UFC London 2022 LIVE

Michael Bisping retired from mixed martial arts with a professional record of 30-9, and as a former UFC middleweight champion.

The first – and so far only – British champion in UFC history fought some of the greatest fighters to have graced the sport, establishing himself as one of them along the way.

Bisping, who grew up in Clitheroe, was unbeaten on British soil throughout his entire MMA career, with his wins on home turf producing key moments in a career that culminated in the “Count” remarkably winning the UFC middleweight title at 37 with one functioning eye.

Not only has Bisping’s right eye not worked since 2013, when he suffered a detached retina that led to six surgeries, but when he dethroned Luke Rockhold in 2016 he was fighting on just two weeks’ notice.

Ahead of UFC London, The Independent showed Bisping photos from some of his most important and memorable fights in Britain. Here’s what he had to say:

Michael Bisping relives his greatest UFC fights on home soil

Exclusive interview: Britain’s only ever UFC champion was unbeaten in his home country. Here, he recalls his memories around some of those key fights

UFC London 2022 LIVE

After a three-year wait, the UFC has finally returned to London.

With 2020’s edition of UFC London cancelled at the last moment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and no card staged in 2021 for the same reason, British fans and fighters have been forced to wait much longer than expected for MMA’s flagship promotion to return to this side of the pond.

British fighters are scheduled to take part in 10 of the 12 planned bouts at the O2 Arena this Saturday, and The Independent spoke to co-main eventer Arnold Allen, UFC debutant Muhammad Mokaev, Jack Shore and Cory McKenna ahead of the card at the O2 Arena.

UFC London returns as British fighters compete to steal the show

Arnold Allen, Jack Shore, Cory McKenna and Muhammad Mokaev tell The Independent about their expectations for and experiences of UFC London

UFC London 2022 LIVE

For three years, British fans and fighters have awaited the UFC’s return to the English capital, and finally UFC London is back on the calendar of the biggest promotion in mixed martial arts, with a stacked card taking place at the O2 Arena tonight.

A heavyweight clash between Wigan’s Tom Aspinall and Russian Alexander Volkov will headline the event, as 11th-ranked Aspinall looks to secure the most significant win of his career against the No 6 veteran. In the co-main event, Arnold Allen finds himself in a similar position to Aspinall. Fighting out of Ipswich, Allen goes up against New Zealand’s Dan Hooker, who drops back down to featherweight for this bout. Hooker represents the biggest name that seventh-ranked Allen has fought, and the Englishman would extent his win streak to 11 with a victory over the fan favourite.

In one of the most highly-anticipated bouts on the card, rising lightweight star Paddy Pimblett takes on Rodrigo “Kazula” Vargas. Liverpudlian Pimblett enjoyed a successful UFC debut last year, winning via first-round knockout, and all eyes will be on “Paddy The Baddy” here. Also in action will be the likes of “Meatball” Molly McCann, Scotland’s Paul Craig, and unbeaten Welshman Jack Shore.

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