Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann steal the show as UFC makes return to London

Aspinall victorious in main event on a successful night for British fighters at the O2 Arena

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  LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Paddy Pimblett celebrates with Molly Mccann after defeating Kazula Vargas during UFC Fight Night: Volkov v Aspinall at the The O2 Arena on March 19, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)

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  Paddy Pimblett celebrates with Molly McCann after defeating Kazula Vargas at UFC Fight Night. Getty Images

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  Paddy Pimblett submits Kazula Vargas during their lightweight bout at The O2, London. PA

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  Paddy Pimblett celebrates winning his fight against Kazula Vargas with Molly McCan. Reuters

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  Paddy Pimblett celebrates his victory over Kazula Vargas with Molly McCann. PA

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  Molly McCann in action against Luana Carolina in their women's flyweight bout at The O2. PA

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  Molly McCann climbs out of the octagon after knocking out Luana Carolina. PA

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  Molly McCann celebrates victory after knocking out Luana Carolina. PA

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  Tom Aspinall takes Alexander Volkov to the ground during their main event heavyweight bout at UFC London. Reuters

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  Tom Aspinall attempts to submit Alexander Volkov. Reuters

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  Tom Aspinall begins to celebrate after submitting Alexander Volkov. Reuters

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  Tom Aspinall pins Alexander Volkov in their heavyweight bout at UFC London. PA

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  Arnold Allen has his arm raised in victory after beating Dan Hooker in the co-main event at UFC London. Reuters

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  Arnold Allen lands a punch on Dan Hooker during their featherweight bout. PA

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  Arnold Allen lands a kick to the head against Dan Hooker. Reuters

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  Arnold Allen celebrates winning his fight against Dan Hooker. Reuters

The UFC returned to London for the first time in three years on Saturday night and it was a triumphant night for British fighters on home soil, with Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann pulling off brilliant wins.

McCann blazed forward from the opening bell against Brazil's Luana Carolina and ended the fight in spectacular fashion in the third round with a spinning elbow that knocked her opponent out cold.

Not to be outdone, her close friend Pimblett bounced back from being rocked by an early punch to dominate Mexico's Kazula Vargas, taking his opponent's back and sinking in a rear naked choke submission to send the raucous O2 Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Still in her fight kit, McCann jumped back into the cage to celebrate with Pimblett, the pair hopping up on the fence to take the applause and cheers of the crowd.

"I'm never, ever, ever, ever in a boring fight lad, I have to get a punch in the face to get woke up," the charismatic 27-year-old Pimblett said in his post-fight interview before throwing down the gauntlet to the UFC.

"See this arena? Too small, too small, get me a stadium. Get us to Anfield and we'll fill it," Liverpool fan Pimblett said, and judging by the response, many of those in attendance in London would make the trip to Merseyside.

Having not staged an event in London since March 2019, Saturday's card was a triumphant return for the UFC, which abruptly cancelled a planned event in March 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic began to sweep around the world.

The British fighters excelled on Saturday, with Welshman Jack Shore winning a decision victory and Scot Paul Craig pulling off another come-from-behind win via triangle choke against Nikita Krylov.

Ipswich-born Arnold Allen came out swinging haymakers at New Zealander Dan Hooker in the co-main event, ending it with a TKO victory halfway through the first round.

With many Russian athletes excluded from competition following their country's invasion of Ukraine, Alexander Volkov was booed as he took on Tom Aspinall in the heavyweight main event.

His evening went from bad to worse as Aspinall opened a cut on his head early and then secured a straight arm lock on the Russian to end the fight at the 3:45 mark in the first round.

Given the performances from the home fighters, the UFC is likely to return to the U.K. sooner rather than later.