LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 15: UFC CEO Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 2024 season … [+]
UFC London is official for March 22 at the O2 Arena, as are strong main and co-main events.
Dana White and Co. have put together a card that should get local UFC fans buzzing. The UFC recently announced the return of former champion Leon Edwards to the Octagon, as he will face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 15: Leon Edwards of Jamaica poses at the weigh-in during UFC 296 … [+]
Edwards will make his first appearance since losing his UFC lightweight championship to Belal Muhammad in July 2024 at UFC 304. Edwards comes into the fight ranked no. 1 in the division and he will have the home crowd at the O2 Arena behind him.
Della Maddalena has been sidelined even longer than Edwards. The 28-year-old Australian last fought in March 2024 at UFC 299, where he scored a TKO victory over Gilbert Burns.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 15: Jack Della Maddalena of Australia fights Bassil Hafez in … [+]
Della Maddalena ranks fourth, after the champion Muhammad, Edwards, no. 2 Kamaru Usman and no. 3 Shavkat Rakhmonov. A win for Della Maddalena would position her for her next shot at the title after Muhammad faces Rakhmonov.
That fight was scheduled to take place in December at UFC 310, but Muhammad was forced to pull out due to injury. Rakhmonov stayed on the card and defeated Ian Machado Garry to solidify his place in the Top 3 of the lightweight division.
It seems likely that Usman could end up in a clash with No. 5 Sean Brady at some point.
The co-main event is another fight with potential championship opportunities hanging in the balance. No. 4 Jan Błachowicz returns from a nearly two-year layoff to face fast-rising welterweight prospect No. 6 Carlos Ulberg.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 10: Jan Blachowicz of Poland stands in his corner between rounds … [+]
Błachowicz’s last fight was a split decision loss to Alex Pereira in March 2023 at UFC 291. Injuries have kept the former champion out of action, but he wants another shot at Pereira. The 41-year-old will have to get past Ulberg to get there.
Ulberg is on a seven-fight winning streak, having earned a unanimous decision win over Volkan Oezdemir in November 2024. A win by either of them could put them on the road to a title shot.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MAY 11: Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand reacts after his TKO victory over Alonzo … [+]
If Pereira moves up to heavyweight after his March 8 clash with Magomed Ankalaev, the winner of Błachowicz-Ulberg could make a strong case to be the man to fight for the vacant title or as Ankalaev’s opponent – if he pulls out of the concussion .
In any case, the main and co-main events in London are particularly strong given that UFC London is a Fight Night card and not a pay-per-view.
Here’s a look at portions of the card shared by the UFC on social media.
- Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena – Lightweight (170 lbs)
- Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg – Lightweight (205 lbs)
- Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin – Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy – Lightweight (205 lbs)
- Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar – Straw (115 lbs)
- Andrey Pulyaev vs. Christian Duncan – Middleweight (185 lbs)
- Molly McCann vs. Istela Nunes – Strawweight (115 lbs)
- Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charrière – Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Caolan Loughran vs. Nathan Fletcher – bantamweight (135 lbs)
- Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos – Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla – Lightweight (155 lbs)
