London is now a staple of the UFC’s annual calendar and once again the premier MMA league heads across the Atlantic Ocean as another Fight Night is upon us this weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the UFC’s defining moments this side of the pond.
The Birth of UFC London: UFC 38 at Royal Albert Hall
The UFC’s London story kicked off way back in rthe summer of 2002 with the event: Brawl at the Hall. Hosted at the historic Royal Albert Hall, home to many iconicconcerts from artists such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and the great Frank Sinatra, this event marked the promotion’s first venture into Europe. Welterweight champion Matt Hughes headlined the UFC’s London debut, defending his title with a fourth-round TKO over Carlos Newton. Also on the card, British fighter Ian Freeman shocked the future heavyweight legend, Frank Mir, with a first-round knockout.
With just 3,800 fans in attendance – a far cry from the gates we see today – UFC 38 was a small but pivotal step for the growth of its overseas operations.
UFC London’s O2 Era: A New Home for Epic Fights
The UFC once again returned to the capital in the fall of 2007, with UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion at The O2 Arena, formerly known as ‘The Millenium Dome’. Light heavyweight champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson unified the title against PRIDE legend Dan Henderson, winning a hard-fought decision. The event drew 16,235 fans, a massive leap from UFC 38, and showcased future stars like Chael Sonnen.
The O2 era hit new heights with UFC 120 in October 2010. Michael Bisping won a unamimous decision (30-27 x3) against Yoshihiro Akiyama in front of 17,133 fans—a European attendance record at the time. It didn’t all go the Brits way that night, as Carlos Condit’s knocked out Dan Hardy.
Memorable UFC London Moments and British Stars
Here are some other standout moments from the UFC’s time in London:
- Bisping vs. Silva (2016): At UFC Fight Night on February 27, Michael Bisping upset Anderson Silva in a five-round classic. Arguably one of the biggest moments in UK MMA history, Bisping’s win at The O2 propelled him to a middleweight title shot.
- Till vs. Masvidal (2019): Jorge Masvidal’s brutal knockout of Darren Till on March 16 showcased the high stakes of UFC London main events and was a big shock to the system of the UK MMA fans. Masvidal’s win set him up for a great run over the next couple of years as he later knocked out Ben Askren in what was one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history.
- Aspinall’s Rise (2022-2023): Tom Aspinall electrified crowds with a submission of Alexander Volkov in March 2022 and a 73-second KO of Marcin Tybura in July 2023—both at The O2—en route to interim heavyweight gold. We won’t mention the horrific injury against Curtis Blaydes in the same arena though!
Modern UFC London: Post-Pandemic Resurgence
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted UFC’s UK plans, canceling a March 2020 card headlined by Tyron Woodley vs. Leon Edwards. The UFC roared back on March 19, 2022, with UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall. Featuring nine stoppages—six by British fighters—the event smashed records as the highest-grossing Fight Night in UFC history and The O2’s top single sporting event, with 17,813 fans.
In 2023, UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 elevated London to pay-per-view statusand was a rematch following Edwards’ famous head kick knockout over the long-reigning welterweight champ. Leon Edwards won the rubber match between the two by majority decision.
UFC London 2025 Preview
The UFC returns to The O2 arena this weekend and it’s by all means a good card by Fight Night standards. Former welterweight champ Leon Edwards headlines the event alongside against Sean Brady, with the Brit desperate for a win to get a chance for the rubber match with the current champion, Belal Muhammad. The co-main event looks a good one too as another former champion, the light-heavyweight Jan Blachowicz, takes on rising star Carlos Ulberg. British fan favorites Molly McCann and Nathaniel Wood will also feature this weekend in what promises to be a cracking night of fights from a sold out 02 Arena.
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