UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall live results, discussion, play by play

Join us here at Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, and play-by-play (main card) as UFC London: Volkov vs. Aspinall goes down from The O2 Arena in London, England. It’s been three years since the UFC’s last London card, but the wait is finally over for British MMA fans.

The main event for this fight night is a heavyweight matchup between rising English star Tom Aspinall and former Bellator champion Alexander Volkov. English featherweight contender Arnold Allen serves as the co-headliner against New Zealand’s Dan Hooker, who is moving back down to 145 lbs after being a contender at 155 lbs. Ex-Cage Warriors champion Paddy Pimblett is also featured on the event as he takes on Mexico’s Kazula Vargas.

This will be an ESPN+ show but will be kicking off earlier than usual. The six-fight preliminary card is scheduled to start at 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT on ESPN+. The six-fight main card is also on ESPN+, and that is supposed to start at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT. For areas outside of the United States, you can catch all the scheduled contests on UFC Fight Pass. BT Sport 1 has the broadcast in the United Kingdom.

Main Card (ESPN+, 4 PM ET)

Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall

Round 1 - Aspinall takes the center and lands a big shot right away. Volkov is checking leg kicks. Aspinall with a takedown, right into side. He unloads with GnP, cutting Volkov. He looks for a kimura. More elbows. Volkov gets back up though, very durable. Low kick from Aspinall is checked. Low kick from Aspinall but he slips. He ducks a shot and pops back up. Takedown from Aspinall. Smooth as silk. He immediately tries to secure a kimura again, and has Volkov dead to rights! He taps! WHOA!

Tom Aspinall defeated Alexander Volkov via submission (kimura), 3:45 of round 1

And a great callout!

Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker

Round 1 - Allen presses with kicks. Hooker fires back. Big right from Allen. Allen unloads on Hooker and he’s lighting him up. Hooker cracks him back and wobbles him! Allen is relentless though. He’s unloading! Hooker is tryin to fire back and cracks Allen and wobbles Hooker! He’s getting unloaded on and the ref stops it! Whoa! 9-0 in the UFC!

Arnold Allen defeated Dan Hooker via TKO (strikes), 2:33 of round 1

Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas

Round 1 - Pimblett fires away but gets taken down immediately. Good strategy. There’s not a lot going on there. Pimblett gets a takedown and immediately takes the back. He sinks a choke! It’s not there, might be a neck crank. Regardless, Vargas taps. Paddy backs up his shit talk.

Paddy Pimblett defeated Kazula Vargas via submission (rear naked choke), 3:50 of round 1

Gunnar Nelson vs. Takashi Sato

Round 1 - Sato paws with the jab. Body kick from Nelson. Nelson tries to clinch but gets denied. They battle inside briefly. Gunnar shoots, perseveres, and gets the takedown. And his back like immediately. Hammerfists. And elbows. Body triangle. Instead of looking for a choke, he tries to soften him up with punches. For the rest of the round. 10-9 Nelson.

Round 2 - Nelson with a straight left. Thry’re posturing. Gunnar shoots and gets a takedown. He can’t get much going and his opponent gets up. But Gunnar gets him down again. He goes back to the punches instead of hunting for a choke after being initially repelled. 10-9 Nelson.

Round 3 - They clinch up right away, but separate after a brief duel. Sato presses but can’t land. Gunnar has a bloody nose. Gunnar shoots and takes the back like the master grappler he is. He keeps clubbing away. There’s not much going on. Attempted chokes. Nothing happening. The round ends. 10-9 and 30-27 Gunnar.

Gunnar Nelson defeated Takashi Sato via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina

Round 1 - McCann is relentless right away, pressing with punches and cinching. Carolina recovers and reverses. She’s bringing it with knees now. They reset. Leg kick from Carolina. Right hook from Meatball. Molly presses her against the cage. Spinning elbow from McCann. They’re brawling! Molly’s all over her! That was a great round. 10-9 McCann.

Round 2 - They brawl to start. McCann gets a takedown. She’s in half and trying to advance. Side now. Knees to the body. Side now. She’s not getting anywhere so she pops up, and Carolina gets up too. Molly bullies her to the cage and they exchange knees. Carolina gets the advantage. 10-9 McCann.

Round 3 - They tear it up right away, but McCann gets the advantage. Holy spinning elbow! Carolina is out cold! WHAT A FINISH!

Molly McCann defeated Luana Carolina via KO (spinning elbow), 1:52 of round 3

Jai Herbert vs. Ilia Topuria

Round 1 - They touch up. Slow start but then they both connect inside. Head kick drops Topuria! He pops up right away and is looking for a takedown. He has Herbert against the fence to clear the cobwebs. Despite a cage crab, Topuria gets the takedown. He’s cut and bleeding all over the mat and his opponent. Herbert regains full guard. Topuria passes but gets pushed back into full guard. Topuria is trying to posture up for strikes, but Herbert pops up and they reset. Herbert is throwing bombs. Nothing is connecting yet though. He throws the head kick again, but from the other side. Topuria defends. Topuria presses with punches. Big knee from Herbert knocks Topuria’s mouthpiece out! Huge right! Topuria weathers it. 10-9 Herbert.

Round 2 - Herbert with a head kick as Topuria lands a right. Herbert with a long right, using that reach advantage. HOLY HELL TOPURIA JUST SLEPT HERBERT! Three punch combo, chin, body, chin! NIGHT NIGHT! Whoa.

Ilia Topuria defeated Jai Herbert via KO (punches), 1:07 of round 2

Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 1:30 PM ET)

Makwan Amirkhani def. Mike Grundy by technical submission (anaconda choke) at :57 of round 1

Sergei Pavlovich def. Shamil Abdurakhimov by TKO (punches) at 4:03 of round 1

Paul Craig def. Nikita Krylov by submission (triangle choke) at 3:57 of round 1

Jack Shore def. Timur Valiev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)

Elise Reed def. Cory McKenna by split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden by submission (guillotine choke) at :58 of round 1