British Lead the Way for Landmark UFC Event in London

On March 18th, the UFC finally returns to The O2 in London, England, where they are set to showcase some of the best British MMA talents. Besides young local prospects the event will also mark native Londoner Brad ‘One Punch’ Pickett’s last time to step into the octagon. In his final bout, British MMA pioneer Pickett(26-13) takes on Henry Briones(19-6-1) from Tijuana, Mexico. In young years, the East Londoner played football but then –because of an injury - turned to combat sports and his passion MMA. With Michael Bisping defeating Luke Rockhold in June and becoming the first British UFC champion, MMA has never been so prevalent in the UK. While fan favourite Pickett looks to thrill his hometown crowd one last time with his knockout power and exciting fighting style, many young British talents enter the octagon hoping ‘to make their own mark on the sport and represent the UK on a global stage’. So far, seven British athletes were announced to fight at UFC Fight Night London on March 18th: After being victorious at UFC 204 in Manchester, England, welterweight Leon Edwards(12-3) from Birmingham, England, is to face Brazilian Vincente Luque(11-5-1), who is coming off four consecutive wins. Hailing from Manchester, England, undefeated Marc Diakiese(11-0) clashes with Finnish Teemu Packalen(8-1) at lightweight. A welterweight bout is pitting Birmingham’s Tom Breese(10-1) and New Yorker Oluwale Bamgbose(6-2). A British middleweight collision is set with Bradley Scott(11-4) from Bath versus Yorkshire’s Scott Askham(14-3), who returns from a year on the sidelines. London’s very own Darren Stewart(8-0) fights Brazilian heavyweight Francimar Barroso(18-6) in his hometown. Further – British and non-British - additions to the fight card are to be announced shortly.