The UFC’s Octagon returns to London, England for a UFC Fight Night event that looks set to deliver action aplenty from The O2 Arena.
Newsweek is on the ground in London for fight week, and our reporter Simon Head breaks down a quartet of clashes to keep an eye on from the English capital this weekend.
More news: Leon Edwards Targeting Title Rematch With Belal Muhammad: ‘I Truly Believe I Am The Better Fighter’
Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
The main event in London features a pivotal clash in the UFC’s welterweight division.
Former undisputed welterweight champion Leon Edwards returns to action looking to put things right after a sub-par display at UFC 304 saw him lose his title to Belal Muhammad in Manchester.
Prior to that fight, Edwards looked like one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC, but on a night that saw him fighting at 5am, Edwards looked sluggish and slow to react as he fell to a unanimous decision defeat.
Now the number-one contender is back, and determined to bounce back in style as he looks to earn another crack at the title.
Standing in his way is American contender Sean Brady, who was drafted in on relatively short notice to replace Edwards’ original opponent Jack Della Maddalena – who will now challenge Muhammad for the title at UFC 315.
Brady is ranked fifth at 170 pounds, and is one of the most dangerous mat wrestlers and grapplers in the division. And, with a record of 17-1, he offers a serious threat to the top of the division.
Edwards will go into the bout with advantages in height, reach and striking ability. But Brady will have seen how Muhammad managed to overpower Edwards last time out, and will be keen to replicate that approach to pick up the biggest win of his career to date.
The championship picture at the top of the UFC’s 170-pound class is a crowded one, with a host of contenders jockeying for position to challenge for the title later this year. Victory for either man could be enough to earn a shot at the belt later this year.
Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
The co-main event features a battle of generations in the light heavyweight division.
Former 205-pound champion Jan Blachowicz is 42 years of age, and still looking as tough and durable as ever. But on Saturday night in London he’ll face arguably the division’s biggest rising star.
Carlos Ulberg comes from the same team that produced Israel Adesanya, and his smooth, slick kickboxing skills have seen him tear through the opposition en route to this weekend’s clash with Blachowicz.
Ulberg carries all the momentum, but against Blachowicz he’ll be lining up against the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.
Blachowicz has a win over Adesanya to his name, and while he lost a close decision to Alex Pereira, the world-class knockout artist couldn’t make a dent in the Pole’s granite-like chin.
Blachowicz will look to take Ulberg off his feet and punish him on the mat, while Ulberg will look to pick the Pole apart on the feet.
It’s a real clash of styles, and it should make for fascinating viewing.
Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan
England versus Scotland is a rivalry that stretches way back to 1314 and The Battle of Bannockburn, and every sporting clash between the two nations always carries a little extra spice. And that’s what we’ll get in the lightweight main card matchup between Scotland’s Chris Duncan and England’s Jordan Vucenic.
Duncan has the experience edge on the big stage, with the Scot making his fifth UFC appearance, while Vucenic is making the walk for only his second.
But, while Duncan may be the more seasoned competitor in the UFC, Vucenic arrives as a former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, with many of his best performances coming in the Indigo, the smaller venue inside The O2 Arena.
He’ll be playing a starring role on the main card in the big arena on Saturday, as he looks to pick up his first UFC win. But, with Duncan in form after picking up a first-round submission victory last time out, it promises to be a tough test for both men.
Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere
The first fight on the main card might just end up being the best fight on the card.
Both Nathaniel Wood and Morgan Charriere made their names in UK promotion Cage Warriors, with Wood capturing the bantamweight crown, and Charriere winning the featherweight strap.
Both are expected to bring plenty of fans, too. Charriere’s fights always feature a vociferous army of fans, while London’s Wood – a protege of UK MMA legend Brad “One Punch” Pickett – is the most local fighter on the card.
Both men love to stand and bang, but they’re also equally adept at finishing fights on the mat, so wherever this fight goes, the action should be non-stop.
UFC London: Confirmed fight card
MAIN CARD
- Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady – welterweight
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg – light heavyweight
- Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland – welterweight
- Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara – women’s strawweight
- Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan – lightweight
- Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere – featherweight
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla – lightweight
- Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe Dos Santos – flyweight
- Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin – heavyweight
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulayev – middleweight
- Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar – women’s strawweight
- Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran – bantamweight
Read the full article here
