After a break of almost two years, UFC is back in London.
This Saturday, UFC returns to the O2 Arena for UFC London. The main event features a crucial welterweight fight between former champion Leon Edwards and rising contender Sean Brady. Edwards is returning to the octagon for the first time since losing his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.
MMA Fighting`s Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew discuss the stakes of this main event and other highlights of the UFC London event.
Heck: The welterweight championship future is likely on the line for both fighters.
This is Leon Edwards` first fight since losing his title to Belal Muhammad, and it`s a hometown headliner. For Edwards, everything is at risk. A loss would be a major setback. Despite his previous title win and victories against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, the UFC was hesitant to give him a title opportunity initially. Now, after losing to Muhammad, Edwards faces a tough opponent in Brady, who doesn`t have a huge name. Another loss could significantly hurt Edwards` chances of fighting for the welterweight title again.
For Brady, not being a big name means he needs to keep winning to get a title shot, similar to others before him. While a win against Edwards would boost his path, a loss would set him back considerably. However, being among the top fighters in the world is still a significant achievement.
Meshew: This is a title eliminator fight.
Edwards is currently ranked No. 1 in the welterweight division, despite being a former champion. Brady is ranked No. 5 and has only one loss, against Muhammad. Normally, this fight would clearly determine the next title challenger. However, the UFC in 2025 isn`t purely based on merit, and several factors complicate the welterweight division.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is likely next in line for a title shot, regardless of the outcome of this fight or the upcoming title defense between Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Islam Makhachev, the lightweight champion, also desires a second title, and if Muhammad loses his belt, the UFC might prioritize a Makhachev title fight due to Muhammad`s star power.
Therefore, the winner of Edwards vs. Brady will probably need another win to secure a title shot. Potential opponents include rising contenders Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley. The winner of Edwards vs. Brady might face one of them in a title eliminator fight, possibly as a supporting fight for Rakhmonov`s expected title shot later this year.
Lee: They are fighting for fan appreciation.
If Edwards decisively defeats Brady, he should get another shot at Muhammad. While some fans might not be eager for another Muhammad-Edwards fight, Edwards had a long unbeaten streak before losing the title and has wins over Usman. It seems unfair to make him climb back to the top again. However, fairness isn`t always a factor in this business. Edwards` best hope might be to impress the London crowd and boost his popularity with a dominant win over Brady, as he likely needs one more win anyway due to Rakhmonov`s position.
For Brady, defeating Edwards could significantly elevate his status and disrupt the welterweight division`s top rankings. It`s an opportunity for him to break into the top 5.
Meshew: Yes, the winner`s next fight could be for the title.
The light heavyweight division recently changed dramatically with Magomed Ankalaev`s victory over Alex Pereira. Previously, Pereira was the champion, and there was talk of him moving to heavyweight. Now, a rematch seems likely, putting heavyweight plans on hold.
This is good news for Ulberg and Blachowicz. While they are behind Pereira for the next title shot, the path clears up afterward. Ulberg, with a potential eight-fight win streak, is a fresh contender. Blachowicz, a former champion, has had close fights with both Ankalaev and Pereira. An impressive win for Blachowicz could lead to another title opportunity.
Lee: Yes.
Pereira will likely get an immediate rematch, but if he takes a break, Blachowicz could step in. Blachowicz`s history with Ankalaev makes a rematch interesting, and Ulberg is an exciting, fresh challenger. The UFC will consider how each fighter wins when making their decision. A dominant win for Ulberg might favor him more than a grind-out win for Blachowicz, in terms of getting the next shot after the Pereira rematch.
Heck: Probably not immediately after UFC 313`s results.
While Ankalaev`s title win over Pereira created a lot of discussion about losers, Blachowicz and Ulberg are slightly affected. Had Pereira won, the winner of their fight might have been next. But with Ankalaev as champion, a Pereira rematch is likely, potentially in October in Abu Dhabi. This means a long wait for Blachowicz or Ulberg, especially with fights like Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree scheduled.
Blachowicz is more affected than Ulberg. Dana White disliked Ankalaev vs. Blachowicz 1, making a rematch less appealing. The winner of Blachowicz vs. Ulberg is in a good position but will likely need another fight before a title shot.
Lee: Trivia question: Which heavyweight has the longest active UFC win streak?
I`ll wait.
It`s Mick Parkin! Not Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones, but Parkin, who is 4-0 in the UFC and 10-0 overall. Parkin is a rising heavyweight contender (tied with Waldo Cortes-Acosta, highlighting the heavyweight division`s current state). A win against Marcin Tybura could further elevate him.
Parkin could realistically contend for the UFC heavyweight title in 2025. With Jones inactive and Aspinall likely to defend soon, a spectacular sixth straight win for Parkin could put him in title contention against his countryman in the near future. Parkin vs. Tybura might be the most significant fight at UFC London in terms of future stakes.
Heck: Molly McCann is a key fight on UK cards.
McCann is very popular on UK cards and will be a fan favorite. However, her original opponent, who had a 0-4 UFC record, was changed. McCann now faces a tougher debutante who had a strong win on Dana White`s Contender Series. While McCann`s job might not be at immediate risk after recent losses, another loss would diminish fan belief in her. This is a crucial fight for McCann.
Meshew: Lone`er Kavanagh is the fighter to watch.
Kavanagh is making his second UFC appearance after winning his debut. He is a highly-rated Cage Warriors prospect and was a top prospect from Contender Series. Kavanagh is an exciting flyweight with good technique, defense, and striking. He shows potential to be a future title challenger and is only 25 years old.
He faces Felipe dos Santos, a decent prospect who has already faced tough competition in the UFC. Dos Santos challenged Manel Kape in his debut, making him a strong test for Kavanagh, who is considered a top prospect.
This is an exciting fight to watch.
