The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced its highly anticipated return to the United Kingdom with a spectacular event scheduled to take place at the newly constructed Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday, July 27. This marks the second time the UFC has graced the north west of England, and it will be the first sporting event to be hosted at the recently opened indoor arena, which boasts the title of the largest of its kind in the country.
UFC President Dana White expressed his delight at the prospect of bringing the renowned fight promotion back across the Atlantic, stating, “I’m so excited to get back to Manchester. And no better time than this summer. We have two champions from the UK and fans have been dying for a UFC PPV event. So here we come to the largest indoor arena in the UK. See you soon, England!”
While the official fight card is yet to be unveiled, fans can eagerly anticipate the potential title defenses of welterweight champion Leon Edwards and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Additionally, popular fighters Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Arnold Allen, and Michael Page are rumored to be on White’s radar for this highly anticipated event.
However, the announcement has been met with some criticism from fans, particularly regarding the late timings of the prelims and main card. The event has been scheduled to cater to US prime time, despite taking place several thousands of miles away from the East Coast. This has sparked concerns from British fight enthusiasts, who have expressed their discontent over the lack of consideration for fans and fighters alike.
Some disgruntled fans have taken to social media to voice their frustration, with one stating, “They did it at the last event (204) in Manchester. 0 respect for fans. We already do enough to watch the US events.” Another fan echoed this sentiment, adding, “UFC wouldn’t be half the creation it is without the international fighters though.”
Despite the negative feedback, the MMA tycoon remains unfazed, eagerly anticipating the spectacle that awaits. Aspinall, too, has expressed his excitement about the prospect of potentially featuring at the event, saying, “I had a meeting with the UFC. It has now been confirmed that I am fighting on UFC Manchester, so I’m back home preparing for that now.”
Whether the event will live up to the hype remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the UFC’s return to Manchester is sure to generate a lot of buzz and excitement among fight fans both in the UK and around the world.
