The most recent UFC event in London has wrapped up, and it’s safe to say it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Fans were left disappointed after what should have been an exciting night turned sluggish, despite the event drawing a remarkable crowd of 18,583 and generating a substantial gate of $4.71 million. These attendees witnessed a night dominated by decisions with no dramatic knockouts or TKOs, leading to an underwhelming experience overall.
British fighters faced a tough night, with a 3-6 record tainting their efforts. Notably, the card missed some big names like Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, Arnold Allen, and MVP, right from the beginning, and that absence of star power certainly dulled the event’s impact.
So, what exactly went wrong at UFC London? Let’s take a closer look.
As Adam Catterall tweeted, it was hard to remember a more disappointing UFC event.
### English Fighters’ Unfortunate Night
The O2 Arena saw several local fighters falling short, including Nathan Fletcher, Mick Parkin, Jai Herbert, Jordan Vucenic, Molly McCann, and Leon Edwards. Both Fletcher and Vucenic taken down by home territory rivals Caolan Loughran and Chris Duncan, respectively.
In terms of performances, Mick Parkin’s fight with Marcin Tybura was anything but memorable, and although Jai Herbert delivered an action-packed clash against Chris Padilla, it wasn’t enough to claim victory. Meanwhile, Christian Leroy Duncan secured a win but failed to impress with his performance.
Molly McCann and Leon Edwards seemed to offer their career-worst fights. McCann, stepping in against late replacement Alexia Thainara, was dominated from start to finish, culminating in a defeat within 4 minutes and 32 seconds. That night also marked McCann’s retirement, as she admitted she had nothing more to give to the sport. You can read more about McCann’s retirement in our detailed piece.
Leon Edwards had his challenges as well, notably struggling with Sean Brady’s wrestling prowess in the main event. Prior to this bout, Edwards had been taken down 20 times across his last four matches, and Brady added another five to that tally. Edwards made a critical error in the third round, attempting an ill-advised takedown despite being outmatched on the ground in the previous round.
Further accentuating the disappointment, fans started leaving after just three rounds of the supposed five-round main event.
Credit, however, must go to Sean Brady from Philadelphia for a commendable display. His wrestling-focused approach may not have been thrilling, but it was effective, keeping Edwards at bay throughout. Edwards seemed passive, more focused on defense than making any offensive moves.
### Other Disappointments
Elsewhere, Guram Kutateladze failed to live up to expectations, battling through a one-sided loss despite notable support. Meanwhile, one victory among the British fighters came from Lone’er Kavanagh, who had to adopt a cautious strategy due to an early cut, turning the match into a wrestling bout as a safety measure.
Nathaniel Wood delivered a dominant performance, though fans were impatient for him to push for a finish. Despite impressive showings, he hasn’t closed a fight since 2019, leaving room for growth against top-tier competitors.
One of the least engaging fights of the night included Carlos Ulberg and Jan Blachowicz’s battle of leg kicks, making for a dreary 15-minute encounter.
### Bright Spots
On the brighter side, Shauna Bannon and Puja Tomar’s fight eventually captivated attention, particularly after Tomar landed a head kick that led to Bannon’s thrilling come-from-behind armbar victory, earning her a $50K bonus.
Alexia Thainara’s quick and efficient fight, highlighted by her vibrant entrance, set the tone and secured her own $50K bonus by ending the bout quickly against a local favorite.
Similarly, the match between Gunnar Nelson and Kevin Holland entertained with dynamic exchanges and ground action. While Nelson nearly secured a submission, Holland managed to land significant strikes, providing fans a dose of excitement.
In summary, the event underscored the need for UFC to stack its London cards with more star quality next time, lest they risk losing the interest of UK’s passionate MMA fanbase.
