UFC London 2022 LIVE results: Paddy Pimblett and Tom Aspinall secure statement wins

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There must have been something in the air at the O2 Arena on Saturday night, where UFC London marked perhaps the most significant night in the history of UK mixed martial arts. Of the 12 bouts scheduled for the first edition of the event since 2019, 10 featured British fighters. Seven of those combatants were victorious in the English capital, with six winning via stoppage. Five of those finishes came in the first round, while the other was an early contender for knockout of the year.

In the main event on Saturday, Wigan heavyweight Tom Aspinall made a mockery of Alexander Volkov’s vast advantages in experience and height, submitting the Russian with a straight arm lock in the first round after exhibiting sharp skills in striking exchanges, too. Aspinall’s victory followed a co-main event that many had predicted would be fight of the night, and indeed the featherweight clash between Arnold Allen and Dan Hooker delivered in the brief period that it lasted. After a chaotic opening few phases, Ipswich fighter Allen announced himself to the world by securing a TKO victory over fan favourite Dan Hooker in the first round, forcing the referee to step in by melting the New Zealander with a fierce flurry of punches against the fence.

Allen’s win followed the people’s main event, which saw rising star Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett bewitch those present at the O2 Arena. After the 27-year-old’s captivating walkout, the atmosphere felt like that of a title fight. The Liverpudlian lightweight was knocked down by Rodrigo Vargas almost immediately, but he rallied to take down the Mexican and submit him with a rear naked choke later in the first round. Earlier in the night, Pimblett’s friend Molly McCann produced a knockout of the year contender with a spinning back elbow finish of Luana Carolina.

Re-live updates from the UFC London prelims and main card, below.

UFC London 2022 LIVE

After a three-year wait, the UFC has finally returned to London.

With 2020’s edition of UFC London cancelled at the last moment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and no card staged in 2021 for the same reason, British fans and fighters have been forced to wait much longer than expected for MMA’s flagship promotion to return to this side of the pond.

British fighters are scheduled to take part in 10 of the 12 planned bouts at the O2 Arena this Saturday, and The Independent spoke to co-main eventer Arnold Allen, UFC debutant Muhammad Mokaev, Jack Shore and Cory McKenna ahead of the card at the O2 Arena.

UFC London returns as British fighters compete to steal the show

Arnold Allen, Jack Shore, Cory McKenna and Muhammad Mokaev tell The Independent about their expectations for and experiences of UFC London

Alex Pattle19 March 2022 16:50

UFC London 2022 LIVE

For three years, British fans and fighters have awaited the UFC’s return to the English capital, and finally UFC London is back on the calendar of the biggest promotion in mixed martial arts, with a stacked card taking place at the O2 Arena tonight.

A heavyweight clash between Wigan’s Tom Aspinall and Russian Alexander Volkov will headline the event, as 11th-ranked Aspinall looks to secure the most significant win of his career against the No 6 veteran. In the co-main event, Arnold Allen finds himself in a similar position to Aspinall. Fighting out of Ipswich, Allen goes up against New Zealand’s Dan Hooker, who drops back down to featherweight for this bout. Hooker represents the biggest name that seventh-ranked Allen has fought, and the Englishman would extent his win streak to 11 with a victory over the fan favourite.

In one of the most highly-anticipated bouts on the card, rising lightweight star Paddy Pimblett takes on Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas. Liverpudlian Pimblett enjoyed a successful UFC debut last year, winning via first-round knockout, and all eyes will be on “Paddy The Baddy” here. Also in action will be the likes of “Meatball” Molly McCann, Scotland’s Paul Craig, and unbeaten Welshman Jack Shore.

Alex Pattle19 March 2022 16:25

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