From the Brawl in the Hall to Michael Bisping - Dan Hardy picks his six most memorable UFC London moments

As the next UFC London event approaches, I often find myself asked about the most memorable moments in previous years that make the annual Octagon visit so highly anticipated. There are six that come to mind immediately, and I’m sure that more will be added when the Octagon returns in March of this year.

The UFC’s first excursion to the UK capital was back in 2002. UFC 38® was a stacked card of local talent, mixed in amongst Octagon veterans from across the globe. Two performances stand out at the end of a great night of fights, from two of the UK’s most senior members of the MMA community.

Firstly, the man known as ‘The Wizard’ broke the UFC’s fastest knockout, over one of the grittiest American hybrid fighters of the day. In just 10 seconds, Mark Weir threw a smoke-screen crescent kick to disguise a short-range power punch. Eugene Jackson fell to the canvas and the Royal Albert Hall erupted in cheers. It was a spectacular finish and after the two British representatives before him had fallen short, the restless partisan crowd were in need of a local victory. In the co-main event which followed, the momentum continued.

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The UK’s best-known heavyweight back in 2002 was Ian ‘The Machine’ Freeman. A tank of a man that had travelled the world looking for a challenge before any of us were getting paid for fighting. In my opinion, this was his defining moment as a MMA fighter. A massive underdog going into the bout, he was undersized, gave up a reach advantage, and was facing a young, unbeaten prospect. Living up to his moniker, ‘The Machine’ beat Frank Mir down for the best part of four minutes. Within the last 30 seconds of the first round, Mir was broken. Freeman’s attack was halted by the referee and as Mir struggled to his feet, the British brawler climbed the Octagon and sat astride.

In the background everyone was on their feet focused on our home-grown gladiator, exhilarated by his accomplishment in the hardest arena in the world. That moment will live in memory forever, and I’m sure many of the fighters from my generation will feel the same. That moment in my eyes, was the glory at the end of the sacrifice and hard graft. The moment of recognition for all that you have put into your art and skill. It was truly inspiring, and for anyone that hasn’t seen the bout, go back and watch it on UFC Fight Pass. Freeman was relentless and brutally effective. The heart-breaking end to the story though, is that his father had lost his battle with cancer the day before. Under that kind of pressure many would have crumbled, but Ian Freeman excelled.

We skip forward a few years now to UFC 85® at The O₂. This was my first live UFC event, just after I’d been signed to the promotion. I sat a few rows back from the Octagon and looked around the arena, imagining what it would be like to fight in such a huge place. So many amazing fights all the way through the card kept the fans energy high from start to finish. In the co main event, Michael Bisping stopped Jason Day in the first round. This latest victory came after a string of great performances from Bisping and people knew then they were watching the beginnings of a future UFC champion.

Then in the main event, former welterweight champion Matt Hughes, coming off a recent loss to GSP (Georges St- Pierre), took on rising Brazilian star, Thiago Alves. Hughes played at range a little but ultimately wanted to close the distance and get his hands-on Alves. Early in the second round, Hughes would leave himself open and he was caught with a beautiful flying knee. Alves’s victory was one for the new breed of fighters coming though and I very much felt a part of that wave. I couldn’t wait to get home and start my own preparations for my UFC debut.

Fast forward 10 months and I have a successful UFC debut in the bag, and I’m now matched up in the co-main event, against one of Hughes team mates, the power-punching, Rory Markham at UFC 95®. Rory was a heavy handed mid-western fighter out of the Miletich gym. He had never been the distance in a fight and, win or lose, he was recklessly aggressive from the opening bell. In the first minute, he came surging forward, controlling the centre of the Octagon. I circled left and forced him to follow, using his eagerness against him. As soon as I stopped I knew he would throw his right hand. Upon execution he threw harder than I expected and as a result, slipped to the outside of my right-hand counter.

Noticing his weight fully committed to his lead leg, I knew he would be open for my favourite punch. A second later a left hook had floored him, and a follow up right hand sealed the deal. That was a good night. My next visit to The O₂ didn’t go quite as well, but that’s the sport of MMA for you. The ups and downs are like a rollercoaster that is totally worth the sacrifice to ride. That rollercoaster brought me all the way to where I am today and the fifth memory that I’d like to share is from the second stage of my work with the UFC.

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In February of 2016, I was sat Octagonside with my colleague John Gooden, calling one of the most incredible fights I’ve ever been a witness to. UK legend, Michael Bisping, was facing all-time great, Anderson Silva at UFC Fight Night®: Silva vs. Bisping. The first two rounds were huge for Bisping. Out-pointing Silva, even knocking him down at one stage with the left hook that would eventually win him the world title. The third round was very different though. Michael was stalked by a more confident Anderson Silva, and towards the end of the round Bisping was caught with a huge knee from Silva.

There was much confusion for the next 90 seconds and Silva seemed convinced that the fight was over and he was the victor. After it became clear that Bisping had been saved by the bell, Silva prepared for another two rounds. This is when Michael regrouped. For the remaining 10 minutes he fought through a bloody face and much adversity, to take home the judge’s decision. It was a performance that was only rivalled by that one almost 15 years earlier, by ‘The Machine’ Ian Freeman. Even though Michael went on to win the world title, I still feel like this fight sums up the fighter that Bisping is. Never count him out, never doubt his heart, and never assume he’s beaten.

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My final standout UFC London moment is from UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson last March. It was a sad day in some ways as Brad Pickett walked out for his final fight, and many fans have followed his career over the years. There was however a performance that made the fans excited about the new generation of fighters.

In one of the most dynamic knockouts of the year, Marc Diakiese "marbleized" Teemu Packalen with a single punch. Although we lost one of our UK veterans to retirement, Diakiese let the fans know that the coming wave of fighters gives us much to look forward to.

Tickets to UFC FIGHT NIGHT® LONDON go on general sale on Friday, February 2 at 10 a.m. GMT via AXS and Ticketmaster. For more information, or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.