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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlie Wilson

Who is Rodrigo Vargas? Paddy Pimblett UFC London opponent who had illegal knees DQ

We're not long away from seeing Paddy Pimblett back in UFC action on Saturday night.

The UFC makes it's return to London for the first time in three years this weekend with Fight Night 204 being held at London's O2 Arena on March 19.

It's set to be a card filled with British fighters, with many being given a huge opportunity to announce themselves on the UFC stage.

Heavyweight Tom Aspinall is set to headline the event coming up against veteran fighter Alexander Volkov in what could be a huge chance to volt himself into the championship picture. Elsewhere on the card, Ipswich's Arnold Allen will come up against UFC veteran and previous main event draw Dan Hooker.

But one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the night will see Liverpool's very own Pimblett return to action.

Pimblett well and truly burst and onto the scene last year, executing a simply incredible first fight with a victory over Luigi Vendramini.

He was able to compose himself, before attacking the Italian with a barrage of blows before landing a beautiful combination, dropping and finishing Vendramini in the first round.

That performance put Paddy The Baddy on the map, with his Instagram account blowing up to half a million followers in the aftermath of the fight.

Now, quickly becoming a mainstream name and one of the exciting, young prospects within the company - it's fair to say that even he could not have expected to have made a more impressive start.

Fans have had to wait to see him return to action, but now we know when that will be and who he'll face.

Here's all you need to know on the upcoming fight.

Who is Pimblett fighting?

The popular Liverpool star will face Rodrigo 'Kazula' Vargas.

Vargas is a 36-year-old Mexican fighter with a 12-4 record, whilst being 1-2 in the UFC, however, one of his losses was a disqualification for illegal knees.

He claimed a huge victory in his last fight on the PPV card of UFC 261, defeating Rong Zhu by way of a decision.

Vargas has seven knockouts and three submission victories - two of those coming in a guillotine choke.

Pimblett will have a two-inch height and one-and-a-half inch reach advantage over Vargas.

When will Pimblett be fighting?

Pimblett will be on the UFC London card along with fellow Merseyside fighters Molly McCann and Mike Grundy.

Aspinall will headline the card, fighting UFC veteran Volkov, while Arnold Allen will face Dan Hooker in what's expected to a co-main event.

What is the fight card?

Tom Aspinall vs Alexander Volkov

Dan Hooker vs Arnold Allen

Paddy Pimblett vs Rodrigo Vargas

Gunnar Nelson vs Takashi Sato

Molly McCann vs Luana Carolina

Paul Craig vs Nikita Krylov

Jack Shore vs Timur Valiev

Mike Grundy vs Makwan AmirKhani

Shamil Abdurakhimov vs Sergei Pavlovich

Muhammad Mokaev vs Cody Durden

Cory Mckenna vs Elise Reed

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