The first fights are in for next March’s UFC Fight Night in London, and one includes the return of former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz.
After staging its United Kingdom event in Manchester this past July, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will head back to England’s capital in the first quarter of 2025, with London’s O2 arena once again playing host to Octagon action.
A main event is yet to be announced, and a number of home favorites are expected to make the walk in front of their compatriots. The first major announcement, however, will pit a Polish ex-titleholder against a charging New Zealander.
The UFC announced this week that Błachowicz’s (29-10-1) lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury will come to a close 20 months on from his most recent appearance — a narrow decision loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291.
On March 22, the #4-ranked contender will attempt to defend his position in the top five opposite the surging Carlos Ulberg (11-1). That fight was announced alongside another, with English heavyweight Mick Parkin set for a big opportunity against a veteran of the top 10 in Marcin Tybura on home soil.
Prior to his tight loss to then-future and now-reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira, Błachowicz failed to regain the 205-pound gold against Magomed Ankalaev, whom he fought to a draw against in the main event of UFC 282.
Ulberg, meanwhile, hasn’t tasted defeat since a UFC debut defeat to Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021. Since then, “Black Jag” has won six fights consecutively, most recently outpointing former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Macau late last month.
