Art used by Ultimate to announce their return to London Photo: Instagram/@ufc
Next Saturday (19), after just over three years, Ultimate will land again in London (ING) with the main fight between the local heavyweight prospect (up to 120,2kg) Tom aspinall and the Russian veteran Alexander Volkov. To warm up this long-awaited 'reunion', the SUPER FIGHTS reminds the reader of the main events held by the company in 'Terra da Rainha'.
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The first time – UFC 38 (July 2002)
The first Ultimate card in Terra da Rainha featured one of its main champions of the season. The owner of the welterweight belt (under 77,1kg) Mark Hughes would have a long-awaited rematch against Canadian Carlos Newton, whom he had dethroned just under a year earlier. In the second duel, the North American won again by knockout, but this time in the fourth round. In the second fight of the show, Brazilian Renato 'Babalu' Sobral defeated Australian Elvis Sinosic in a unanimous decision by the judges.
The return – UFC 75 (September 2007)
R. Jackson and D. Henderson faced each other in September 2007 Photo: Disclosure/UFC
The return to the O2 Arena took just over five years, but it arrived with a fight highly anticipated by MMA fans. In the event called 'Champion x Champion', the owner of the UFC light heavyweight (up to 93kg) belt, Quinton Rampage Jackson welcomed the then Pride middleweight champion Dan Hender, who arrived at the organization chaired by Dana White immediately after winning the title with the Asian company.
Inside the octagon, the two athletes delivered a very lively fight, which left the London fans ecstatic. At the end of the five rounds, Rampage He emerged victorious over Hendo in a unanimous decision by the judges and remained champion of the under-93kg division.
UFC 120 (October 2010)
M. Bisping (left) faced Y. Akiyama in the main fight of UFC 120 Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Main name in British MMA in all history, Michael Bisping he had his first main fight 'at home' in October 2010, against Yoshihiro Akiyama. In the confrontation that led UFC 120, the English athlete opted for a cautious strategy, took practically no risks and, as a result, emerged victorious in the unanimous decision of the judges. With the triumph, 'Conde' continued to stand out in the middleweight division (up to 83,9kg) and aiming for a title fight.
UFC 'Barão x McDonald' (February 2013)
R. Barão faces M. McDonald at the weigh-in at the Reproduction/Youtube event
Due to the long inactivity of the bantamweight champion (up to 61,2kg) Dominick Cruz, Ultimate decided to keep the category running and placed the interim champion, the Brazilian Renan Barao to defend his title against North American prospect Michael McDonald. In a highly balanced confrontation, the Tupiniquim athlete had to 'sweat blood' to achieve a submission in the fourth round and maintain his 'provisional reign'. The Nova União athlete would continue dreaming of the duel against the 'Dominador', which never happened.
UFC 'Silva x Bisping' (February 2016)
Anderson (right) was defeated by Bisping (left) in London. Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/UFC
Former middleweight champion (up to 83,9kg) and considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport, Anderson had two defeats and a 'No Contest' in his last three fights and went to the 'hostile territory' of Michael Bisping to try to get back on the winning path. The 'Conde', with two consecutive victories, was beginning the 'final sprint' of his career, which would take him to the category belt.
At the beginning of the fight, Anderson looked like the fighter who dominated the middleweight division for years. He provoked, joked, fought with his guard down and excited the crowd at the O2 Arena. However, Bisping remained firm, responded to all the blows, was not intimidated by the 'Spider's' old antics and emerged victorious in the unanimous decision of the judges. Irritated by the result of the confrontation, the Tupiniquim athlete even spoke of 'total corruption' in the press conference after the event.
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