The UFC is heading back to London this weekend as they gear up for another Fight Night. A number of British fighters are on the card, so they will have the hometown fans cheering loudly for them.
If you’re planning on betting the events, keep in mind that the action starts early due to the time difference. With that in mind, let’s look at the three best fights of the night.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Tom Aspinall
Curtis Blaydes (pictured above) will be taking on Tom Aspinall as the main event for the night. Blaydes has been strong since the start of 2016, accumulating a strong 12-3 record. Plus, two out of the three of those losses came against Francis Ngannou, who is the heavyweight champion. His most recent setback was a knockout loss in the second round against Derrick Lewis, who is also among the sport’s elite. Still, Blaydes is 6-1 in his last seven.
Blaydes is looking to get back at it when Aspinall enters the Octagon with him. Aspinall himself has been able to go 5-0 in the Octagon so far. Not only that but all of those victories wound up being stoppages. Four of them were listed as the Performance of the Night as well.
Aspinall will bring a lot of power and explosiveness to a fight against Blaydes, a rough competitor that doesn’t back down. Aspinall is from Manchester, England, so the fans should be in his corner.
Jack Hermansson vs. Chris Curtis
The co-main event will feature Jack Hermansson taking on Chris Curtis. Hermansson has been able to take his talents to 11 different countries throughout his last 29 career fights. He’s struggled to find consistency as of late, though, flipping back and forth between wins and losses over his past seven matchups.
As for his opponent in the matchup here, Curtis is flying through fighters. He has been able to win his last eight fights, including three in the UFC. Curtis is proving to be a very patient fighter that picks his shots wisely in the Octagon.
Curtis is stepping in on short notice after Darren Till had to withdraw. That could give him an element of surprise as Hermansson was preparing for a different style of fighter.
Nikita Krylov vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Nikita Krylov is coming into this matchup against Alexander Gustafsson with the hopes that he can rebound from some tough losses. He’s lost his past two fights, three of four and four of six. If he wants to continue to stick around the top 15 in the light heavyweight division, he will be needing a win to stay going. The good news is he’s a sizable favorite here.
As for his opponent, Gustafsson hasn’t fought in two years. The last time he hit the Octagon was on Fight Island against Fabricio Werdum where he was quickly submitted in the first round. He’s lost three straight fights entering this one and is 3-6 over his last 10 bouts. Once one of the sport’s elite light heavyweights, he might be in the twilight of his career.