UFC London SUCKED And Aspinall Agrees
03/24/2025 08:09 PM
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) crossed the pond this past weekend (Sat., March 22, 2025) for its annual stop at London's iconic O2 Arena, but UFC Londonturned out to be a total letdown.
With nine decisions and just four finishes, the card wasn't just short on action—it was painfully dull. The co-main event between former UFC Light Heavyweight championJan Blachowicz andCarlos Ulberg, hyped as a striker's showcase, was especially tough to sit through (full results here).
'UFC Fight Night' cards can sometimes lean on a lively crowd to offset lackluster bouts, but even the U.K. fans weren't feeling it this time.
Interim UFC Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who was in the audience, echoed that sentiment, calling the O2 Arena atmosphere flat and even pointing out that all the fans were immediately leaving after the main event.
Tom Aspinall was impressed by Sean Brady's performance at UFCLondon.
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) March 23, 2025
"Everyone's leaving this place, feels like leaving myself. He dominated Leon, to be honest."
@AspinallMMApic.twitter.com/CCOLgP3rpR
"To be honest with you, [U.K. MMA] needed a big night at the O2 Arena," Aspinall recently told Ariel Helwani. "It was just flat as hell in the O2 Arena on Saturday night. I was quite disappointed because, I don't know, we needed something.
"A couple of years ago, U.K. MMA was absolutely banging. We've still got so much talent, but we just need that excitement, and the last few shows in the O2, we just haven't had it, unfortunately," Aspinall concluded. "I don't know why that is, but it's not flowing the way it was."
UFC London's biggest issue? Lacking U.K. stars. No Michael Page, Paddy Pimblett, Arnold Allen, or Paul Craig. Even Manchester's Lerone Murphy is slated to fight Josh Emmett next weekend at the UFC Apex instead.
Plus, a bunch of U.K. favorites like Leon Edwards and Molly McCann got finished (watch here).
Recent UFC London 'Fight Nights' haven't fared much better—last year's was rough, and the one before that is extremely forgettable. You'd have to rewind to UFC London: "Volkov vs. Aspinall" for the last truly memorable UFC London 'Fight Night'
Here's hoping the UFC's next trip to "The Big Smoke" delivers the thrilling card U.K. fans deserve.
For complete UFC London results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
