It seems weird that the last time the UFC touched down in London was the night Jorge Masvidal knocked out Darren Till and then added “three piece and a soda” to the MMA lexicon backstage.
So much has happened in the interim, making that evening feel like eons ago, not three years. But now here we are, dare I say returning to some semblance of normalcy, with the UFC venturing across the pond in mid-March like the days of old for a jam-packed card loaded with outstanding talents from Britain and elsewhere.
The last time the octagon sat in the center of The O2 Arena was a memorable night in many ways, and I’m guessing this Saturday will be the same.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap for the main card of UFC Fight Night 204.
Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall
Heavyweights battling for position in the rankings clash in the main event as Alexander Volkov (34-9 MMA, 8-3 UFC) squares off with Tom Aspinall (11-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC).
The Russian veteran Volkov has been a consistent top-10 presence since debuting in the UFC towards the end of 2016, posting an 8-3 record through 11 starts, including a fourth-round stoppage win over Fabricio Werdum in London. But the towering 33-year-old has struggled to clear the final hurdle standing between himself and a championship opportunity, and now he has to contend with the ascending Aspinall.
Four wins in as many UFC appearances has put Aspinall on the fast track to contention, and now the Team Kaobon man gets the chance to knock off an established veteran at home. He’s won seven straight overall, all by stoppage, has the temperament and talent to thrive in a pressure situation like this — first main event, first UFC event in London in three years — and profiles as someone that should be in the championship mix for the next several years.
Volkov usually has a considerable height and reach advantage on his opponents, but that won’t be the case here, as Aspinall is only giving up two inches in both height and reach. The British rising star has made relatively quick work of everyone he’s faced to date, so it will be interesting to see how things shake out if Volkov is able to extend him into the latter rounds.
This is the exact type of matchup each man needs at this moment in their careers, and how it plays out will shape what the next 12-18 months inside the octagon look like for each of them.
Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker
Arnold Allen (17-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) looks to add to his lengthy unbeaten streak as he competes for the first time in 11 months, while Dan Hooker (21-11 MMA, 11-7 UFC) aims to get back into the win column and start a run towards the top of the rankings as he moves back down to featherweight here.
Still just 28 years old, Allen is one of the best prospects in the UFC, sporting an 8-0 mark inside the octagon that includes victories over Makwan Amirkhani, Mads Burnell, Gilbert Melendez and Sodiq Yusuff. Injuries and inactivity are the only things keeping Allen from already being a contender, and if he can post another win over the ever-dangerous Hooker and come out of the fight relatively unscathed, he should secure another marquee assignment in the second half of the year.
Hooker began his UFC tenure with three wins and three losses at featherweight, flashing the finishing skills and all-action approach that became his calling card during his lightweight run. Older, wiser, and understanding his ceiling was capped in the 155-pound ranks at the moment, “The Hangman” shifts back down to ’45 and jumps straight into the fray with a dangerous assignment opposite Allen, not that you would expect anything else from him.
Not only should this be a wildly entertaining, action-packed fight, but it will also make it instantly clear where each man stands in the division at the moment. Allen has never been beaten inside the octagon, while Hooker has only lost to elite competition in recent years, so something has got to give on Saturday night.
Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas
Everyone’s favorite Scouser returns for his sophomore appearance in the octagon, as Paddy Pimblett (17-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) squares off with Kazula Vargas (12-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC).
“Paddy the Baddy” garners loads of attention wherever he goes and whenever he competes, and it was no different in his UFC debut last fall. After getting stung a little early, the 27-year-old found his footing and took it to Luigi Vendramini, ending things late in the opening round. Now 17-3 overall, the crowd in The O2 Arena is sure to pop when the lad from Liverpool starts to make his way to the cage this weekend.
Vargas landed on the wrong side of the results in his first two octagon appearances but played spoiler against the debuting Rong Zhu last spring to register his first UFC victory. Now the 36-year-old Mexican veteran will look to do the same, on the road, as he ventures to London to dance with Pimblett.
All eyes will be on the former Cage Warriors champion, who has historically thrived in spots like this. Will it be more of the same for Pimblett or can Vargas take the air out of the partisan crowd by pulling off the upset?
Gunnar Nelson vs. Takashi Sato
Fighting for the first time in more than two years, Gunnar Nelson (17-5-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC) returns looking to stop a two-fight skid as he squares off with Japanese veteran Takashi Sato (16-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) on Saturday.
The 33-year-old Nelson has been a fixture on cards in the United Kingdom and Europe throughout his UFC career, with only three of his 13 appearances taking place in North America. He last competed in 2019, dropping consecutive decisions to Leon Edwards and Gilbert Burns, so it will be interesting to see what the Icelandic veteran can bring to the table this weekend.
Sato steps up to replace Claudio Silva here, making his first appearance since suffering a second-round stoppage loss to Miguel Baeza in late 2020. The 31-year-old is 2-2 in four UFC appearances, and trains with the elite crew at Sanford MMA, so there is no reason to expect him to be anything less than 100 percent and fully capable of spoiling Nelson’s return when they step in against one another in London.
Nelson is a skilled, patient submission artist and was a rankings fixture for much of his previous tenure, but more than two years away from competition and three years removed from his last victory sends him into this one surrounded by question marks. For Sato, this is an all-upside opportunity on short notice, which means he should come out of the chute firing on all cylinders.
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Sergei Pavlovich
The second heavyweight pairing on the main card is a clash between ranked Russian fighters as Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) welcomes Sergei Pavlovich back to the octagon (14-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC).
A staple in the top 15 for the last several years, Abdurakhimov arrives in London on a two-fight slide, having suffered consecutive second-round stoppage losses to Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus at UFC 242 and UFC 266, respectively. Prior to that, “Abrek” had won five of six to solidify his place in the rankings and show what he’s capable of inside the cage.
Pavlovich debuted as an undefeated prospect in November 2018, landing opposite Alistair Overeem in a fight that went the wrong way for him early. He rebounded with consecutive first-round finishes of Marcelo Golm and Maurice Greene in 2019 to establish himself as someone to watch in the division, but has been out of action since due to injuries and visa issues.
Can Abdurakhimov get back in the win column or will Pavlovich pick up where he left off more than two years ago?
Nikita Krylov vs. Paul Craig
Ranked light heavyweights Nikita Krylov (27-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and Paul Craig (15-4-1 MMA, 7-4-1 UFC) clash in this main card matchup as each man looks to begin their 2022 campaign with a victory and cement their standing in the division.
Krylov has alternated losses and victories in his five fights since returning to the UFC in the fall of 2018 and enters Saturday’s contest off a unanimous decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev last February. The 30-year-old has grown significantly as a fighter over the course of his career, developing into a perennial tough out and well-rounded talent capable of maintaining permanent residence inside the top 15.
Craig has really started to find his stride over the last couple of years, entering this clash with Krylov having won three straight, and he is unbeaten in his last five. Last time out, the Scotsman collected a first-round stoppage win over Jamahal Hill, dislocating his elbow in a submission attempt before putting him away with strikes in a tick under two minutes.
This story first published at UFC.com.
