The future is now in the UFC and we’re pretty confident the UK is going to play a big role in the promotion’s ongoing European takeover.
From heavyweight all the way down to the lower weight classes, it feels as if there’s a real movement taking place on the British Isles – and trust us when we say it’d be wise to come along for the ride.
In the footsteps of the great Michael Bisping, we want to take a look at five British UFC fighters who have the chance to really cement their position as contenders between now and the end of the year.
Darren Till
He may be coming off the back of a defeat to Robert Whittaker but make no mistake about it: Darren Till is a legitimate threat at middleweight.
The Liverpudlian star is scheduled to get back into the octagon in August to face Derek Brunson and if he can win that, there’s a chance he could be lined up for a number one contender fight before we reach 2022.
Paul Craig
After going on a 3-3 run in the UFC between 2017 and 2019, Paul Craig has turned into a completely new man. ‘Bearjew’ has won four and drawn one in his last five fights with all of the victories coming via finish.
We’re talking about someone who is dangerous from the opening bell until the contest is officially stopped, and there aren’t many elite light heavyweights out there like that.
Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards is finally beginning to get the kind of respect he deserves after brutalising Nate Diaz in their five-round war at UFC 263.
Sure, he nearly let it slip through his fingers in the dying seconds in Arizona, but he’s set himself up perfectly for a number one contender fight as he attempts to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title.
Jack Shore
Jack Shore holds the nickname of ‘Tank’ and it’s hardly surprising to see why. The Welshman is 3-0 in the UFC and with a 14-0 overall pro record to go alongside it, we’re starting to think he could become a contender way sooner than most folks realise. He needs some fine-tuning but he’s only 26 years of age and the only way is surely up from here.
Tom Aspinall
It’s rare to see smart heavyweights in the UFC, and mixed martial arts in general, but that’s precisely the category Tom Aspinall falls into.
He’s hardly perfect with a 10-2 resume but he already has two Performance of the Night bonuses, including a very impressive submission victory over Andrei Arlovski – a guy that isn’t all that easy to finish.
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