The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back in London on Saturday night for UFC Fight Night 255 with British welterweight star Leon Edwards top of the billing.
For the 16th time London is hosting a stacked card, with the preliminary card beginning at 5pm and the main card at 8pm. Fans are expected to flock to the O2 Arena in numbers to back the home hero.
Main event bout: Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards vs Sean Brady
Rocky, the former welterweight champion, currently ranked second, takes on number-5-ranked Brady.
Originally, Edwards was prepping for Jack Della Maddalena, a pure striker.
But when Maddalena got pulled for a title shot, he had to switch up his game plan for a ground-heavy fighter with dangerous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and wrestling.
Brady is a nightmare for strikers, like Edwards, recently dominating Gilbert Burns and losing only once in his career.
With Brady’s wrestling heavy approach, the key question for this fight is whether Edwards can defend the takedowns and keep the fight standing.
Even Michael Bisping, former mixed martial artist and commentator, says Edwards could struggle with the stylistic shift in training as he bids to win back the welterweight title he lost to Belal Muhammad last summer.
With Edwards fighting on home soil and Brady eager to make a statement, this bout promises to be a high-stakes showdown between two of the welterweight division’s best.
Light Heavyweight bout: Jan Błachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg
The former champion, Jan Błachowicz, hasn’t fought since his razor-close split decision loss to Alex Pereira in July 2023.
A win against Carlos Ulberg could set him up for a potential rematch with Pereira, but this wouldn’t be for a title shot anymore.
Ulberg, the City Kickboxing prospect, is fresh off a dominant win over Volkan Oezdemir and DraftKings has Jan as the underdog.
While Błachowicz’s durability and well-rounded skill set pose a significant challenge, Ulberg’s momentum could be the key to victory.
Welterweight bout: Gunnar Nelson vs Kevin ‘Trailblazer’ Holland
After a two-year layoff, Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson is back to carry on his successful reputation.
Last time out, he earned a Performance of the Night bonus with a first-round submission over Bryan Barberena.
The wildcard, Holland, has dropped back down to welterweight, but has had a rough run losing four of his last five fights, making this a must-win bout for him.
While Nelson’s technical grappling poses a serious threat, Holland’s reach, volume and unpredictability could create problems if he keeps the fight standing.
With both men eager to re-establish themselves in the division, this clash of styles promises high-level action and potential fireworks.
Women’s Strawweight bout: Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann vs Alexia ‘Burguresinha’ Thainara
Molly McCann looks to bounce back from recent struggles as she faces UFC debutant Alexia Thainara.
Meatball, known for her high-volume striking, will need to keep the fight standing against Burguresinha, a Brazilian submission specialist with six tap-out victories.
Thainara also holds a five-inch reach advantage, which could play a key role in striking exchanges.
This classic striker-versus-grappler matchup could determine whether McCann re-establishes herself in the division or if Thainara makes an immediate impact in her debut.
Lightweight bout: Jordan ‘The Epidemic’ Vucenic vs Chris ‘The Problem’ Duncan
This all-British lightweight clash is striker vs striker.
Vucenic brings power and precision, which he will look to impose his will early on and control the tempo of the fight.
Duncan, however, boasts a versatile game plan, combining sharp technical skills with solid grappling to neutralise aggressive opponents like The Epidemic.
This bout is expected to be a tactical chess match, as each fighter seeks to exploit the other’s defensive weaknesses.
Featherweight bout: Nathaniel ‘The Prospect’ Wood vs Morgan ‘The Last Pirate’ Charrière
London-based Nathaniel Wood is gearing up to face Morgan Charrière in an action-packed bout that promises to light up the cage.
Both fighters are former Cage Warriors champions, having built impressive legacies before stepping into this matchup.
Wood’s aggressive striking and relentless pressure will be pitted against Charrière’s technical precision and versatile grappling skills.
Their storied pasts in Cage Warriors adds another layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated fight.
In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, the two have agreed to share a beer together after the fight.
UFC London Fight Night 255 is going to be full of gritty, equal fights, making for a very exciting Saturday evening.
Featured image credit: Daniel Reynaga
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