Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards serving as UFC champions might function the catalyst to lastly carry the promotion again to England for a pay-per-view card in 2024.
UFC CEO Dana White teased plans for an enormous card headed to England someday this 12 months with rumors swirling a few potential date in July. White didn’t announce any fights, though he hinted at Aspinall, Edwards or presumably each of them showing on the cardboard when the UFC returns to the UK.
“I’ve an English heavyweight champion and many different European stars. Two champs now out of England,” White informed TNT Sports activities when referencing Aspinall and Edwards. “That’s one other factor that was occurring only recently, so we now have these groups that construct all their totally different items to the puzzle. Then we come along with me and I begin attempting to suit the items of the puzzle collectively and I’m like this doesn’t match right here, that’s received to go. That’s the way it all works.
“We had these fights the place it’s like we’re going to do that the place? No, we’re going to England. So we’re going to England. We’re coming and I received nice fights lined up for the U.Ok. followers and I’m excited to get again there.”
An announcement in regards to the UFC’s return to England might come at any time with White including that ultimate touches are being placed on the occasion proper now.
“Actually days [away from announcing the event],” White mentioned. “We’re proper there engaged on stuff. We’ve received some badass plans for England. [It will be a] numbered card, pay-per-view. A fantastic one.”
So far as Aspinall and Edwards competing there, White didn’t get into any specifics however with the 2 champions hailing from England it’s solely doable that one or each might headline the cardboard.
With Aspinall holding onto the interim heavyweight title, he’s been anxious to get again in motion, though he gained’t have the chance to unify the belt with reigning champion Jon Jones nonetheless scheduled to conflict with Stipe Miocic someday this 12 months.
That matchup was delayed after Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle that knocked him off the UFC 295 card this previous November, which led to Aspinall getting booked in an interim title battle with Sergei Pavlovich.
White confirmed plans for Jones vs. Miocic are nonetheless within the works however he has no downside with Aspinall defending the interim title within the meantime.
“In the event you assume proper now it’s March, who is aware of, Jon Jones and Stipe due to the harm, who is aware of once they’ll battle,” White mentioned. “It’s not proper to let Tom to take a seat. If Tom desires to defend the title, we’ll completely do it.”
Ideally, White nonetheless holds out hope that Aspinall might finally face both Jones or Miocic down the street however that gained’t be his subsequent battle.
“Jones is about to battle Stipe,” White mentioned. “I hope the winner of that battle will battle Tom. Yeah, we’ll see.”
