There should have been one thing within the air on the O2 Enviornment on Saturday night time, the place UFC London marked maybe probably the most important night time within the historical past of UK blended martial arts.
Of the 12 bouts scheduled for the primary version of the occasion since 2019, 10 featured British fighters. Seven of these combatants have been victorious within the English capital, with six successful through stoppage. 5 of these finishes got here within the first spherical, whereas the opposite was an early contender for knockout of the 12 months.
In the primary occasion on Saturday, Wigan heavyweight Tom Aspinall made a mockery of Alexander Volkov’s huge benefits in expertise and peak, submitting the Russian with a straight arm lock within the first spherical after exhibiting sharp abilities in placing exchanges, too.
The outcome marked Aspinall’s eighth straight win and eighth straight end, holding him unbeaten within the UFC and heading in the right direction to fulfil predictions that he’s a champion in ready.
Aspinall’s victory adopted a co-main occasion that many had predicted can be battle of the night time, and certainly the featherweight conflict between Arnold Allen and Dan Hooker delivered within the transient interval that it lasted.
Arnold Allen celebrates the most important victory of his profession, in opposition to Dan Hooker
(PA)
Ipswich fighter Allen introduced himself to the world by securing a TKO victory over fan favorite Dan Hooker within the first spherical, forcing the referee to step in by melting the New Zealander with a fierce flurry of punches in opposition to the fence. Previous to the end, Arnold had dealt important injury to Hooker – who was returning to 145lbs from light-weight – but in addition survived an obvious second of hassle brought on by a stiff punch from the “Hangman”. Allen in some way bought proper again to throwing punches, nevertheless, and a one-two gave strategy to a head kick that initiated the ending sequence.
Allen finishes Hooker with a sequence of punches in opposition to the fence
(PA)
Allen’s win adopted the folks’s important occasion, which noticed rising star Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett bewitch these current on the O2 Enviornment. After the 27-year-old’s fascinating walkout, the ambiance felt like that of a title battle. The Liverpudlian light-weight was knocked down by Rodrigo Vargas virtually instantly, however he rallied to take down the Mexican and submit him with a rear bare choke later within the first spherical.
“I’m by no means, ever, ever, ever in a boring battle, lad,” Pimblett stated after his victory – his second within the UFC, along with his promotional debut final 12 months additionally ending through first-round stoppage. “That was solely a few 5 or 6/10. He caught me with a pleasant punch, I failed with the primary takedown try. He did land a punch…
“See this area, the O2? Too small, too small. Give me a stadium, get us to Anfield…”
Pimblett and Molly McCann have a good time, each having gained through stoppage
(Getty Pictures)
Earlier within the night, Pimblett’s fellow Liverpudlian Molly McCann – who joined the “Baddy” within the Octagon for his celebrations – impressed in her flyweight bout in opposition to Luana Carolina, earlier than crumpling the Brazilian with a spinning again elbow within the third spherical. The end despatched the O2 into raptures, in a second to rival Pimblett’s win later within the night time.
Within the prelims, Scotland’s Paul Craig achieved a first-round submission win in opposition to Nikita Krylov, surviving heavy floor and pound from the Ukrainian to get the victory with a triangle submission – marking the “Bearjew”’s fourth stoppage win in a row.
And within the very first battle of the night time, Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC debut ended inside 58 seconds, because the Dagestani-born Mancunian dropped Cody Durden with a leaping knee then submitted the American with a guillotine choke. The outcome noticed Mokaev stay unbeaten, his document bettering to 6-0.
On the post-fight press convention, UFC president Dana White stated the occasion had marked the “greatest gate ever in O2 [Arena] historical past” and the “greatest ever in Struggle Night time historical past”. Each fighter who gained through stoppage acquired a efficiency bonus, White additionally stated.
Predominant Card
Tom Aspinall celebrates his main-event submission of Alexander Volkov
(Motion Pictures through Reuters)
Tom Aspinall def. Alexander Volkov through first-round submission (straight arm lock, 3:45)
Arnold Allen def. Dan Hooker through first-round TKO (punches, 2:33)
Paddy Pimblett def. Rodrigo Vargas through first-round submission (rear bare choke, 3:49)
Gunnar Nelson def. Takashi Sato through unanimous choice (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Molly McCann def. Luana Carolina through third-round KO (spinning again elbow, 1:52)
Ilia Topuria def. Jai Herbert through first-round KO (punch, 1:07)
Prelims
Makwan Amirkhani def. Mike Grundy through first-round submission (anaconda choke, 0:57)
Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov through first-round TKO (punches, 4:03)
Paul Craig def. Nikita Krylov through first-round submission (triangle choke, 3:57)
Jack Shore def. Timur Valiev through unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Elise Reed def. Cory McKenna through cut up choice (27-20, 29-28, 29-28)
Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden through first-round submission (guillotine choke, 0:58)
Kaynak: briturkish.com
