Tag: UFC London

Renato Moicano Sets Sights on Paddy Pimblett for UFC London Headliner in March

Renato Moicano Sets Sights on Paddy Pimblett for UFC London Headliner in MarchWith the UFC’s return to London in 2025 official, Renato Moicano has the perfect main event in mind. On…

Renato Moicano Sets Sights on Paddy Pimblett for UFC London Headliner in March

With the UFC’s return to London in 2025 official, Renato Moicano has the perfect main event in mind.

On Tuesday, the promotion announced that they would be returning to the iconic O2 Arena for its 30th event in the United Kingdom. No official details other than the date — March 22, 2025 — have been released, but No. 10 ranked lightweight contender Renato Moicano loves the sound of a scrap between himself and Paddy Pimblett headlining the card.

“UFC London Main event!? Moicano vs. Pimblett!? What do you guys think!?” Moicano wrote on X.

Renato Moicano

Pimblett and Moicano have been jawing at one another for months while racking up wins in the lightweight division. After scoring an epic come-from-behind KO against Jalin Turner and handily dismantling Benoit Saint-Denis in his last outing, ‘Money’ finds himself sitting in the No. 10 spot in the lightweight rankings.

Renato Moicano

Pimblett calls for a clash with Renato Moicano after dispatching ‘King’ Green in opening round

Meanwhile, Pimblett finally broke into the top 15 with a first-round submission win against Bobby ‘King’ Green in Manchester earlier this year.

paddy pimblett green submission

Following his big win at UFC 304, ‘The Baddy’ called for a clash with Moicano, believing the Brazilian would be a perfect opponent for him to break into the division’s top 10 and eventually earn himself a shot at the 155-pound title.

“Now I want to fight Renato Moicano,” Pimblett told Action Network. “He wants to fight me. I want to fight him. I think it’d be a fun fight for everyone involved. We’d end up having a good fight. If it was up to me, it’s Moicano. It’s a good scrap,” he added. I was thinking the other week, the perfect route to the title would have been Moicano and then Charles Oliveira.

Since making his UFC debut in September 2021, Pimblett has gone 6-0 with all but two of his fights ending inside the distance.

image e4c5da09 f7fe 4b6c b65c 3c9619c715d1 85 2560 1440

UFC Announces Return To London For A Fight Night On March 22

The Octagon is returning to London, England in 2025 for a Fight Night event that will take place at the O2 Arena on March 22. Crucially, as was stated in the announcement via UFC Europe, the event will take place at prime time in the UK unlike UFC 304 that was held earlier this year. […]

Continue Reading UFC Announces Return To London For A Fight Night On March 22 at MMA News.

The Octagon is returning to London, England in 2025 for a Fight Night event that will take place at the O2 Arena on March 22. Crucially, as was stated in the announcement via UFC Europe, the event will take place at prime time in the UK unlike UFC 304 that was held earlier this year.

In July, the promotion hosted an event as the new Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester and due to it being a PPV card, the fights took place throughout Saturday night and well into the early hours of Sunday morning in order to cater for the US audience.

The fact that this card will be a Fight Night event rather than a PPV card means that the English fans will have to wait a bit longer before the interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall returns on home soil after successfully defending his belt in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes earlier this year.

London’s last UFC event was also headlined by Aspinall in his return from injury where he faced Marcin Tybura and finished him in the first round. The event in July of 2023 also featured the likes of Molly McCann, Nathaniel Wood, Paul Craig and Lerone Murphy.

When looking at potential main events for this card, several Brits are all in position for big fights in the near future.

Both Arnold Allen and Murphy have their eyes on the featherweight top 10 as well as welterweights like Michael “Venom” Page or a returning Leon Edwards being potential candidates. Paddy Pimblett would undoubtedly sell the Arena out all by himself but it seems likely that his next outing will be on PPV once again.

The UFC isn’t going to be hard pressed to fill this card with home crowd favorites as is often the case when the Octagon makes the trip across the pond.

Continue Reading UFC Announces Return To London For A Fight Night On March 22 at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall clamors for Sergei Pavlovich after UFC London win: ‘I definitely want to fight him’

Tom Aspinall welcomes fight with Sergei Pavlovich in UFC definitely want to fight himDespite initially calling for a title eliminator against the victor of a UFC Fight Night Paris headliner between Ciryl Gane and Sergei Spivak, recent UFC London winner, Tom Aspinall has not shied away from a bout with Russian knockout ace, Sergei Pavlovich, stressing how he “definitely” wants to clash with him. Headlining UFC London just […]

Tom Aspinall welcomes fight with Sergei Pavlovich in UFC definitely want to fight him

Despite initially calling for a title eliminator against the victor of a UFC Fight Night Paris headliner between Ciryl Gane and Sergei Spivak, recent UFC London winner, Tom Aspinall has not shied away from a bout with Russian knockout ace, Sergei Pavlovich, stressing how he “definitely” wants to clash with him.

Headlining UFC London just last weekend, Aspinall returned to the Octagon following a catastrophic knee injury the year prior, stopping Polish veteran, Marcin Tybura with a stunning first round TKO in the capital.

In the immediate aftermath of the pairing, the Atherton native welcomed the possibility of a title eliminator against former interim champion, Gane, or former opponent, Spivak – with the European contenders slated to headline at the Accor Arena in France on September 2. 

Drawing the attention of current undisputed heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, Aspinall stressed that he wanted to fight the Endicott native for gold following his return at UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden.

Tom Aspinall welcomes title eliminator with Sergei Pavlovich

However, as far as a suggested pairing with streaking knockout ace, Pavlovich, Aspinall maintained he definitely wanted to fight the Russian.

“I wouldn’t turn him (Sergei Pavlovich) down, definitely not,” Tom Aspinall told the Daily Star. “I definitely want to fight him. I probably – I don’t know (why I didn’t call him out) I think he just wasn’t fresh in my mind. I think it’s because everyone was talking about UFC Paris all week and what a good event it would be.”

“I think I forgot about Pavlovich, to be honest,” Tom Aspinall explained. “But if he’s the number one contender, then I want to fight him. I’m not really fussed with the direction which UFC go – I’m ready for anyone.” 

The current number one ranked heavyweight contender, has enjoyed a stunning six-fight winning run since a knockout loss to Alistair Overeem in his Octagon debut racking up wins over the likes of Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, and Shamil Abdurakhimov to name a few. 

Would you like to see Tom Aspinall vs. Sergei Pavlovich next?

Jon Jones sends deleted message to Tom Aspinall: ‘Everyone’s the next big thing until I beat them’

Jon Jones warning to Tom Aspinall everybody is the next big thing before I beat them UFCJon Jones appears to have taken note of a recent call out from the surging, Tom Aspinall following his win at UFC London – warning the British heavyweight that he as a knack of defeated the consensus “next big thing”. Jones, the current undisputed heavyweight champion and former two-time light heavyweight gold holder, is slated […]

Jon Jones warning to Tom Aspinall everybody is the next big thing before I beat them UFC

Jon Jones appears to have taken note of a recent call out from the surging, Tom Aspinall following his win at UFC London – warning the British heavyweight that he as a knack of defeated the consensus “next big thing”.

Jones, the current undisputed heavyweight champion and former two-time light heavyweight gold holder, is slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden, taking on the returning former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic.

Earlier this year, the Endicott-born look-see-do fighter returned triumphantly from a three-year-plus layoff, taking on former interim champion, Ciryl Gane in a vacant title offing.

Striking divisional gold in his heavyweight bow, Jon Jones submitted the Frenchman with a dominant opening round guillotine choke submission win.

And following his knockout win over Marcin Tybura over the weekend in his return to the Octagon following a debilitating knee injury, Aspinall called for a future title pairing with Jones. 

Jon Jones sends deleted warning to Tom Aspinall following UFC London

However, this morning, in a now-deleted post, Jones claimed that Aspinall may be the “next big thing”, however, he has an ability to comfortably dispatch fighters with that billing.

“Everyone’s the next big thing until I beat them,” Jon Jones tweeted. “And then it’s like well, who was that guy anyway? Just a few months ago (Ciryl) Gane was the absolute future of MMA. Best foot work, fastest heavyweight we have ever seen. The most athletic. Now everyone’s like who the hell is that guy?”

Linked with a potential retirement of his own in a return to his home state for his heavyweight title defense against Miocic before the end of this year, Jones is firmly on the radar of Aspinall – with the Atherton native welcoming a title-eliminator with either Gane, or former-foe, Sergei Spivak before challenging Jones for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

‘Meatball’ Molly McCann announces move to strawweight amid back-to-back losses: ‘It’s time to drop down’

Molly McCannMeatball’ Molly McCann is making some adjustments as she once again looks to recover from back-to-back losses inside the Octagon. The Liverpudlian fan favorite came up short in her return at UFC London on Saturday, suffering a first-round submission loss at the hands of 11-7-1 fighter Julija Stoliarenko. McCann has now lost two straight via […]

Molly McCann

Meatball’ Molly McCann is making some adjustments as she once again looks to recover from back-to-back losses inside the Octagon.

The Liverpudlian fan favorite came up short in her return at UFC London on Saturday, suffering a first-round submission loss at the hands of 11-7-1 fighter Julija Stoliarenko. McCann has now lost two straight via submission in the first round, prompting ‘Meatball’ to make a much-needed change in her mixed martial arts career.

Taking to Instagram, McCann revealed that she will be moving down to strawweight in hopes of fighting women that better match her size and stature.

I have always had the toughest road and journey in life, that’s just the Molly McCann way, and I’m okay with that,” McCann wrote. “The highs are the highest and the lows, well I don’t think I have words that do the pain and hurt justice. But dare to dream ay! If there’s one thing I know, it’s how to always overcome adversity and this is no different. 20 months ago I was sitting in this same position, 2 back to back losses and ready to pack it in. Then a boss run and my world changed forever.

“We have one more adjustment to make and I believe that will make all the difference in the world, the smallest in the division makes it tough when the opponents are so much bigger. So for me it’s time to drop down and face the girls who are the same size!”

Molly McCann Has Been Here Before

Making her Octagon debut in 2018, Molly McCann came up short against Gillian Robertson, but quickly bounced back, rattling off three straight wins against Priscila Cachoeira, Ariane Lipski, and Diana Belbi??. However, her momentum came to a crashing halt when she lost back-to-back unanimous decisions against Taila Sanoto and Lara Fritzen.

Again, ‘Meatball’ bit down on her mouthpiece and landed three more wins, including star-making knockouts against Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy. The victories matched with her highly publicized friendship with Paddy Pimblett made McCann a bonafide superstar in her home country, but she has failed to capitalize on the momentum when it comes to making headway in the flyweight division.

A move to strawweight could open up a whole new world for Molly McCann as a plethora of fresh matchups and possibilities await her.

Paul Craig confident of submission win over UFC star Khamzat Chimaev: ‘There’s a good chance he’d get triangle’d’

Paul Craig plans submission win over Khamzat Chimaev UFC he'd get triangle'dOff the back of his impressive second round win over Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Andre Muniz over the weekend at UFC London, Scottish grappler, Paul Craig has claimed he would likely land a submission win over Khamzat Chimaev, as well as calling out the undefeated, Bo Nickal. Snapping a two-fight losing skid to both […]

Paul Craig plans submission win over Khamzat Chimaev UFC he'd get triangle'd

Off the back of his impressive second round win over Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Andre Muniz over the weekend at UFC London, Scottish grappler, Paul Craig has claimed he would likely land a submission win over Khamzat Chimaev, as well as calling out the undefeated, Bo Nickal.

Snapping a two-fight losing skid to both Volkan Oezdemir, and Johnny Walker, the latter of which at the beginning of the year at UFC 283 in Brazil, Craig made a middleweight divisional bow over the weekend at The O2 Arena.

And snapping his losing run, Craig, who is likely set to land a ranking in the top-15 of the middleweight division come the release of the rankings update tomorrow, forced a second round stoppage win over fellow grappling talent, Muniz, laying waste to the Brazilian with a slew of ground elbow strikes for a TKO success.

Off the back of his win, Craig welcomed the prospect of fighting recent winner, Nickal, who has so far enjoyed a stunning run throughout his brief tenure under the UFC banner.

Paul Craig plots submission win over the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev

And as far as a potential future pairing with the undefeated, Chimaev in the future, Craig claimed he would be confident of submitting the Chechen-born finisher if they shared the Octagon.

“Everybody in middleweight’s got an opportunity to fight me,” Paul Craig told assembled media after UFC London. “If it is Khamzat (Chimaev) and he takes me down, there’s a good chance that he’s going to get triangle’d. My Jiu-Jitsu, I never had faith in my Jiu-Jitsu and it’s starting to build up.”

“People say, ‘Paul’s got good Jiu-Jitsu,’ but you always doubt your abilities,” Paul Craig explained. “This fight here, was one of the ones where I was like, ‘Right, if I’m a Jiu-Jitsu guy, I must be able to defend and I must be able to attack and I must be able to win [this] fight.’ I’m a Jiu-Jitsu guy who is dangerous in MMA.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

As for Chimaev, the AllStars MMA staple is slated to make his return at UFC 294 in October, making a middleweight divisional return against former title chaser, Paulo Costa – whom he claimed he would make “cry’ inside the Octagon.