The UFC London main card features six bouts, the final three of which will be previewed in this post. The card is headlined by a heavyweight bout between contenders Alexander Volkov (pictured above upper left) and Tom Aspinall (pictured above upper right). It also features Dan Hooker (pictured above lower right) in his return to featherweight to face Arnold Allen (pictured above lower left). All win probabilities are based on a fighter’s CC Rating and their place in the CC Rankings.

You can find the previews for the previous fights HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Paddy Pimblett vs. Kazula Vargas (Men’s Lightweight)

Paddy Pimblett

• Record: 17-3-0
• Division Ranking: 18/84 lightweights
• Vegas Odds: -625 (Favorite)

Kazula Vargas

• Record: 12-4-0
• Division Ranking: 66/84 lightweights
• Vegas Odds: +450 (Underdog)

Few men have as much star potential in the UFC as Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett. He stormed on to the scene last year with much hype. It looked initially like he might get upset by Luigi Vendramini. However, Pimblett turned on the offense and delivered a crushing comeback KO. It marked the 13th finish of his pro career. Despite making a name for himself with his hands, eight of those 13 finishes are actually by submission. He’ll bring his rounded talent and personality to his hometown fans in London.

Vargas scored his first UFC win his last time out as well. The difference is that this was his third attempt. He also faced off against the very young Rong Zhu at UFC 261 and turned in a bout that would have been fight of the night on most other occasions. Vargas is also a rounded finisher, with seven KOs and three submissions in just 12 career wins.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Pimblett is his own worst enemy. His cockiness can lead him to fight with his hands down and get clipped one too many times. However, it didn’t stop him against Vendramini and we suspect he’ll go through the fire en route to a finish in this one as well. He’s too talented at this stage for an opponent like Vargas.

Editor’s Pick: Pimblett

[6] Arnold Allen vs. [14/LW] Dan Hooker (Men’s Featherweight)

Arnold Allen

• Record: 17-1-0
• Division Ranking: 7/74 featherweights
• Vegas Odds: -120 (Favorite)

Dan Hooker

• Record: 21-11-0
• Division Ranking: 15/84 lightweights
• Vegas Odds: +100 (Underdog)

Allen (#6 CC, #7 UFC) has one of the sneakiest winning streak in all of the UFC. He is a perfect 8-0 since joining the big promotion. The last time he lost a pro MMA fight was in Cage Warriors in June of 2014. It’s been almost four years since Allen got a finish, but that hasn’t slowed him one bit. He does, for his career, have nine finishes in 17 career wins (five KOs, four submissions). The Englishman Allen was also a part of the last UFC London card.

Hooker (#14 CC/lw, #8 UFC/lw) makes his return to the featherweight division in this bout. He posted an even 3-3 record at 145 pounds before going up to lightweight and going on a tear. However, some bad luck and some short notice bouts have put his place in the lightweight division in a tough spot. If he can bring his same power with him after the weight cut, he will be a problem for this division. He is a much improved fighter since the last time he fought in this weight class. Hooker carries an impressive 18 career finishes (11 KOs, seven submissions).

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: The safe pick here is Allen. However, Hooker looked very healthy on the scales. If he can maintain a decent size advantage, his power will outmatch Allen on the feet. Hooker showed against Nasrat Haqparast that he can mitigate takedowns, which will no doubt become Allen’s strategy.

Editor’s Pick: Hooker

[3] Alexander Volkov vs. [12] Tom Aspinall (Men’s Heavyweight)

Alexander Volkov

• Record: 34-9-0
• Division Ranking: 4/37 heavyweights
• Vegas Odds: +110 (Underdog)

Tom Aspinall

• Record: 11-2-0
• Division Ranking: 13/37 heavyweights
• Vegas Odds: -130 (Favorite)

Volkov has been sitting on the cusp of a title shot for some time, but has never made the leap. His losses to Derrick Lewis (#4 CC, #5 UFC), Curtis Blaydes (#5 CC, #4 UFC), and Ciryl Gane (#2 CC, #1 UFC) all cost him chances to ascend higher in the division. Beyond that, Volkov has run through all other comers with relative ease. Over his career, he’s amassed a staggering 22 knockout wins. It feels only a matter of time until “Drago” gets his crack at UFC gold.

However, the latest threat to Volkov’s rise is Aspinall (#12 CC, #11 UFC). He is a perfect 4-0 since joining the UFC, with all four wins coming by finish. He has a perfect 100 percent finish rate for his career. He has remarkable speed for the heavyweight division and a decent submission game for a big man as well. He presents a unique challenge for fellow heavyweights. That being said, this is his biggest challenge to date. Where Volkov sits at an 1817.2 CC Rating, the previous high for an Aspinall opponent is 1684.7 (Andrei Arlovski).

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Aspinall has never gone longer than six minutes and nine seconds in the UFC octagon. Now, he finds himself in a five round main event. This is something Volkov has done before. Aspinall needs to use his speed and grappling to get a finish, otherwise the Russian’s experience will take over. Ciryl Gane wasn’t able to do it, but used his talent to win on points anyway. Aspinall has a narrow path to victory and it is likely that experience and the motivation of trying to earn a title fight will be the difference.

Editor’s Pick: Volkov

Photo Credit: UFC