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
Molly McCann def. Hannah Goldy via first-round TKO (3:53, elbow and punches).
UFC London LIVE
That finish sent the O2 Arena into raptures. McCann vaulted over the fence in celebration. Backstage, her fellow Scouser Paddy Pimblett is loving it.
UFC London LIVE
McCann vs Goldy – Round 1
McCann gets right after Goldy. The Liverpudlian throws a scrappy combination and appears to graze her opponent with a right hand. The next right straight definitely connects!
McCann is loading up a lot on her punches, though. She tries a body kick, but it’s caught and she’s pushed back to the fence. Good takedown defence from McCann, who is able to prevent a trip and eventually move into the clear.
She goes southpaw briefly as she hunts down Goldy. She shoves the American to the mat, where Goldy tries for a leg lock...
McCann slips free, and Goldy stands. She’s backed up against the fence, however, and McCann lands a spinning back elbow! It’s the strike that secured her a statement win here in March, and it hurts Goldy badly!
McCann pours on punches, Goldy drops to the mat, and a few strikes later it’s all over! McCann wins!
UFC London LIVE
This may just be where things pick up. More boos for Goldy as Bruce Buffer introduces the Floridian.
A near-deafening cheer for McCann! Here we go...
UFC London LIVE
McCann appeals to the crowd and gets a big roar in return!
UFC London LIVE
Boos for Goldy...
A good reaction for McCann, who takes her time making her way to the ring, high-fiving fans as she goes.
UFC London LIVE
Next up is a women’s flyweight bout between Liverpool’s own Molly McCann and American Hannah Goldy.
Expect a wild reaction when “Meatball Molly” emerges...
Last time out, at the March edition of UFC London, she scored arguably the knockout of the year, putting Luana Carolina out cold with a spinning back elbow.
Some called it the greatest knockout in the history of women’s MMA.
UFC London LIVE
Volkan Oedemir def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Indy Sport had Craig winning the first round, but obviously the judges disagreed.
UFC London LIVE
Craig vs Oezdemir – Round 3
It could well be one round apiece.
Body kick from Craig. Lots of feinting from Oezdemir before he jabs to the body.
Oezdemir catches a kick and manages the position well as Craig pulls guard. The Swiss ends up on top, throwing some hard hammer fists. Craig is able to move his head away, and he tries for an arm lock... but Oezdemir slips out.
The light heavyweights stand. Oezdemir shrugs off a takedown attempt. Craig with a spinning back kick to the body.
A clean right straight connects for Craig! The crowd liked that. Oezdemir tries for his own takedown, but Craig counters with an uppercut.
A decent combination from Craig, but Oezdemir is able to move away before the worst of it. We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
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