway.’ For him (Vargas) lad, it’s a win-win. He comes over and beats me, ‘Ah, [MUTED].’ He gets beat, ‘Ah, he was meant to lose anyway.’ Know what I mean?”

    Pimblett: All I Know Is I’m Beating This Mexican Up

    Nevertheless, Pimblett isn’t focusing too much on people’s opinions. That’s true now and whatever the result of the main card today will be. All the Liverpudlian is thinking about is getting his hand raised after a second consecutive first-round triumph.

    “Opinions mean nothing lad. As Paul (Reed) says, opinions mean nothing. Actions mean something,” asserted Pimblett. “So people’s opinions, they can stick them up their arse lad. I don’t care. All I know is I’m getting in this cage and I’m beating this Mexican up for half-a-round before the referee stops it or he goes to sleep.”

    With aspirations of grandeur for 2022 and beyond, it’s certainly important for Pimblett to establish his dominance over lower-level lightweight names like Vargas.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett will record his second UFC victory when he shares the Octagon with Kazula Vargas today?

  • Dana White Touts Talent On UFC London Card As Best-Ever In The UK

    You’d be hard-pressed to find someone in the MMA fanbase not excited for today’s UFC London card, and that includes Dana White.

    Today, the UFC will return to England’s capital for the first time since 2019. After being deprived of action throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UK fans are finally set to see top-draw Octagon scraps live in the flesh once again.

    Delivering a card worth of the occasion, the promotion has stacked the event, set to take place inside the renowned O2 Arena, with a host of exciting international and British names.

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    During an appearance on BT Sport’s Fight Week Live on Thursday, the UFC President gave his thoughts on his organization returning across the Atlantic and the exciting lists of bouts slated to go down at UFC London.

    Despite the likes of Leon Edwards, Michael Bisping, Jorge Masvidal, Carlos Condit, Dan Hardy, Mirko Cro Cop, Anderson Silva, and Fabricio Werdum all taking to the cage in the UK in previous visits, White suggested no British event has been as stacked with talent as this weekend’s card.

    “I’m excited. We’re not gonna need a roof on Saturday night. Believe me, the roof is gonna blow off this place,” said the UFC president. “We haven’t been here in three years and, like I was just saying to Mike (Bisping), the talent on this card is probably the best we’ve ever had out of the UK, so I’m excited to see what these guys can do on Saturday night.”

    12 Fights Set For Stacked UFC London Card

    Headlining Saturday’s UFC London card will be home favorite Tom Aspinall. The surging heavyweight prospect has gone 4-0 in the promotion so far, a record that includes a second-round submission of former champion Andrei Arlovski and a first-round TKO against the ranked Sergey Spivak.

    In the Manchester native’s way of a rise into the title picture will be Alexander Volkov, a perennial UFC contender and former Bellator titleholder who’s featured in five main events on MMA’s biggest stage. He’ll be hoping to prove he’s a step above the rising names in his sixth headliner this weekend.

    Setting the stage for the heavyweight behemoths will be a co-main event clash between fan-favorite UFC mainstay Dan Hooker and England’s own Arnold Allen.

    While the Ipswich native, currently ranked #7 at 145 pounds, will be targeting a top-five slot and a step towards the gold at UFC London, “The Hangman” will be looking to make a successful return to featherweight following a 1-3 record across his last four lightweight bouts.

    The current bout order for Saturday’s UFC London card is as follows:

    Preliminary Card

    Muhammad Mokaev vs. Cody Durden (flyweight)

    Cory McKenna vs. Elise Reed (women’s strawweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Mike Grundy vs. Makwan Amirkhani (featherweight)

    Main Card

    Jai Herbert vs. Ilia Topuria (lightweight)

    Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)

    Gunnar Nelson vs. Takashi Sato (welterweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker (featherweight co-main event)

    Tom Aspinall vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight main event)

    All fighters were successful on the scale at Friday’s weigh-ins.

    Which fight are you most looking forward to at UFC London?

  • Aspinall: If I Look Past Volkov, I’m Waking Up Under The O2 Lights

    UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall knows that if he looks beyond upcoming opponent Alexander Volkov, their clash at UFC London won’t end well for him.

    This weekend, MMA’s premier promotion is set to return to England’s capital for the first time since before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. On that card in 2019, Darren Till, long thought to be the country’s most promising star, headlined alongside Jorge Masvidal.

    This time, a new Englishman making waves in the UFC is ready for his time to shine. Aspinall, a teammate of Till at Liverpool’s Team Kaobon, has made his name known in the heavyweight division since arriving in 2020.

    After an unbeaten 4-0 start, which includes a submission of former champion Andrei Arlovski and a brutal TKO of the ranked Sergey Spivak, the 28-year-old is ready for his opportunity to break into the elite.

    That chance comes this Saturday inside London’s famed O2 Arena, where he’ll stand toe-to-toe with perennial contender Alexander Volkov.

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    Given his impressive form in the Octagon so far and rapid rise up the heavyweight ladder, Aspinall would be forgiven for looking ahead to what the future might hold with a victory over “Drago.” But for the #11-ranked Brit, the Russian behemoth is the only thing on his mind.

    Aspinall Fully Focused On The Task At Hand

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Aspinall assessed his upcoming rival. While he’s preparing for his first headline spot in the UFC, Volkov will be topping the card for an incredible sixth time tomorrow.

    That experience, along with the Russian’s abilities, has Aspinall acknowledging Volkov as his clear toughest test to date in professional MMA.

    “He’s by far the biggest, literally the biggest, and the biggest and best opponent that I’ve ever fought,” admitted Aspinall. “I know this is an absolutely enormous step up for me from my other opponents, I know that. Obviously, I feel like I’m ready for that. He brings so much to the table. He’s so good everywhere.”

    With that in mind, the 28-year-old knows he has to invest his complete attention on “Drago” if he’s to have his hand raised in front of his home crowd.

    When asked what a victory might do for his career moving forward, Aspinall claimed that if his sights stray beyond his immediate challenge, he’ll be waking up with the lights of the O2 above him.

    “Do you want a boring answer? I’m not looking too far forward. Because I know that if I take my eye off this guy, man, I’m fucking waking up under them lights with them smelling salts under my nose, you know what I mean?” Aspinall asserted. “I ain’t thinking past this guy. This guy is seriously dangerous, seriously skilled, and seriously experienced. He’s far beyond anyone that I’ve ever fought before, so I can’t think past this guy.”

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    While the heavyweight title picture is unclear at the moment, with champion Francis Ngannou facing a lengthy time on the sidelines following surgery and the uncertain status of Jon Jones, a victory over Volkov would undoubtedly add Aspinall to the conversation.

    Who do you think will move closer to title contention at UFC London, Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov?

  • UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Preview, Betting Odds, & Final Faceoffs

    The UFC London ceremonial weigh-in has wrapped up, and the event is now less than 24 hours away!

    All fighters made weight earlier today, so every bout will proceed as scheduled. Below, you can find the betting odds and final faceoffs of each competitor on the main card.

    Jai Herbert (+350) vs. Ilia Topuria (-475)

    Jai Herbert is 1-2 in the UFC but is coming off an impressive TKO victory over Kharma Worthy last October. His opponent, Ilia Topuria, is undefeated in the UFC at 11-0, most recently stopping grappling ace Ryan Hall via KO at UFC 264. Earlier this week, he was almost involved in another fight with none other than Paddy Pimblett, but now that he’s released some of that aggression, he can focus solely on Herbert tomorrow.

    You can catch the final faceoff between Herbert and Topuria below.

    Molly McCann (-130) vs. Luana Carolina (+110)

    Molly McCann took home Fight of the Night in her last bout against Ji Yeon Kim last September in a winning effort. Now, she will be returning home to England to face Luano Carolina, who is coming off of two consecutive victories.

    Check out the final faceoff of these two flyweights below.

    Gunnar Nelson (-450) vs. Takashi Sato (+340)

    Gunnar Nelson recently signed a new deal with the UFC, and first up for the veteran is Takashi Sato, who has lost two of his last three fights, including to Miguel Baeza last November via submission. Overall, Sato has a UFC record of 2-2. The veteran Nelson has also lost two of his last three fights, most recently defeating Alex Oliveira via submission at UFC 231.

    Peep the faceoff between these two welterweight competitors below.

    Paddy Pimblett (-490) vs. Kazula Vargas (+360)

    Is Paddy Pimblett the next big star for the UFC? Or, as Kazula Vargas argues, is he overrated? We’ll get more answers about “The Baddy” in this bout after his scintillating UFC debut last year.

    Check out the final faceoff of these two lightweights below.

    Arnold Allen (-115) vs. Dan Hooker (-105)

    In the co-main event, we have a fight pegged as nearly a pick-em when Arnold Allen faces Dan Hooker in Hooker’s return to featherweight. Allen is on an incredible 10-fight winning streak, with eight of those fights coming in the UFC. However, as far as Hooker is concerned, with a win here, he will have successfully snatched Allen’s win streak, thus having a nine-fight UFC winning streak of his own.

    You can view the final faceoff of tomorrow night’s co-headliners below.

    Alexander Volkov (EVEN) vs. Tom Aspinall (-120)

    In the main event, Alexander Volkov embraces his role as the “heel” against England’s Tom Aspinall. This bout will be the biggest test of Aspinall’s career, which has yet to witness a stumble inside the UFC Octagon. Instead, it’s just been one finish after another. Will that trend continue tomorrow night in Aspinall’s first UFC main event?

    Before we find out tomorrow night, you can catch the final faceoff of the two heavyweights below.

    You can view the full card and weigh-in results for UFC London right here.

    UFC London comes to you from the O2 Arena Saturday, March 19, 2022. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ for US viewers and on UFC Fight Pass for viewers outside the United States. The preliminary card will begin at 1:00 PM ET, with the main card kicking off at 4:00 PM ET.

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com for all the UFC London coverage tomorrow!

  • Bisping Questions Dan Hooker’s FW Move: Looking For Smaller Guys?

    Michael Bisping isn’t sure what Dan Hooker’s motivations are for making the move to featherweight ahead of the UFC London card.

    Hooker will make his return to 145 pounds against the red-hot Arnold Allen at UFC London this weekend. He opted to make the move out of the lightweight division following losses in three of his last four fights.

    This will be Hooker’s first fight at featherweight since falling via a unanimous decision to Jason Knight in Nov. 2016. He went on to move to 155 pounds and win seven of his next eight fights.

    During the BT Sport UFC London live preview show, Bisping questioned why Hooker would opt to move back down to featherweight at this point in his career.

    “Well, I don’t know. I think he’s trying to find himself,” Bisping said of Hooker. “I mean, obviously he’s lost three out of his last four against very, very good opposition, so no shame in that. But he went up to 155, now he’s come back down to 145. He says that that’s his natural weight class. I don’t know if it is. I think maybe he’s looking for, not easier competition because it’s not easier, but maybe smaller guys? Maybe less wrestlers? I don’t know.”

    Hooker has also had to adapt to the wild past couple of years that his gym, City Kickboxing, has had to go through during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of his fight against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, Hooker had issues getting to the U.S. from New Zealand and showed up to fight week just days before the scheduled bout.

    Another interesting angle to Hooker’s move is a potential title fight down the line with his teammate and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While he is getting ready to face ‘The Korean Zombie’ at UFC 273, Volkanovski hasn’t ruled out a future matchup with Hooker if he moves into title contention.

    First thing’s first for Hooker, who faces a tough challenge in Allen who has won 10 bouts in a row. If he’s able to get past Allen at UFC London, Hooker could be well on his way to making his second stint at featherweight into a potential career-changer.

    How do you think Dan Hooker will perform in his featherweight return?

  • Dana White Sends Paddy Pimblett A Reminder Ahead Of UFC London

    UFC President Dana White knows lightweight Paddy Pimblett has a large following, but it may not matter without wins inside the Octagon.

    Pimblett will make his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC London against Kazula Vargas. The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion earned a first-round knockout over Luigi Vendramini in his UFC debut last September.

    Pimblett has been known to up the ante when it comes to his trash talk and mental warfare. He’s also managed to get under the skin of fighters that aren’t his opponents, including most recently with Ilia Topuria.

    During an appearance on the BT Sport Live Preview Show for UFC London, White gave his thoughts on Pimblett and his potential but also hinted that the prospect should worry about his in-flight performances.

    “Yeah, he’s fun. He’s a fun guy. Smack talk’s fun, but you’ve gotta win,” White said of Pimblett. “So, you know, everybody keeps talking about the excitement of the walkout and all this stuff, you gotta win fights. Believe me, he comes in, has an incredible walkout and the crowd goes crazy, and he wins? Awesome… He’s one of those guys that has that thing and he has the potential to be a star. But, here, you gotta win fights. It’s not just about being popular (and) how many people like you. You’ve gotta get in there and win.”

    Paddy Pimblett
    Paddy Pimblett

    Pimblett was one of the biggest signings by the UFC in 2021 following back-to-back wins in Cage Warriors over Davide Martinez and Decky Dalton. He’s been tabbed by some as the ‘people’s main event’ against Vargas at UFC London.

    Pimblett has been tabbed by some as a potential future UFC box office star at the levels of Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and others. McGregor has recently called Pimblett a “great representation for the UK”.

    Pimblett has never been short of confidence, as evident by his recent claim that he’ll never get knocked out in the UFC. However, a loss to Vargas could erase the momentum and star power that he has already accumulated.

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to be a UFC champion?

  • UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall Weigh-In Results, All Fighters On Target

    The UFC London weigh-ins are complete, and all fighters successfully made weight.

    The UFC returns to London tomorrow (March 19) for a full slate of exciting matchups. In the main event, Tom Aspinall will face the stiffest test of his UFC career when he takes on the #6-ranked Alexander Volkov. A win for Aspinall (#11) could see him storm into the division’s top 5.

    In the co-main event, Dan Hooker will return to featherweight when he faces the #7-ranked Arnold Allen, who is currently riding a 10-fight winning streak. Also on the main card, Paddy Pimblett will face Kazula Vargas, Gunnar Nelson takes on Takashi Sato, and Jai Herbert faces Ilia Topuria.

    UFC London comes to you from the O2 Arena Saturday, March 19, 2022. The entire card will be available on ESPN+ for US viewers and on UFC Fight Pass for viewers outside the United States. The preliminary card will begin at 1PM ET, with the main card kicking off at 4 PM ET.

    You can view the full lineup and weigh-in results for UFC London below and the live weigh-in show here.

    UFC LONDON MAIN CARD

    Main Event – Heavyweight Bout: Alexander Volkov (253) vs Tom Aspinall (252)

    Co-Main Event – Featherweight Bout: Arnold Allen (146) vs Dan Hooker (145)

    Lightweight Bout: Paddy Pimblett (155) vs Kazula Vargas (155)

    Welterweight Bout: Gunnar Nelson (171) vs Takashi Sato (170)

    Women’s Flyweight Bout: Molly McCann (125) vs Luana Carolina (125)    

    Lightweight Bout: Jai Herbert (155) vs Ilia Topuria (156)

    UFC LONDON PRELIMINARY CARD

    Featherweight Bout: Mike Grundy (145) vs Makwan Amirkhani (146)

    Heavyweight Bout: Shamil Abdurakhimov (258) vs Sergei Pavlovich (254)

    Light Heavyweight Bout: Nikita Krylov (205) vs Paul Craig (206)

    Bantamweight Bout: Jack Shore (135) vs Timur Valiev (136)

    Women’s Strawweight: Cory McKenna (115) vs Elise Reed (115)

    Flyweight Bout: Muhammad Mokaev (125) vs Cody Durden (126)

    Be sure to keep it locked right here on MMANews.com for all the UFC London coverage tomorrow!

  • Pimblett Expects To Fight “Another 3 Or 4” Unranked Opponents

    Rising UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett says he’s being realistic about the speed with which he can rise up the ladder of a stacked 155-pound division.

    Of the debutants who arrived on MMA’s biggest stage in 2021, not many made a splash as big Pimblett did. After a much-discussed signing with the UFC, which came after he’d experienced championship success in the renowned Cage Warriors organization, “The Baddy” entered the Octagon for the first time last September.

    On the UFC Vegas 36 main card, Pimblett got off to a winning start by extending his overall MMA record to 17-3. He did so with a first-round knockout of Brazil’s Luigi Vendramini inside the UFC Apex.

    Now set for his sophomore outing, Pimblett will be hoping to lift the roof off London’s O2 Arena when he clashes with Kazula Vargas in front of a home crowd at this weekend’s UFC London event.

    But while his prominence and name value in the sport continue to increase way above the levels most achieve after one UFC appearance, Pimblett is under no illusions about the steady rise up the lightweight ranks he’s facing.

    Pimblett Claims To Be A “Realist” About UFC Climb

    During an interview with BT Sport’s Nick Peet, Pimblett was asked to provide a predicted timeline for his development from prospect to contender.

    While the Liverpool native believes he’s ultimately destined for greatness and stardom, for now, “The Baddy” understands it’ll take time to ascend the lightweight mountain.

    “I’m a realist lad. I’m not getting ahead of myself and thinking, ‘Ah, after this fight I’ll fight someone in the top 15,’ cause I won’t,” said Pimblett. “Lightweight is the most stacked division in the sport and the UFC. I know I’m gonna end up fighting another three or four non-ranked fighters, and I’m gonna have to get past them first. I’m taking everything one step at a time. But I’ll be back at least twice this year. I’m not doing two fights this year.”

    His quest for contention will next need to go through Vargas. The pair will collide in the fight prior to a co-main event clash between Dan Hooker and Arnold Allen this Saturday.

    If Pimblett’s potential and popularity weren’t already clear, his high placement on a stacked London-held card perhaps does it some justice.

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    Do you think Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to reach the top in the UFC?

  • Aspinall: Heavyweights Think They Know Me, They Don’t Know Sh*t

    Rising UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall has suggested he has a lot more to offer inside the Octagon than he’s shown so far.

    Since arriving on MMA’s biggest stage in 2020, Aspinall has not only established himself as one of the fastest up-and-coming British fighters in the UFC but one of the hottest prospects in the promotion, period.

    In four fights, the Englishman has recorded three first-round TKOs, including against fellow ranked contender Sergey Spivak and a second-round submission of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

    Having placed himself within touching distance of the top 10, Aspinall is set for the biggest test of his career at UFC London this weekend. In the main event, he’ll face perennial contender and former Bellator titleholder Alexander Volkov.

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    While “Drago,” who’ll be appearing in a UFC headliner for the sixth time on Saturday, may think he knows what to expect when he shares the cage with Aspinall, the Manchester native begs to differ.

    Aspinall Teases Wider Skillset

    Despite earning his first main event spot and climbing the heavyweight ladder at a fast pace, Aspinall has accumulated just five minutes and 59 seconds inside the Octagon.

    With that said, Aspinall told the media on Wednesday that he’s only scratched the surface of his skillset.

    “A lot of these heavyweights and people who watch the sport, they think that I’m just good at certain things,” said Aspinall. “It’s not that I’m just good at certain things, I’ve just not had the opportunity to show what I am good at, because I’ve been in the Octagon for such a small amount of time… I’ve not had the opportunity to show—no wrestling, no grappling, no cardio, no kicks. I’ve not done any of this stuff just because I’ve not had the chance to.

    “I’d like to keep myself a secret for as long as possible,” added Aspinall. “These heavyweights think they know some stuff about me, they don’t know shit about me. They don’t know nothing about me. They’ve seen this (small gesture) much of my game. So anybody out there who thinks they know what my game is, they don’t know nothing.”

    With a victory over an established name like Volkov, Aspinall would certainly join the group of elites at heavyweight and add his name to the title conversation.

    With Tai Tuivasa emerging victorious in his big opportunity to climb the ranks last month, Aspinall will hope to follow in the footsteps of his Australian counterpart on March 19.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC London main event, Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov?

  • Alexander Volkov Embracing “Heel” Role Ahead Of UFC London Headliner

    UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov knows he’s the villain ahead of his fight with Tom Aspinall at UFC London, but he’s fully embracing it.

    Volkov will look to earn his second straight win over Aspinall in the UFC London main event. Aspinall is regarded as one of the top MMA fighters competing out of the UK at the moment and will no doubt earn the energy of the crowd this weekend.

    Volkov knows that he’ll have very few fans in attendance in London, but he isn’t worried about how it could potentially impact his performance. The 34-9 veteran is coming off of wins in three of his last four fights, with his lone defeat over that stretch coming against former interim champ Ciryl Gane.

    During his UFC London pre-fight press conference, Volkov explained why he’s basking in the added attention and being seen as an enemy by the London faithful.

    “There is always face and heel in this business and right now I am the heel,” Volkov said. “But I’m happy with it because if the fight has attention, a story, power behind it, I’m very happy. And it’s always great when fans are very interested in the fight. They want to see me losing, they want to see him winning. That’s always good for business. I’m happy with it.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    Alexander Volkov
    Image Credit: Getty Images

    Leading into fight week, it was a bit unclear whether or not Volkov would be able to compete at UFC London amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. UFC President Dana White had foreseen many potential problems for Russian fighters competing on the London card, but there have been only a limited number of cancelations leading up to the event.

    Aspinall has been on a roll since winning his UFC debut over Jake Collier in July 2020. He’s won four straight with the promotion, including recent finishes over former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and Sergey Spivak.

    Volkov will face plenty of hostility from the London crowd when he makes his walk to the Octagon, but he appears ready and willing to deal with all of the extra potential chaos on fight night.

    What is your prediction for Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall?

  • Pimblett Claims He’ll Never Be Knocked Out Despite Stand-Up Criticisms

    UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett thinks if history has taught him anything, it’s that he’ll never get knocked out in the UFC Octagon.

    Pimblett is coming off of a successful UFC debut against Luigi Vendramini last September and will face Kazula Vargas at UFC London this weekend. It’ll be his first fight in the UK since he left Cage Warriors to pursue stardom in the UFC.

    Pimblett has never been one to lack confidence and he was among the biggest signings by the UFC in 2021. However, he may be the most confident he’s ever been ahead of his Octagon return.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Pimblett denied that any opponent will be able to knock him out in the UFC and addressed critics who say he leaves his chin exposed in his fights.

    “Everyone said that about me,” Pimblett said. “I’ve had nine amateur fights and 20 pro fights. For years, everyone’s been ‘He’s got his chin up, he’s got his chin up’, but I’ve never been knocked out and I never will be. I’ve never been knocked when doing 19-pound fight cuts overnight and 17-pound weight cuts overnight. You think any shot now is going to phase me at all when I have 10 pounds to lose now? The ‘Scousers don’t get knocked out’ thing could get me turned into a proper meme over the years if I do get knocked out. But that’s the risk we’ve taken.”

    Not everyone has been a fan of Pimblett’s antics, though. During UFC London fight week, he was involved in a near-brawl with Ilia Topuria at the fighter hotel.

    Before signing with the UFC, he earned the Cage Warriors featherweight title over Julian Erosa and enjoyed moderate success at lightweight with the promotion. He has been compared to UFC star Conor McGregor with his brash personality and ability to promote a fight.

    Pimblett will no doubt have the crowd on his side against Vargas this weekend, and he’ll look to take the next step in his development into potentially one of the UFC’s biggest stars.

    What are your predictions for Paddy Pimblett’s UFC career?

  • Aspinall On Volkov: This Is A Complete Mismatch In His Favor On Paper

    Tom Aspinall believes that, on paper, his UFC London main event against Alexander Volkov is a terrible matchup for him.

    Aspinall is set for his first UFC main event in just his fifth UFC fight while Volkov will be headlining his sixth event. It’s an intriguing matchup as Aspinall has run through all his competition, but Volkov is an experienced veteran and has fought the who’s who of the heavyweight division. With that, even the Brit believes that, on paper, this should be a fight he loses.

    “I mean, I’ve trained for five rounds. Like you say, I’ve never gone past the second. So, new territory for me. I’m completely aware that if you look at the stats on paper, this is a complete mismatch in his favor,” Aspinall said at media day. “I’m aware of that. Like, he has got so much more experience than me, he’s fought far more higher-level guys than me, he’s been in the top 10 for I don’t know how many years at this point. I’m just an up-and-coming guy breaking (into) the top 10, on paper. But on paper doesn’t really mean nothing when it comes to actual fighting.”

    Tom Aspinall
    Tom Aspinall

    Although Tom Aspinall believes on paper this is a fight Alexander Volkov should win, the betting odds have the Brit as a -125 favorite with the Russian as a +105 underdog. With that, Vegas and the public have been backing the Brit in this one, thinking he will win. However, as Aspinall says, paper means nothing when it comes to an actual fight.

    Tom Aspinall enters the fight riding a seven-fight win streak and coming off a first-round TKO over Serghei Spivac in September. Prior to that, he submitted Andrei Arlovski which is the biggest win of his career but should he beat Volkov, it will propel Aspinall into the top-5.

    Do you think Tom Aspinall will beat Alexander Volkov at UFC London?

  • Ilia Topuria: I’d Kill Paddy Pimblett If We Were Alone In A Room

    Ilia Topuria doesn’t expect tensions to have eased if he collides with lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett again in London this week.

    While they both have opponents of their own to focus on for this weekend, Kazula Vargas for the Englishman and Jai Herbert for the Georgian, Pimblett and Topuria have formed a more intense feud between themselves.

    They’d previously clashed online following distasteful tweets “The Baddy” posted about the Russo-Georgian War. But the animosity between the pair reached a boiling point at the fighter hotel on Tuesday.

    After Topuria approached Pimbett, objects and insults were exchanged, with the ranked UFC featherweight seemingly landing a punch to the Liverpudlian’s arm.

    At media day, Pimblett gave his side of the story, accusing “El Matador,” who he branded “hand sanitizer boy,” of trying to “act hard” and doing “nothing” despite a clear number advantage.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Topuria responded. He claimed Pimblett initially tried to act friendly. According to the Georgian, while he tries to be a “gangster” online, the Englishman was “quiet like a bitch” in person.

    “He saw me and he was like, smiling at me, and he wanted me to shake his hand. I don’t know what he wanted for my part,” recalled Topuria. “And (when) I saw him, I threw a bottle to his face and then everything started. But he was quiet like a bitch. He didn’t say anything. Fuck him. He’s just a man on Twitter. This is not Twitter. This is real life. If you wanna play a gangster, be a gangster by the end. If not, just stay quiet, kid.”

    When asked what would happen if he comes across Pimblett again prior to Saturday’s fight night, Topuria revealed he’s expecting a similar situation. However, if he were to find himself alone with “The Baddy,” he expects things to end very differently for the Brit.

    “The same thing you saw in the video (will happen if I see him again). If I have the chance, I don’t know, if they give me the chance to be with him alone in a room, I’m gonna kill this motherfucker,” asserted Topuria.

    Topuria: Pimblett Should Be Thankful After Hotel Clash

    Ultimately, while footage of the incident has gone viral, the pair avoided a full-blown brawl, with members of Topuria’s entourage quickly separating their man from his fellow main-card competitor.

    When recalling the incident, Pimblett suggested he escaped a six-on-one clash unscathed. But further into his conversation with Helwani, Topuria noted that the members of his team mostly played peacekeeping roles.

    He believes Pimblett should be thankful for that, because if they didn’t, he would’ve ended up in hospital.

    “He saw me and he shit on his pants… I was trying to take his head off. He (posted) something like, ‘It was six versus me.’ You can see in the video, my coach was on his back making a coffee,” said Topuria. “(He was) calm. He didn’t even move.

    “No one touched him. My brother was separating me. Can you imagine if everyone go against him? He was alone. We will kill him,” added Topuria. “He should be thankful (to) all my teammates because they separated me. If not, he will be, I don’t know, in the hospital right now.”

    What did you make of Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett’s hotel altercation?

  • Dan Hooker: If I Beat Arnold Allen, I’m On A 9-Fight Win Streak

    UFC fan favorite Dan Hooker is looking forward to taking Arnold Allen’s featherweight momentum this weekend at UFC London.

    After falling to some of the top names at lightweight, leaving him 1-3 across his last four in the division, Hooker will return to 145 pounds for the first time since 2016 on Saturday.

    In his way of a successful return to the weight class will be Arnold Allen. The #7-ranked contender is unbeaten in the UFC at 8-0, a record that includes victories over Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff. The “Almighty” Englishman will be hoping to surge into the title picture by adding the established name of Hooker to his résumé next.

    But while Allen’s goal is to take an unblemished 9-0 slate towards the top five, “The Hangman” is looking to nab that win streak from the 28-year-old’s grasp.

    Hooker: “I’m Taking That Win Streak”

    Despite recording wins over high-level names like Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta, and Paul Felder at lightweight, Hooker believes featherweight is the weight he can thrive at. He’s looking to show that, as well as a decade of hard work, when he shares the Octagon with Allen inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.

    And while leaving with a victory over the Ipswich native is the aim, the New Zealander believes a triumph on Saturday will see him exit the Octagon with a whole lot more than a sole success.

    “Man, he’s on an eight-fight win streak. I saw one of those things (graphics) pop up, and there’s only Max Holloway ahead of him,” noted Hooker at UFC London media day on Wednesday. “I saw José Aldo’s win streak was only a six-fight win streak. So you have to say, an eight-fight win streak puts him up there. He’s the second-longest win streak in featherweight history. So, that is to be respected. He just hasn’t had that name. The guys that he’s beaten have obviously been world class and incredibly talented, but they just didn’t have that drawing power.

    “It’s a win-win situation for the UFC. Either they get a guy on a win streak that beats someone with some name value, or they get a guy with some name value who—I’m taking that win streak. After this, I’m gonna be on a nine-fight win streak. So I’m excited to move on to the future on my nine-fight win streak,” Hooker jested.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbK4xEDMyUe/

    Hooker’s pursuit of a return to title contention, which could see him match-up with City Kickboxing teammate Alexander Volkanovski down the line, begins this weekend.

    With the weight of travel restrictions lifted from his shoulders and an apparent “easy” cut back to featherweight, Hooker will be hoping to show the best version of himself to date when he enters the Octagon for the first time in 2022.

    Who are you backing this weekend, Arnold Allen or Dan Hooker?

  • Pimblett: I Don’t Understand How People Can Put Down Conor McGregor

    Rising UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett believes former two-division champion Conor McGregor deserves more respect for what he’s achieved in the sport of MMA.

    Pimblett is the latest fighter from across the Atlantic labeled the ‘next McGregor’. Through his entertaining fighting style, previous Cage Warriors championship success, and outspoken personality, many expect “The Baddy,” who made a successful UFC debut last September, to follow in the Irishman’s footsteps.

    Last November, Pimblett even got the nod of approval from the man himself. In a now-deleted tweet, McGregor admitted his excitement at the Liverpool native’s potential.

    “Very excited to see what he can do. A great representation for the UK and for Liverpool. Rooting for him!”

    Ahead of his latest appearance inside the Octagon, Pimblett has returned the favor by speaking incredibly highly of the UFC’s first simultaneous double champ.

    Pimblett Returns The Favor With McGregor Compliment

    Despite his accomplishments in MMA’s premier promotion, which includes title glory at both featherweight and lightweight, and wins over names like Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, and José Aldo, McGregor’s achievements are often pushed behind his famed trash talk, outside-the-cage antics, and current losing skid in discussions.

    For Pimblett, that needs to change. During a recent interview with Combat Sports UK, “The Baddy” asserted that McGregor deserves more respect for changing the game in MMA, both in terms of ability and wealth.

    “He changed the game, simple as that. He’s changed the game for when it comes to fighter pay and stuff like that,” claimed Pimblett. “I don’t understand how people can put him down. He’s the first double champ. People need to put more respect on his name. Man, it’s easy to kick someone when he’s down but when he was at his highest, he was taking the sport to levels we’ve never seen.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    While he’s not necessarily targeting the same level as McGregor, Pimblett is hoping to rise up the lightweight ladder and reach stardom, something he believes he’s always been destined to achieve.

    To continue that pursuit, he’ll have to get past Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas in his sophomore Octagon outing this weekend at UFC London.

    If he manages to secure a win in front of his home crowd, he’ll certainly increase the attention around his name and perhaps even prove that an Anfield headliner isn’t too far away…

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbIRLrSuhE0/

    Do you think Paddy Pimblett can get close to reaching the heights Conor McGregor has in the UFC?

  • Paul Craig Walks Back 2022 Retirement Plan: I’m Here For The Long Haul

    UFC light heavyweight contender Paul Craig no longer has one eye on a 2022 retirement, claiming he’s now “here for the long haul.”

    At the start of the year, Craig, who’s currently ranked #11 at 205 pounds and unbeaten in his last five fights, surprised fans and pundits by laying out a retirement plan that culminated at his 35th birthday in November.

    The Scotsman, who had a string of bad luck when it came to fights falling through late last year, cited his hopes to avoid unnecessary damage as the reason for his relatively early desired exit from the sport.

    However, as Craig gets set for his first appearance of 2022 and since a brutal victory over Jamahal Hill last June, he’s provided a positive update for those hoping to see a lot more of him inside the Octagon.

    Paul Craig Jamahal Hill
    (via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

    Speaking to BT Sport’s Nick Peet ahead of this Saturday’s UFC London card, “Bearjew” agreed to extend his retirement plan by two years. He named the pursuit of light heavyweight gold as the reason for his change of heart.

    “Let’s do it. Let’s add two years,” said Craig. “You know what changes people’s minds? There’s a few things in life that will change people’s minds. One of them is a sniff of gold, a gold rush. So I’ve got a gold fever and I’m here for the long haul. The other thing is women. If a woman decides you’re not retiring, then you’re working. So there’s two factors that stop people from retiring. One of them is definitely in my mind at the moment.”

    Discussing the open landscape of the light heavyweight division, Craig suggested he’s got a newfound appetite for rising the ranks and joining the likes of Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev, and Jiří Procházka in contention.

    “It’s getting that gold. The light heavyweight division is moving so quickly,” noted Craig. “We’ve got guys like Jan, who just lost the belt to Glover (Teixeira). Glover’s 42. People believe they can beat him. Jiří Procházka believes he can beat him. So we’ve got that fight happening, we’ve got Ankalaev, who won at the weekend, he’s looking for that gold.

    “This is one of the most exciting divisions because we’ve not got somebody like Kamaru Usman,” Craig continued. “You’ve got divisions where the champ stays there and it’s very, very hard to dethrone them. In this division, the champ can be there and he can be there for six months and he’s gone. I’m excited to be part of this.”

    Paul Craig’s Path To Gold Starts At UFC London

    Seemingly possessing a fresh motivation and sense of ambition, Craig’s targeted march towards Teixeira’s throne will begin this weekend at UFC London.

    The Airdrie, Scotland native has fond memories of England’s capital. In his last visit, he submitted Ankalaev with a final-second triangle choke, a victory he described this week as “life-changing.”

    He’ll hope for a similarly memorable result when he shares the Octagon with Nikita Krylov inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZRl5qjszLK/

    He further told BT Sport that in order to break through into the group of elite, he must beat “The Minor” convincingly.

    “This fight with Krylov, I’m just outside the top 10, I believe I have put in my work, I believe I have done the hard work, I’ve done the unbeaten fighters, I’ve done the guys who the UFC expect to be pushed, like Jamahal Hill… I want to be that. I want to get that push. I want to get higher, into that top five. I want to beat Krylov convincingly.

    “I want to be in that top five and I want to be in that mention of, ‘Ankalaev’s close to the title, Procházka’s close to the title, what about Paul Craig? I’m excited to see what a jiu-jitsu practitioner can do in that top five.’ That’s what I want,” Craig concluded.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London this weekend, Paul Craig or Nikita Krylov?

  • Kazula Vargas Thinks ‘Kid’ Paddy Pimblett Is Overrated

    UFC lightweight Kazula Vargas doesn’t think Paddy Pimblett’s fame and popularity are warranted ahead of their matchup at UFC London.

    Vargas and Pimblett will square off on the UFC London main card in front of what should be a raucous crowd at The O2 Arena. This will be Pimblett’s second fight in the UFC, and first in the U.K. since his time in Cage Warriors.

    Vargas is looking to steal the show and earn a big win over Pimblett. He’s coming off of a unanimous decision win over Zhu Rong at UFC 261 last year.

    Pimblett earned the main card slot due to a massive following. But, Vargas isn’t sure if Pimblett is deserving of the added attention this early in his UFC tenure.

    During his UFC London pre-fight press conference, Vargas questioned whether or not Pimblett’s accolades in MMA are worth the intense hype ahead of their fight.

    “It’s normal for him to have all this hype, he’s from London and most of his fights have been here. But I actually think he’s a bit of a kid. He’s got good things, but he’s got a lot of bad things as well.

    “He’s probably overrated.”

    Vargas went on to explain why he feels Pimblett is overrated and what he’s taken from his past performances.

    “I haven’t seen all of his fights, but I’ve seen about five or six. I think he’s got a lot of holes in his fights and we’ll try to take advantage of that. But like all UFC fighters, we’re here because we’re the best and we’ll try to take advantage of those holes.”

    Pimblett was arguably the biggest signing by the UFC in 2021, following a decorated stint in Cage Warriors. His debut arguably lived up to the immense hype with a first-round knockout of Luigi Vendramini last September.

    Vargas is looking to back up his claim that Pimblett is overrated this weekend at UFC London. If he’s able to earn a win over Pimblett, he may steal some of his hype in the process.

    What is your prediction for Kazula Vargas vs. Paddy Pimblett?

  • Paddy Pimblett Details Altercation With “Hand Sanitizer Boy” Topuria

    Lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has detailed his hotel altercation with fellow UFC London competitor Ilia Topuria, and even debuted a new nickname for the Georgian.

    This weekend sees the UFC return to England’s capital for the first time since 2019. In two notable main card lightweight scraps, Paddy Pimblett will be making his sophomore appearance in the Octagon, while #15-ranked featherweight Topuria will be competing at 155 pounds for the first time.

    Sharing the cage with Topuria in the main card opener will be Englishman Jai Herbert. Three fights later, “The Baddy,” who is expected to be showered with perhaps the loudest cheers of the night, will collide with Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas.

    While they may be preparing for different opponents, Pimblett and Topuria nearly got into full-blown fight themselves at the fighter hotel on Tuesday, which was apparently over a tweet posted by the Brit in 2021.

    In a video recorded by a member of Topuria’s entourage, the Georgian can be seen approaching the Liverpudlian. The pair were split after a number of thrown items and insults were exchanged.

    During his appearance at media day on Wednesday, Pimblett gave his side of the story, channeling his inner-Colby Covington with a new nickname for Topuria.

    “Who’s that? Oh, hand sanitizer boy? Is that who you mean? Yeah, that’s his name from now on,” said Pimblett. “Don’t refer to him as his name lad, his name’s hand sanitizer. It got bounced off his head. But I don’t concern myself with none of that lad. He wanted to come at me and try to act hard, and he got put in his place.

    “I was stood there, on me own, and there was about six of them. And he done nothing,” Pimblett continued. “If he wanted to do something, he would’ve come around the table and tried to have a fight with me. But he didn’t. He stood on the other side of the table because he knows what’s good for him.”

    After confirming that Topuria approached him prior to the incident, Pimblett branded the Georgian’s actions as “little man syndrome.”

    “As soon as he come out of those double doors he snarled me. So I looked at him and said, ‘What?’” Pimblett recalled. “And then he walked towards me and I said, ‘What’s happening lad?’ And then as he got close to me, he like, swiped a slap at me. Obviously lad, if you raise your hand to me, I’m gonna do something.

    “I stepped back and picked the hand sanitizer up and bounced it off his head. He swung… I moved out of the way with a bit of ease. He’s just got a little bit of small man syndrome. He’s only 5’7″, isn’t he?”

    Pimblett Explains Why He Didn’t Let Topuria Clash Escalate

    Despite the launching of sanitary objects and a few loose swings from Topuria, the pair’s altercation didn’t quite reach the point where fists connected.

    Pimblett explained that, with an exciting appearance at UFC London looming, he couldn’t risk losing his spot on the card, either through injury or disciplinary actions.

    “I wasn’t punching him because I’m not breaking my hand and not being able to fight and earn my money on the weekend… I can’t let something like that happen lad. I can’t start throwing punches and get cut off the card… Especially (against) someone so meaningless. Who even is he? Seriously, who is Mr. Hand Sanitizer? He’s a no one.”

    https://twitter.com/theufcbaddy/status/1504024299224584195

    While the interaction remains a hot topic, both Pimblett and Topuria will be looking to turn their full attention to the task at hand this Saturday. if both are victorious, perhaps we’ll see them share the Octagon down the line.

    Would you like to see Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria settle their differences inside the Octagon?

  • Dan Hooker Details Big Weight Lifted Off His Shoulders For UFC London

    Ahead of UFC London, fan favorite Dan Hooker has revealed one heavy weight that’s been lifted off his shoulders since his last Octagon appearance.

    This weekend sees a host of returns. While the promotion is returning to England’s capital for the first time since 2019, Hooker will be heading back to the featherweight division for the first time since transitioning to lightweight in 2017.

    A 7-1 start at 155 pounds seemingly suggested “The Hangman” had found his ideal division and was set to make a run for gold. But three defeats in his last four fights have forced a change.

    Despite feeling he can still compete with the best at lightweight, Hooker acknowledged that he can’t contend there until the landscape at the top changes. With that in mind, he’s ready to return to a weight he believes he can thrive at.

    In the UFC London co-main event this Saturday, the New Zealander will jump straight into the mix against #7-ranked contender Arnold Allen.

    While a return to his old stomping ground is reason enough to be excited, on March 19, Hooker will be fighting for the first time without the cloud of travel uncertainty looming overhead.

    Hooker Excited To Embrace Post-Fight “Freedom”

    Fighters across the world have dealt with adversity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But not many have had the kind of struggles that have plagued Dan Hooker.

    Those issues were well publicized prior to UFC 266 last September. Hooker, who fought and defeated Haqparast at the US-held event, was forced to train away from his gym due to the lockdown in place at the time, even encountering the police when he attempted to use his facility.

    Coupled with that were visa issues. When the veteran made a social media appeal calling for the process to be completed in time for the event, it seemed his fight was in jeopardy. Eventually, he made it to America the day before the weigh-ins.

    As if that wasn’t hard enough, Hooker has also spent extended periods away from his family due to his inability to re-enter the country following his bouts. However, that is no longer the case.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour on Monday, Hooker revealed his relief at the opening of borders in New Zealand for the country’s citizens.

    “Freedom. We’re like, we’re back. There’s (still) restrictions, but not to our training. Our training will never be shut down again. We’re through it. Our border is now open for New Zealand citizens, so I can go and fight, and I can come home, which is just unreal. It’s unreal the weight that that lifts off your shoulders.”

    While he often appeared calm and unfazed by his lengthy stays in the US and away from his wife and child, “The Hangman” admitted it played on his mind during his fights.

    “You play it pretty cool when people are like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna go over and fight and then you’re not gonna be home for four months,’ and you’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m not gonna think about that.’ Of course, that plays on your mind when you’re fighting, especially—I’m not saying it’s any kind of excuse, but with the kind of fights I get myself into take a certain amount of time to recover from, months.

    Dan Hooker says City Kickboxing will likely relocate from New Zealand due to lockdown rules: 'Our hand is forced' - Opera News
    Dan Hooker

    “And that’s the part of fighting that people don’t see. They see you on the television and a couple days after the fight, every now and then when you post something on social media, but I’ve had some fights in my career that have taken months to recover from. Being back home, being on your couch, being surrounded by your friends, your family, having my child there, my wife there; that is everything. That helps you heal.”

    Following his clash at UFC London, Hooker will be able to immediately fly out and reunite with his family, who he’s yet to see in 2022.

    “Of course, it would play on your mind when you’re going away to fight and you can’t do any of that, you can’t see any of those people, and you’re going to be stranded in a foreign country with no friendly faces for months on end. It definitely changes the ingredients. But now it’s all changed. We’re back to normal. I fly straight back home. It’s just like, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca1hxwEBQ8c/

    With travel stress gone and the anticipation for a new venture at featherweight, we could well see a new Dan Hooker take to the cage on March 19. If he makes a successful return to the division, featherweight will have the addition of another top contender.

    Do you expect Dan Hooker to make a successful return to featherweight by defeating Arnold Allen this weekend?

  • Archives: Till Doesn’t Think He’ll Ever Move Past Woodley Defeat (2019)

    The following article was published on this day three years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2019, 12:32 PM]

    Darren Till suffered the first defeat of his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in his last fight. “

    The Gorilla” was submitted in the second round of his UFC welterweight title contest with Tyron Woodley in September. Now, he’s looking to bounce back this weekend (Sat. March 16, 2019) against Jorge Masvidal at UFC London.

    Speaking to MMA Junkie, Till admitted that his loss to Woodley still stings, and he doesn’t think he’ll ever move past it. In fact, he’s realistic that the same thing could happen to him this weekend, and he’s not scared to talk about it:

    “I don’t think I’ll ever move past it,” Till said. “I’m not ashamed to say it still hurts every day if it comes to mind. I’ve watched the fight many times, and it’s just something inside of me. Even if I get the rematch with Woodley and beat him, the first fight will still be a thorn inside of me.

    “I’ve always said that openly, you can’t really go through this life – a normal life or the fighting life – with it all being highs. The lows do come, and I always said that a loss would come. A loss may come again. A loss may happen Saturday. I’m not scared to talk about it because it’s all reality. I am a realist.”

    With a new champion at the helm, the welterweight division is ripe for the picking in regards to big fights. Should Till emerge victorious this weekend with a big showing, he could be right back in line for title contention. However, he needs to get past a hungry Masvidal first.

    “Gamebred” hasn’t won a fight since January of 2017. After back-to-back losses, and not having fought since November of 2017, Masvidal might have to shake off some ring rust before he gets going against a striker the caliber of Till on Saturday.

    Who are you picking for Till vs. Masvidal this weekend?

  • Watch: O2 Arena Ripped Apart By Storm Weeks Before UFC London

    It appears the UFC’s long-awaited return to London, England may have hit another roadblock in the form of Britain’s worst storm in decades.

    On March 19, MMA’s premier promotion is set to host a card in England’s capital for the first time since 2019. After an attempt to cross the Atlantic proved unsuccessful last September, the UK audience has finally had an event officially confirmed, one that sold out in minutes.

    But an extreme weather event may be about to throw a spanner in the works. As Storm Eunice causes havoc across the British Isles and delivers record-breaking gusts, damage is inevitable. What most probably hadn’t banked on, though, was the roof of the O2 Arena being torn off…

    https://twitter.com/BJFHubbard/status/1494650273549201408

    While it’s uncertain how serious the damage is and what a potential repair timeline will look like, the storm continues to rage on. With that in mind, it’s unlikely the venue will remain in its current state, with further destruction expected.

    It’s impossible to tell at this stage whether UFC London will be affected. However, with WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Lawrence Okolie set to make his second defense against challenger Michel Cieslak next weekend at the O2, we can expect the status of the March 19 UFC Fight Night to become clearer towards the end of the month.

    The O2 Is Set To Host A Stacked British Showcase

    Having been kept to US-based events and Abu Dhabi-held cards since the COVID-19 pandemic caused havoc in 2020, the UFC has understandably pulled out all the stops ahead of its return to overseas events.

    As well as the presence of top UK names and prospects like Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Paul Craig, and Molly McCann, well-known international fighters like Dan Hooker, Ilia Topuria, Nikita Krylov, Gunnar Nelson, and Alexander Volkov are also set to enter the cage inside London’s O2 Arena.

    With a host of exciting matchups set, fans will certainly be hoping any more damage to the host venue as a result of Storm Eunice is limited.

    Listed below are the fights currently expected to go down on March 19 in London, England:

    Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall (heavyweight main event)

    Dan Hooker vs. Arnold Allen (featherweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Gunnar Nelson vs. Claudio Silva (welterweight)

    Nathanial Wood vs. Liudvik Sholinian (bantamweight)

    Ilia Topuria vs. Jai Herbert (lightweight)

    Makwan Amirkhani vs. Mike Grundy (featherweight)

    Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)

    Cody Durden vs. Muhammad Mokaev (flyweight)

    Cory McKenna vs. Elise Reed (women’s strawweight)

    Which UFC London fight are you most looking forward to on March 19?

  • Ilia Topuria vs. Jai Herbert Added To March 19 UFC London Card

    A lightweight scrap between Ilia Topuria and Jai Herbert has reportedly been added to the UFC’s return to London on March 19.

    In one of many matchups featuring British fighters, Herbert (11-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will have a huge opportunity in front of a home crowd when he welcomes Topuria (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) to 155 pounds inside the O2 Arena. The bout was first reported by Eurosport’s Gonzalo Campos.

    Topuria initially rose up the featherweight ladder with a trio of impressive victories on MMA’s biggest stage. After arriving with a unanimous decision win against Youssef Zalal and a knockout of Damon Jackson, the Georgian established himself as one of the promotion’s hottest prospects with a memorable KO of veteran grappler Ryan Hall at UFC 264 last July.

    Having moved inches away from a place in the featherweight rankings, “El Matador” was set to have his chance to enter the top 15 last month against Movsar Evloev, the current #13 contender. After the Russian withdrew, Charles Jordain stepped in, only for Topuria to be forced out days later. He’ll hope to return to regular activity in the coming months, starting with a win on his lightweight debut in England’s capital.

    In the way of the 25-year-old making an impression at 155 pounds will be Herbert, a former lightweight champion in the renowned Cage Warriors promotion. While the Wolverhampton native fell to consecutive losses in his first two UFC outings, he was faced with the tough challenges of Renato Moicano and veteran Francisco Trinaldo.

    Having entered the win column in the UFC for the first time last October, a triumph that came in the form of a first-round TKO victory over Khama Worthy, Herbert will hope to continue his momentum by adding the first blemish to Topuria’s record in front of a home crowd.

    Herbert initially appeared set to meet Mike Davis on the March 19 card. However, with the 29-year-old’s reluctance to fight overseas, “The Black Country Banger” was left searching for a new foe, one that’s come in the form of an unbeaten divisional newcomer.

    With Herbert’s place on the card set, he’ll join fellow Brits like Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Paul Craig, and Molly McCann in London, as well as prominent international fighters like Dan Hooker, Gunnar Nelson, and Nikita Krylov.

    Listed below are the fights currently expected to go down on March 19 in London, England:

    Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall (heavyweight main event)

    Dan Hooker vs. Arnold Allen (featherweight)

    Paul Craig vs. Nikita Krylov (light heavyweight)

    Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight)

    Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev (bantamweight)

    Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (lightweight)

    Gunnar Nelson vs. Claudio Silva (welterweight)

    Nathanial Wood vs. Liudvik Sholinian (bantamweight)

    Ilia Topuria vs. Jai Herbert (lightweight)

    Makwan Amirkhani vs. Mike Grundy (featherweight)

    Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina (women’s flyweight)

    Cody Durden vs. Muhammad Mokaev (flyweight)

    Cory McKenna vs. Elise Reed (women’s strawweight)

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London, Ilia Topuria or Jai Herbert?

  • Tom Aspinall Ready To Begin Heavyweight Takeover At UFC London

    UFC heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall is raring to go in 2022 and plans on beginning a heavyweight takeover with a main event victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC London.

    Early this week, the headlining fight for the UFC’s long-awaited return to England’s capital was confirmed. Unbeaten rising star Aspinall will collide with UFC veteran and former Bellator heavyweight champion Volkov.

    For Manchester’s Aspinall, the event will mark the first time he’s fought in front of a capacity UFC crowd, having defeated his first four opponents, Jake Collier, Alan Baudot, Andrei Arlovski, and Sergey Spivak, inside Las Vegas’ Apex facility and on Fight Island. What better way to arrive in front of a sold-out audience than in his home country?

    Opposite him in the Octagon on March 19 will be a talented and unique Russian striker standing six feet and seven inches tall. Incredibly, UFC London will mark Volkov’s sixth main event in just 12 UFC appearances.

    After having his title charged stalled at the hands of Ciryl Gane last summer, “Drago” will look to ride the momentum from his rebound victory over Marcin Tybura into his first outing of 2022, and set himself back on a winning streak.

    Aspinall: “I’m Gonna Be Up There”

    Many have been comparing Aspinall’s potential to that of Gane at the start of 2021. Last year was a breakout period for “Bon Gamin,” who made his main event debut against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in February, before defeating Volkov in a five-rounder four months later and having interim gold wrapped around his waist in a pay-per-view main event against Derrick Lewis in August.

    With Aspinall boasting an unblemished UFC record and getting set for his first headlining bout in the first quarter of this year, many expect the Englishman to replicate the 2021 of his French UFC peer. If he’s to do so, Aspinall will have to get past Volkov, a task the Manchester native is confident he can complete.

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Aspinall suggested he’s ready to make the most of his UFC London opportunity and begin his takeover at heavyweight.

    “These opportunities don’t come around all the time. I just feel like I’m ready, man. I just feel like this is my time man,” said Aspinall. “I just wanna go in there and show everybody just what I can really do, because everybody thinks they know what I’m good at and what I’m not good at, but nobody really knows. The only people who really know are the people around me. Mate, I’m gonna be up there and I’m gonna be flying the flag, and I’m gonna take over this shit.”

    Similar to UK stars like Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Jack Shore, Nathanial Wood, Mike Grundy, Molly McCann, and Muhammad Mokaev, Aspinall will be hoping to leave his mark when he enters the cage inside London’s O2 Arena on March 19.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC London in March, Tom Aspinall or Alexander Volkov?

  • Pimblett Reveals Why He’s Glad Gordon Fight Didn’t Come To Fruition

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has explained why he’s partly pleased that a fight with previously-rumored opponent Jared Gordon didn’t come to fruition.

    2021 was certainly a breakout year for Pimblett on the global MMA stage. The former Cage Warriors champion made his long-awaited promotional debut on a European-heavy UFC Vegas 36 card last September. His first task was to dispatch Luigi Vendramini.

    After the opening exchanges, it looked like that was going to be a bigger challenge than first expected. After being rocked by some clean shots and taken down, the early momentum was with the Brazilian. That didn’t last. Making good on his pre-fight prediction, the Liverpudlian flipped the script towards the end of the first round and knocked Vendramini out.

    Now, after a longer-than-desired layoff, Pimblett is preparing for his sophomore Octagon outing. It’ll come in front of a home crowd at UFC London on March 19. In his way of a continued rise up the 155-pound ladder will be Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas.

    Pimblett Doesn’t Want To Face UFC Vets Yet

    Prior to the official fight announcement, Paddy Pimblett was expected to face a lightweight he’d interacted with in the past and had expressed interest in facing, Jared Gordon. All signs pointed towards the matchup being made and UFC President Dana White confirmed as much.

    But after both parties disputed White’s remarks and denied that the fight had been offered to them, news broke that Pimblett’s return to action would come against 1-2 UFC fighter Vargas.

    While a clash with Gordon would have represented a big step-up in competition, as well as the chance to avenge his teammate Chris Fishgold’s 2020 defeat to “Flash,” Pimblett is actually glad he’s been booked against another relative newcomer instead.

    During a recent appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, “The Baddy” suggested he’d rather wait to fight UFC veterans like Gordon until he secures a more lucrative contract with the promotion.

    “He (Gordon) never got floated at my team to be honest. No fighter actually got put forward until Rodrigo Vargas. The first opponent I got given was Rodrigo Vargas. But I would have happily fought Jared Gordon, but at the same time, I looked at it and he’s had nine UFC fights. How much money do you think he’s getting? He’s getting a lot more than me, lad. So, thinking about it that way, I’m glad I never ended up fighting Jared Gordon, ’cause I want a better and bigger contract before I fight people like that.”

    Having previously asserted he won’t be fighting any top-10 lightweight without a six-figure contract, it’s clear Pimblett will be attempting to bring a rising pay bracket with him as he jumps up the UFC ranks.

    https://twitter.com/theufcbaddy/status/1486745774444662787

    While he may be facing an arguably lesser level of competition than Gordon on March 19, Pimblett appears to harbor hope of facing “Flash” down the line, a sentiment shared by Gordon on social media.

    For now, “The Baddy” will hope to extend his winning start in the promotion with a triumph against Vargas and begin what he hopes to be a 3-0 year in MMA’s premier organization. Perhaps #2 or #3 can come against Gordon if Pimblett can get past “Kazula.”

    Would you like to see Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon share the Octagon down the line?