UFC Unveils Massive London Card With 2 Former Champs Returning
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 15: UFC CEO Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 2024 seasonal ... [+] press conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesUFC London is official for March 22 at the O2 Arena, as are its strong main and co-main event fights.Dana White and Co. have put together a card that should have the local UFC fans buzzing. The UFC recently announced former champion Leon Edwards return to the Octagon, as he will face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event.LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 15: Leon Edwards of Jamaica poses on the scale during the UFC 296 ... [+] official weigh-in at UFC APEX on December 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesEdwards will be making his first appearance since losing his UFC welterweight championship to Belal Muhammad in July 2024 at UFC 304. Edwards comes into the fight ranked No. 1 in the division, and hell have the home crowd at the O2 Arena behind him.Della Maddalena has been out of action even longer than Edwards. The 28-year-old from Australia 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 battles Bassil Hafez in their ... [+] welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX on July 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesDella Maddalena comes in ranked No. 4, behind the champion Muhammad, Edwards, No. 2 Kamaru Usman, and No. 3 Shavkat Rakhmonov. A win for Della Maddalena would position him for the next title shot after Muhammad faces Rakhmonov.MORE FOR YOUThat fight was scheduled to happen in December at UFC 310, but Muhammad was forced to withdraw because of injury. Rakhmonov stayed on the card and defeated Ian Machado Garry to solidify his spot in the Top 3 of the welterweight division.It seems possible Usman may ultimately wind up clashing 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 Bachowicz returns from a near-two-year absence to face the fast-rising light heavyweight prospect, No. 6 Carlos Ulberg.LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 10: Jan Blachowicz of Poland stands in his corner between rounds ... [+] against Magomed Ankalaev of Russia in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 282 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCBachowiczs 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 battle his way past Ulberg to get there.Ulberg is on a seven-fight win streak, having earned a unanimous decision win over Volkan Oezdemir in November 2024. A win by either man could put them on a path to a title shot.ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 11: Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand reacts after his TKO victory over Alonzo ... [+] Menifield in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Enterprise Center on May 11, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesIf Pereira moves up to heavyweight following his March 8 clash with Magomed Ankalaev, the winner of Bachowicz-Ulberg could make a strong case to be the man fighting for the vacant title or as Ankalaevs opponentif he pulls the upset.In any case, the London main and co-main events are especially strong considering UFC London is a Fight Night card and not a pay-per-view.Here is a look at the parts of the card shared by the UFC on social media.Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena - Welterweight (170 lbs)Jan Bachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg - Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin - Heavyweight (265 lbs)Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy - Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar - Strawweight (115 lbs)Andrey Pulyaev vs. Christian Duncan - Middleweight (185 lbs)Molly McCann vs. Istela Nunes - Strawweight (115 lbs)Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charrire - Featherweight (145 lbs)Caolan Loughran vs. Nathan Fletcher - Bantamweight (135 lbs)Loneer Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos - Flyweight (125 lbs)Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla - Lightweight (155 lbs)
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