London’s O2 Arena will host its annual UFC Fight Night this Saturday. The card features a couple of former champions hoping to kickstart their second charge at UFC glory, as well as a host of exciting up-and-coming prospects, with a strong dash of Cage Warriors favorites added to the mix.
Let’s take a look at the fights that make up the main card this Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady.
Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady (170 pounds)
Former welterweight champion Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) is at a real crossroads in his career as he prepares to face Sean Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event.
A win would validate Edwards’ claim that his defeat to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 was simply an off night. However, if Edwards loses, re-entering the title race at 170 pounds will be as difficult as it has ever been in his career.
For Brady, a win on Saturday could catapult him into the title discussion, and at the very least, earn him a No. 1 contender matchup later this year.
Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg (205 pounds)
A massive step up in competition awaits Carlos Ulberg (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) as he squares off against former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event.
Ulberg is riding a seven-fight winning streak and, with an average of 7.28 significant strikes per minute, has the highest strike rate in UFC light heavyweight history.
The 42-year-old Błachowicz returns after a two-year injury layoff, hoping to reclaim the title he lost when he was submitted by Glover Teixeira back in 2021.
Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson (170 pounds)
Icelandic grappling sensation Gunnar Nelson’s walks to the Octagon are becoming rarer as time goes on. Nelson (19-5-1 MMA, 10-5 UFC) was last seen in action at UFC London two years ago, picking up a first-round submission win over Bryan Barbarena.
Prior to that, "Gunni" outpointed Takashi Sato at the same venue in March 2022, his first fight since 2019. In that time, Kevin Holland (26-13 MMA, 13-10 UFC) has fought in the UFC an astonishing 20 times.
Holland is moving back down to 170 pounds this weekend after three consecutive appearances in the middleweight division, the last of which was a first-round submission loss to Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311 in January.
Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara (115 pounds)
A firm favorite with UK MMA fans, Molly McCann (14-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) has earned four ‘Performance of the Night’ bonuses in her last four victories. "Meatball" faces a UFC debutant this weekend, as former Dana White’s Contender Series contestant Alexia Thainara steps in to replace the injured Istela Nunes.
Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan (145 pounds)
Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Vucenic (13-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will look for his first win inside the Octagon this Saturday as he faces Chris Duncan (12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC).
"The Epidemic" gave a solid account of himself in his short-notice Octagon debut (up at 155 pounds) against Guram Kutateladze last August, but he will be eager to make his mark in his natural weight class against Duncan, who will be full of confidence after earning a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus for his submission win over Bolaji Oki in September.
Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charrière (145 pounds)
Two more former Cage Warriors champions meet in the main card opener. Wood (20-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who won the Cage Warriors bantamweight title prior to signing with the UFC, looks to continue his impressive run since moving up to 145 pounds.
"The Prospect" has gone 4-1 in his new weight class since making the move in 2020, and he takes on French favorite Charrière (20-10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on Saturday in an explosive contest.
