UFC Fight Night London analysis: Tom Aspinall looks a real heavyweight contender

Free MMA analysis for UFC Fight Night: Volkov v Aspinall, which took place at the O2 Arena, London on Saturday 19 March and a look ahead to the future.

UFC Fight Night London analysis

Saturday's UFC London event could hardly have gone any better and it looks like the company will be heading back to the UK later this year.

With ten British competitors fighting across 12 fights, the card had huge potential to thrust UK MMA to the fore and it didn't disappoint.

President Dana White gave out bonuses to everyone who finished their fights within the distance, including six of the home contingent, while he also revealed the gate was $4.5million - the highest in O2 history - and it proved to be the "biggest" Fight Night of all-time.

White didn't hold back with his praise for the Brits and admitted he had been "re-energised" by the show, insisting he would be moving the schedule around to ensure they return to UK soil before 2022 is over.

From start to finish, UFC London delivered atmosphere and action even better than most could have imagined.

Rarely do arenas fill up from the outset but there was barely an empty seat when prospect Muhammad Mokaev dispatched Cory Durden just 58 seconds into his UFC debut.

Wales' Cory McKenna was unable to follow on, losing a split decision to Elise Reed, however, Jack Shore and Paul Craig got the Brits back on track.

Molly McCann had the O2 bouncing when she stopped Luana Carolina with a spinning elbow, already a contender for knockout of the year, while fellow Merseysider Paddy Pimblett kept that momentum going with a submission win over Kazula Vargas.

Arnold Allen has moved up to #6 in the featherweight rankings after extending his winning streak to 11 courtesy of a stunning TKO victory against Dan Hooker.

And the stage had been well and truly set for headliner Tom Aspinall to put his mark on a fantastic night when he topped an UFC card for the first time.

Aspinall oozed confidence when I spoke to him earlier in the week and he certainly delivered by submitting fellow heavyweight Alexander Volkov in round one.

He has subsequently climbed to #5 in the rankings and confirmed, as many had previously suggested, that England finally has a heavyweight contender.

The 28-year-old, now riding an eight-fight win streak, immediately called out #3 Tai Tuivasa and, if he comes through that test, a world title shot won't be too far down the line.

Aspinall wasn't the only home hope to put himself in the frame for a title challenge in the near future, with Allen and Craig potentially just one win away from getting their chance.

There's plenty of talk about staging the next UK event in a stadium, something White has previously attempted to steer clear of, but Anfield has been tipped as a potential venue and there'll be no shortage of interest.

It's safe to say that British MMA is in good hands on the evidence of last weekend's event and the foundations for future success are extremely solid.

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