The UFC has announced that they will return to London with a pay-per-view show next year.
UFC kingpin Dana White brought two shows to UK shores this year, which featured the likes of Paddy Pimblett, Tom Aspinall and Molly McCann. The events were both considered a roaring success, with London's O2 arena playing host to sold out crowds on two separate occasions.
And a hugely-exciting bill has been announced to take place on March 18 in the British capital next year, which will be a pay-per-view card. This will be just the second time in UFC history that an event has been numbered in the UK, since Michael Bisping defended his middleweight title at UFC 204 in 2016.
UFC president Dana White announced that a title fight will top the bill in a statement, which read: "Everyone knows how much I love our fans in the UK. We had two incredible shows in London in 2022, and this time we’re bringing a world title fight with the biggest and baddest card we could put together at The O2 on March 18.
"The UK MMA scene is exploding with talent right now and I can’t wait to show you guys what we have in store for you next year.” It is expected that the title fight topping the bill will be a trilogy clash between newly crowned champion Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman.
Edwards became champion earlier this year with a sensational final round KO of previous champion Usman, and it was expected that the Nigerian would be handed a shot at immediate redemption. The Principality Stadium in Cardiff was considered as a venue for the latest UK event, but is expected that the O2 arena will once again play host.
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It is unclear who the rest of the card may feature, but Liverpudlian pair Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann have become a fan-favourite staple of the previous fight cards in London. However Pimblett has previously suggested he would be fighting in the US and would not take on further challenges in the UK.
The card will likely feature exciting prospects Muhammad Mokaev and Arnold Allen who have both made public calls to earn their place in London. Edwards will likely look to continue to put in history-defining displays by topping the bill, after becoming just the second British UFC champion in history.
He previously suggested he is open to the third fight being held in the UK, and even touted Wembley Stadium as a potential venue. He responded when asked about a fight in the national stadium: "Yeah, 100 per cent. I think mixed martial arts has grown so much in the UK and it's been waiting for a show like that to happen in Europe.
"Now you've got a world champion from the UK I think it's the perfect time, especially with all the other [British] fighters doing well in the sport I think now is the time to do it, to keep growing MMA in this part of the world."
