UFC London main event on brink of being announced as Leon Edwards set to face Jack Della Maddalena at O2 Arena
THE main event for UFC London is on the brink of being announced, SunSport understands.
The MMA leader makes it’s annual visit to the UK on March 22 for UFC Fight Night 255, which will take place at the O2 Arena.
Former welterweight king Leon Edwards will top the bill at the North Greenwich Dome.
And it’s emerged he’ll be throwing down with Aussie striker Jack Della Maddalena.
SunSport the confirmed the match-up with multiple sources following an initial report from Benny P.
The fight will be Edwards’ first sine he lost the welterweight strap to Belal Muhammad last July.
Perth puncher Maddalena, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since stopping former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 last April.
Edwards’ reign as the UK’s second UFC champion came to an end thanks to a unanimous decision defeat to Palestinian-American Muhammad.
And the Brummie bruiser is hellbent on regaining the 170lbs throne.
He said on Instagram: “My goal right now is to get the belt back.
“For me, it’s more about what’s next and how do you get back to where you want to get to.
“My goal is to be a two-time world champion.”
Reflecting on his first defeat since losing to Kamaru Usman in December 2015, he added: “I haven’t lost a fight in like nine years.
“It’s getting used to that feeling again, but I feel like I hate losing more than I love winning.
“There’s not much you can do now, you know, just move on from that and put it behind you.”
UFC London card (as it stands)
Leon Edwards vs Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight bout)
Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg (light-heavyweight bout)
Molly McCann vs Istela Nunes (women’s flyweight bout)
Marcin Tybura vs Mick Parkin (heavyweight bout)
Nathaniel Wood vs Morgan Charriere (men’s featherweight bout)
Alonzo Menifield vs Oumar Sy (heavyweight bout)
Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar (women’s strawweight bout)
Felipe dos Santos vs Lone’er Kavanagh (men’s flyweight bout)
Caolan Loughran vs Nathan Fletcher (men’s bantamweight bout)