Summary

  • Englishman Tom Aspinall submits Russia's Alexander Volkov in heavyweight main event

  • Paddy Pimblett and Arnold Allen produce first-round stoppages

  • UFC returns to London after a three-year absence

  • Molly McCann produces KO of the year contender against Luana Carolina

  • Paul Craig and Jack Shore with big wins on thrilling prelims

  • Get involved #bbcmma

  1. 'I doubt myself everyday'published at 21:41 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    UFC flyweight Molly McCann speaking backstage: "I'm home, I'm not in America. I'm not on Fight Island - I doubt myself everyday but it wasn't until this week that the timing was there.

    "I was hitting the pads and I knew it was there."

  2. Postpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Everyone is on the feet with their phones out wanting to capture Paddy Pimblett's entrance

    The Baddy's dancing his away towards the octagon like it's a disco.

    20,000 fans are having a party in here!

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  3. Backstage celebrationspublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Our man Manvir Rai is backstage across all the fighters' post-fight interviews.

    Paul Craig was brimming with confidence after his impressive win earlier tonight and we've just had Molly McCann. Quotes incoming...

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  4. 'If I wanted a haircut I'd go and get one'published at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Paddy Pimblett says the main thing he gets grief about online is his haircut.

    The Baddy's blonde locks are unlike any other fighter's on the UFC roster.

    Do you think Pimblett should get a haircut? He has defended his look in the video below.

    Media caption,

    UFC: Paddy Pimblett: "I'm fed up of being told to get a haircut"

  5. Paddy the Baddy up nextpublished at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    The fighter much of the crowd have been looking forward to watching - Paddy Pimblett is up next in the octagon taking on Kazula Vargas at lightweight.

    Remember when the storms literally took off part of the 02 Arena roof a few weeks ago?

    I feel like the repair work could be tested during the Baddy's walkout...

    Paddy PimblettImage source, Getty Images
  6. Winner: Nelson beats Sato by unanimous decisionpublished at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    A triumphant return to the octagon for Iceland's Gunnar Nelson as he earns a unanimous decision victory over Japan's Takashi Sato.

    Nelson's ground game was too strong for Sato as he controlled much of the fight, landing a number of strikes and submission attempts from the back position.

    A statement made in the welterweight division.

  7. Get the cheque book out, Danapublished at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    There's been several finishes in London tonight and I suspect UFC president Dana White will be handing out Performance of the Night bonuses to a number of fighters.

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  8. Postpublished at 21:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Gunnar Nelson v Takashi Sato

    Gunnar Nelson is looking slick in there despite his lengthy absence from the sport.

    The 33-year-old has landed a couple of clean straight rights in the second round is now using his excellent jiu-jitsu to control Sato's back while on the mat.

  9. FOTN fighter predictionspublished at 21:22 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Which fight do you think could steal show tonight at UFC London?

    We asked a few of the athletes for their opinion earlier this week.

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  10. Postpublished at 21:19 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Gunnar Nelson v Takashi Sato

    Coral Barry
    BBC Sport combat sports editor at UFC London

    I've seen Gunnar Nelson fight too many times to count at this stage and it's like he never left. His ground game is still crazy good and the adopted Irishman is looking light on his feet so far. I also love his moustache, just as a sidenote.

    Takashi Sato is keen to keep proceedings on the feet but that is a tough task with Nelson bearing down on you.

  11. Postpublished at 21:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Some more reaction from former Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall to Molly McCann's stunning knockout earlier.

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  12. Postpublished at 21:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Gunnar Nelson v Takashi Sato

    Iceland's Gunnar Nelson, who has a good-sized Irish following after training at coach John Kavanagh's gym in Dublin, is currently in the octagon facing Japan's Takashi Sato.

    It's Nelson's first UFC fight in over two years.

  13. 'UFC London always creates a star'published at 21:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Michael Bisping, Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal - history has shown UFC London create a number of stars over the years and tonight's event creates another opportunity for someone to grab the limelight.

    From Molly McCann and Paddy Pimblett to Arnold Allen and Tom Aspinall - MMA expert Gareth A Davies believes a number of Britons have the potential to step up at the O2 Arena.

    Who are you backing to make the biggest impact tonight?

    Read more from Gareth's feature here.

    Michael BispingImage source, Getty
    Image caption,

    Michael Bisping came out on top against UFC legend Anderson Silva in a bruising encounter in 2016

  14. Postpublished at 21:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight world champion Henry Cejudo is watching.

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    Molly McCannImage source, Getty Images
  15. McCann KO reactionpublished at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

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  16. Postpublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    The big screen shows McCann's Liverpudlian team-mate Paddy Pimblett jumping up and down in celebration backstage - great to see.

    McCann calls for Dana White to set up a UFC event on Merseyside in her post-fight interview.

    That would be quite something...

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  17. Winner: McCann wins by KOpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    IT'S OVER!

    Molly McCann lands a stunning spinning back-elbow which knocks Luana Carolina out clean on her back in the third round.

    The 02 Arena has gone nuts!

    Molly McCannImage source, Getty Images
  18. What else happened in the prelims?published at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    The headlining fight on the prelims saw Finland's Makwan Amirkhani submit Mike Grundy in the first round with an anaconda choke.

    It was a bitterly disappointing result for England's Grundy, who revealed pre-fight he was dedicating the bout to his terminally ill father.

    Elsewhere, Scotland's Paul Craig earned an impressive first round submission victory over Nikita Krylov in their light-heavyweight bout.

    Craig was taken down early in the fight by his Ukrainian opponent, but regained his composure to lock in a triangle hold later in the round, forcing Krylov to tap.

    The win puts 34-year-old Craig on a five-fight win streak and in position to challenge a top five opponent.

    Earlier in the night England's Cory McKenna lost a decision to Elise Reed and Sergei Pavlovic stopped fellow Russian Shamil Abdurakhimov in the first round.

    Makwan Amirkhani and Mike GrundyImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Amirkhani's win over Grundy halted a three-fight losing streak

    Paul CraigImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Craig submitted Krylov

    Paul CraigImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Craig wants to fight in Scotland next this summer

    Corey McKennaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    McKenna and Reed went toe-to-toe

    Corey McKennaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    McKenna lost via split decision

  19. Postpublished at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Molly McCann v Luana Carolina

    Molly McCann is winning this fight.

    She's taken Luana Carolina down in the second round, controlling the action from top position for a good couple of minutes.

    The London crowd is right behind everything McCann does in there.

    Molly McCannImage source, Getty Images
  20. McCann showboating in round onepublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

    Molly McCann v Luana Carolina

    Coral Barry
    BBC Sport combat sports editor at UFC London

    That's a remarkable opening round for Molly McCann. She had Luana Carolina rocked on several occasions and was showboating at the end of the round.

    Hands behind her back, shuffle dance - McCann is a born entertainer. On a technical note, McCann is making the height difference work for her superbly, ducking under Carolina's shots and hitting the sweet spot close up.