UFC returning to UK with PPV event in March at The O2 as ticket date drops

The UFC has announced it is returning the UK after confirming a March pay-per-view event at The O2 Arena in London.

UFC 286 will take place in the capital city on March 18, 2023 after the world's leading mixed martial arts promotion revealed the details for its second numbered event in the UK. The fight card will be the first time a UFC pay-per-view has been held in England since Michael Bisping defended his middleweight title against Dan Henderson at UFC 204 in Manchester back in 2016.

British fight fans will be able to get their hands on tickets early next year as they go on sale on January 27.

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UFC president Dana White said: “Everyone knows how much I love our fans in the UK. We had two incredible shows in London in 2022, and this time we’re bringing a world title fight with the biggest and baddest card we could put together at The O2 on March 18.

"The UK MMA scene is exploding with talent right now and I can’t wait to show you guys what we have in store for you next year.”

Although a main event has yet to be announced, a trilogy bout between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman is expected to headline the card.

What fights do you want to see on the UFC 286 card? Let us know in the comments section below.

Edwards became the UK's second-ever UFC champion after Bisping back in August after he claimed the welterweight strap by knocking out Usman with a brutal fifth round head kick.

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff had been considered for UFC 286 after fans called for a stadium show and White revealed that would only work if the venue had a roof.

However, The O2 Arena has been favoured instead and will now host a third UFC event in the space of 12 months after the promotion returned to the UK in March following a three-year absence.

That first event saw a stunning spinning back elbow knockout for Molly McCann as well as first round wins for headliner Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett. Scousers McCann and Pimblett were victorious again when the UFC returned in July for another sold out show.

Both could appear at UFC 286, although Pimblett has hinted he may not fight in the UK for a long time ahead of his PPV debut at UFC 282 in Las Vegas this Saturday.

Meanwhile, promising flyweight Muhammad Mokaev and featherweight contender Arnold Allen are amongst the fighters fans are calling for to feature on what promises to be a stacked fight card.

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