UFC returns to the United Kingdom for the first time in three years next Saturday, as Fight Night 204 hits the O2 Arena in London. The main event sees Liverpool-based heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall take on former Bellator Heavyweight Champion Alexander Volkov.
The headline bout is currently up in the air due to the fact Volkov is Russian and lives in the country. He has reportedly refused to travel to the UK early in order to ensure safe passage, so there remains a chance he will withdraw. The card is still expected to go ahead if Volkov does withdraw, with a replacement opponent believed to be likely for Aspinall.
The card is rich with top domestic fighters with popular Scouse pair Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann among the array of talent involved. It’s been a long time coming, but the return of the Octagon to British shores is bound to make for an incredible evening.
Here’s everything you need to know about this red hot night in the Big Smoke.
Where: 02 Arena, London, England
When: Saturday 19th March, Prelims 6pm, Main Card 8pm
How to watch: BT Sport 1
Tale of the Tape:
Aspinall
Place Of Birth: Manchester, England
Age: 28
Record: 11-2 (11 finishes)
Height: 6’5’’
Reach: 78’’
Last Fight: Big Tom was not hanging around in his last trip to the Octagon. Aspinall took home Performance of the Night for his first round TKO of Sergey Spivak in September. Not one of Aspinall’s victims has heard the final bell yet, with the Englishman having nine knockouts and two submissions on his ledger.
Volkov
Place Of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Age: 33
Alias: Drago
Record: 34-9 (25 finishes)
Height: 6’7’’
Reach: 80’’
Last Fight: ‘Drago’ strengthened his grip on sixth spot in the UFC heavyweight rankings with a unanimous decision win over Marcin Tybura in Abu Dhabi. The victory saw Volkov rebound from a defeat last summer to future UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane.
What They Say:
Aspinall
“I'm aware of how good this guy is and how big an event this is. My goal is just that, I'm not thinking about anything else. He's 6ft 8, a rangy Russian, great kicks, great takedown defence, really underrated on the ground as well, done five rounds 70,000 times, I've never done it so he has all kinds of advantages on me.” [BT Sport]
Dana White On The Volkov Situation
“If that’s going to happen, let’s get these guys into England earlier. I know that we’ve been trying to get Volkov to leave Russia, and he hasn’t wanted to.” [TSN]
Full Card:
Tom Aspinall vs Alexander Volkov
Dan Hooker vs Arnold Allen
Paddy Pimblett vs Rodrigo Vargas
Paul Craig vs Nikita Krylov
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs Sergei Pavlovich
Gunnar Nelson vs Claudio Silva
Muhammad Mokaev vs Cody Durden
Jack Shore vs Timur Valiev
Mike Grundy vs Makwan Amirkhani
Molly McCann vs Luana Carolina
Cory McKenna vs Elise Reed
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
