The UFC has officially announced that it will be making its long anticipated return to the United Kingdom with UFC 120. The event will take place on October 16th at London’s 02 Arena. As is increasingly the case when the UFC crosses the Atlantic Ocean the event will be dominated by home talent with the top three matches featuring Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and John Hathaway.
John Hathaway will be looking to build on the momentum he has gained after his upset victory against Diego Sanchez at UFC 114 when he takes on veteran Mike Pyle. Pyle is a late substitute due to Hathaway’s original opponent Dong Hyun Kim being injured. In the event’s co-main Dan Hardy will be looking to get back into the welterweight title mix by defeating former WEC champion Carlos Condit while in the main event The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Michael Bisping will face Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama
UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said of UFC 120, “We have three of the very best British fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves, all in hugely significant matches, all on the same card. At only 22, Hathaway has established himself as someone to really look out for in the welterweight division after dominating Diego Sanchez, but Mike Pyle couldn’t care less about the hype. Dan Hardy was a national hero in the UK already, but I think he won an army of American fans by his display of courage against Georges St-Pierre, but now faces a fighter with the same ‘never-say-die’ attitude in Carlos Condit. And Bisping fights are always magical occasions in England, but in Akiyama, he may be in for his toughest test yet.”
Tickets are going on sale to fight club members this Thursday, to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday and on general sale on Saturday. As has been previously reported the event will be held in conjunction with the first-ever UFC UK Fan Expo.
