UFC London 2022 weigh-ins LIVE: Latest results as Paddy Pimblett, Dan Hooker and more hit scales

Follow live updates as fighters look to make weight ahead of this Saturday’s card at the O2 Arena

Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria in hotel bust-up before UFC London

The weigh-ins for UFC London take place today, as main-eventers Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov hit the scales ahead of their heavyweight clash at the O2 Arena, while the other fighters in action in the English capital also look to make weight.

Among those stepping out at UFC London are fan favourite Paddy Pimblett, with the Liverpudian set to take on Rodrigo Vargas in a lightweight contest on Saturday, Arnold Allen, who co-main events against Dan Hooker in what should be an enthralling featherweight match-up, and “Meatball” Molly McCann, who faces Luana Carolina at flyweight.

In fact, Britons will feature in 10 of the 12 scheduled bouts at UFC London, which is back on the mixed martial arts promotion’s calendar for the first time since 2019 due to the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. Undefeated bantamweight Jack Shore will represent Wales, as will 22-year-old Cory McKenna – the youngest female fighter on the roster. Scottish light heavyweight Paul Craig looks to extend his win streak in the division, while unbeaten men’s flyweight Muhammad Mokaev – born in Dagestan but fighting out of Manchester – makes his UFC debut.

Follow live updates from the official weigh-ins on Friday morning, then the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday afternoon, below.

UFC London weigh-ins

• All fighters make weight during official weigh-ins on Friday morning
• Face-offs follow at O2 Arena, where UFC London takes place

[18 March 2022 16:35 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

The Independent is in place at the O2 Arena for this afternoon’s ceremonial weigh-ins.

They will take place in the same space where tomorrow’s card will be staged.

[18 March 2022 15:30 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

Ahead of UFC London, The Independent spoke to Michael Bisping about some of his most important and memorable UFC fights on British soil, where the former middleweight champion was unbeaten.

Here’s an excerpt of what Bisping had to say about his famous 2016 victory over Anderson Silva, who appeared to have knocked out the Mancunian at the end of Round 3 but went on to lose to Bisping on points at the O2 Arena...

“As we know now, this [right] eye doesn’t work. So, when I turned to Herb, I couldn’t see Anderson. When I looked back, Anderson was mid-air. God bless him, I took my eye off the ball – pardon the pun.

“There’s a little bit of confusion, Anderson’s on top of the cage. I look at Herb and say: ‘I’m not out.’ He says: ‘I know, the fight is still on.’”

More here:

[18 March 2022 14:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

A reminder that this afternoon’s ceremonial weigh-ins are open to the public, free of charge.

They will take place at the O2 Arena in North Greenwich, with doors opening at 3.30pm GMT.

A fan Q&A will precede the weigh-ins, which start at 5pm.

[18 March 2022 13:57 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

The Independent and a few other publications chatted to Arnold Allen last month ahead of his co-main event against Dan Hooker.

Standing at 6’0”, Hooker will have a three-inch height advantage over Ipswich fighter Allen, meaning the New Zealander’s signature knee strikes could be particularly effective this weekend.

In fact, those strikes marked the first element of Hooker’s game that Allen addressed when asked about his tactics for the fight.

“I’m probably just gonna try to keep my head away from his knees really,” Allen joked. “That’s the gameplan, that’s it: Just don’t duck your head! I’m working on being 6’0” tall, seeing if I can do that...”

More from the UFC’s No 7 featherweight here:

[18 March 2022 13:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

Which bout are you most looking forward to tomorrow evening?

Arnold Allen vs Dan Hooker looks like it could be fight of the night, but Jack Shore vs Timur Valiev is our sleeper pick.

[18 March 2022 11:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

Full weigh-in results (all weights in pounds):

Muhammad Mokaev (125) vs Cody Durden (126) – flyweight

Cory McKenna (115) vs Elise Reed (115) – women’s strawweight

Jack Shore (136) vs Timur Valiev (136) – bantamweight

Nikita Krylov (205) vs Paul Craig (206) – light heavyweight

Shamil Abdurakhimov (258) vs Sergei Pavlovich (254) – heavyweight

Mike Grundy (145) vs Makwan Amirkhani (145) – featherweight

Jai Herbert (155) vs Ilia Topuria (156) – lightweight

Molly McCann (125) vs Luana Carolina (126) – women’s flyweight

Gunnar Nelson (171) vs Takashi Sato (170) – welterweight

Paddy Pimblett (155) vs Rodrigo Vargas (155) – lightweight

Arnold Allen (146) vs Dan Hooker (145) – featherweight

Alexander Volkov (253) vs Tom Aspinall (252) – heavyweight

[18 March 2022 11:43 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

We’ll have live updates from the ceremonial weigh-ins this afternoon.

They take place at the O2 Arena and are free for fans to attend, so if you’re in London...

Doors open at 3.30pm GMT, with a fan Q&A taking place before the ceremonial weigh-ins start at 5pm.

[18 March 2022 11:10 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

UFC London fighters Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria almost came to blows on Tuesday ahead of their respective bouts at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

Liverpool’s Pimblett is scheduled to face Rodrigo Vargas in a lightweight bout at UFC London, while Topuria is also in action at 155lbs as he takes on Wolverhampton’s Jai Herbert.

Pimblett and Topuria traded words on Twitter last year, with the latter taking offence to comments made by Pimblett about Topuria’s home country of Georgia.

Topuria, 25, warned Pimblett about what might happen if the pair were to meet in person, and things indeed became heated at the fighter hotel in London on Tuesday.

Here’s what happened:

[18 March 2022 10:50 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

After a three-year wait, the UFC has finally returned to London.

With 2020’s edition of UFC London cancelled at the last moment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and no card staged in 2021 for the same reason, British fans and fighters have been forced to wait much longer than expected for MMA’s flagship promotion to return to this side of the pond.

British fighters are scheduled to take part in 10 of the 12 planned bouts at the O2 Arena this Saturday, and The Independent spoke to co-main eventer Arnold Allen, UFC debutant Muhammad Mokaev, Jack Shore and Cory McKenna ahead of the card at the O2 Arena.

[18 March 2022 10:30 · Alex Pattle]

UFC London weigh-ins

Finally Timur Valiev emerges...

He moves a little sluggishly and makes a few groans, but the Russian makes weight at 136lbs!

Every fighter has successfully weighed in.

The ceremonial weigh-ins will take place this afternoon at the O2 Arena.