UFC London LIVE results: Paddy Pimblett wins before Tom Aspinall injury against Curtis Blaydes
Re-live updates and see all results from the O2 Arena, where a host of British fighters competed
Paddy Pimblett was once again the star of UFC London, four months after the MMA promotion’s last trip to the English capital, submitting Jordan Leavitt in the second round before fellow Briton Tom Aspinall suffered a knee injury just seconds into the main event.
Pimblett, who entered the O2 Arena with a 2-0 record in the UFC after two first-round stoppage wins, was largely outwrestled by Leavitt in the first round of their fight on Saturday night, but the Liverpudlian kept his composure to set up the finish in Round 2. Pimblett, 27, dropped Leavitt with a knee in the clinch as both lightweights grappled along the fence, and “Paddy The Baddy” quickly took the American’s back before locking in a rear naked choke. Leavitt soon tapped out, sending the O2 into raptures in a similar fashion to how the crowd reacted to Pimblett’s submission of Rodrigo Vargas in March.
Later in the night, the highly-anticipated heavyweight main event between Wigan’s Aspinall and American Curtis Blaydes ended after just 15 seconds, when the Briton’s knee gave way after he had thrown a leg kick. Aspinall collapsed to the canvas, and referee Herb Dean waved off the fight, before Blaydes was declared the winner by TKO once a wincing Aspinall, 29, had finally gotten back to his feet with his leg in a brace. Re-live updates and see all results from UFC London, below.
UFC London LIVE
Muhammad Mokaev def. Charles Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Mokaev stays unbeaten, moving to 8-0 (1 No Contest)! Nowhere near as emphatic as his win here in March, but another step towards his goal of becoming the youngest ever UFC champion.
UFC London LIVE
It’s just a matter of how wide the scorecards will be in Mokaev’s favour.
UFC London LIVE
Mokaev vs Johnson – Round 3
Johnson’s corner calls for “urgency” before the final round starts. The American and Mokaev embrace before the action resumes.
Johnson just about blocks a high kick. He sprawls well to defend a single-leg takedown attempt, but he’s got his back against the fence and soon hits the mat. Yet again tonight he stands, but he’s still being controlled by Dagestani-born Mokaev.
Mokaev forces Johnson along the fence and completes a single-leg takedown. Johnson is able to create some space, but a neat roll by Mokaev ensures that the Briton maintains control.
Johnson is finally able to stand and get free, but only for a split second. Johnson comes close to locking in a guillotine choke with about 30 seconds left on the clock! But he can’t get it secured.
UFC London LIVE
Mokaev vs Johnson – Round 2
Mokaev misses with a high kick, then a low one. He switches into a southpaw stance for the briefest moment.
Johnson drops Mokaev with a leg kick as the off-balance Briton is throwing his own kick. Mokaev stands and shoots for a double-leg takewdown. He gets Johnson to the fence and down to the canvas.
Johnson again does a great job in standing up, but Mokaev has one leg hook in and is trying to put as much weight as possible on the American.
The flyweights hit the mat again, where Johnson tries for an arm lock, but it’s not quite there. Some decent scrambling from Johnson, but he can’t get free.
UFC London LIVE
Mokaev vs Johnson – Round 1
Lots of forward pressure from Mokaev early on; he even forces Johnson to trip over his own feet.
Mokaev lands a few left hands, one of which appears to stun Johnson slightly, before the Briton transitions from strikes to a takedown attempt rapidly.
He slams Johnson to the mat, but the American is quick to stand. Mokaev soon gets him down again, but he can’t lock in the rear naked choke that he’s seeking.
Once more Johnson stands, but he’s stuck against the fence. He has his face to the cage wall and throws a couple of back elbows. Again he’s taken down, again he stands. And repeat.
The round ends there. A comfortable one for Mokaev.
UFC London LIVE
Herbert limps past media row after eating a lot of hard leg kicks tonight.
Now it’s 21-year-old Muhammad Mokaev vs Charles Johnson at flyweight. A great reaction for Britain’s Mokaev! He won via submission in 58 seconds here in March.
UFC London LIVE
Jai Herbert def. Kyle Nelson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Herbert definitely won Round 3, while the first two frames were close.
UFC London LIVE
Jai Herbert def. Kyle Nelson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Herbert definitely won Round 3, while the first two frames were close.
UFC London LIVE
Herbert vs Nelson – Round 3
Herbert with a leg kick; Nelson with a stiffer one. Good left hook up top for Nelson. Right straight from Herbert.
Herbert with lovely takedown defence, and he ends up on top of Nelson in half-guard! The first two rounds were closely contested; this could be a crucial period for Herbert.
He’s controlling Nelson, who has managed to get to the fence but is struggling to get free.
Eventually Nelson is able to stand and get Herbert’s back to the cage wall. And the buzzer sounds.
UFC London LIVE
Herbert vs Nelson – Round 2
Nelson presses forward, but he’s caught with a well-timed overhand right! That allows Herbert to move forward himself. He misses with a head kick and eats a low kick – and another. He fires back with one of his own, and then digs a body kick into Nelson’s ribs.
Now he burrows two left hooks into the same spot! Nelson has had enough and grabs Herbert, pushing him back to the fence as the crowd boos. Again Herbert reverses the position.
The Briton lands an elbow, but Nelson fires back with an uppercut. Herbert backs away and the lightweights will fight in the open.
Solid leg kicks by Nelson, but he’s caught with a piercing right cross! Nelson tries to grab hold of Herbert, who times a knee perfectly as the Canadian ducks! Nelson’s head jolts back!
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