The launch of the UFC’s “Fight Island” events in Abu Dhabi next month marks the moment for a group of fighters from the international roster to return to action.
That group includes a host of U.K.-based fighters who, up to now, have been in MMA exile while international travel restrictions keep them from traveling to the U.S. to compete.
The advent of “Fight Island” and the UFC’s detailed travel regimen for fighters jetting into Abu Dhabi have opened the door for some of the promotion’s most exciting fighters from the U.K. to return to action.
Ahead of the UFC’s four-event run on Yas Island, here are five fights to keep an eye on that feature returning U.K. fighters.
Without further ado …
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Molly McCann vs. Talia Santos, July 15
There’s been something special about some of the matchups we’ve seen during the UFC’s lockdown era so far, and you can bet your last dollar (or British pound) that Molly McCann will look to add to that growing list of memorable fights.
McCann (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) arrived in the UFC as the Cage Warriors women’s flyweight champion, but was submitted by Gillian Robertson on her debut in her hometown of Liverpool. But since that defeat McCann has bounced back superbly with a trio of unanimous decision victories over Priscilla Cachoeira, Ariane Lipski and Diana Belbita.
“Meatball” is getting better with every fight, and will be keen to show her latest improvements against Contender Series graduate Talia Santos (15-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who is bidding to claim her maiden UFC victory after suffering her first career defeat on her UFC debut against Mara Romero Borella.
The fight represents the toughest assignment of McCann’s UFC career since her debut, but a fourth straight win for the energetic Evertonian will push the 30-year-old toward the division’s big names later in 2020.
Next up: Striking aces get ready to throw down
Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev, July 18
If you’re a fan of all-out striking battles between fighters with a penchant for the spectacular, sit back, glue your eyelids open and prepare to enjoy Marc Diakiese taking on Rafael Fiziev.
Diakiese (14-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) was originally set to face off against Brazil’s Alan Patrick, but after the Brazilian was forced off the card, the UFC drafted in Tiger Muay Thai-based Russian Fiziev (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and created a bout with even more potential for chaos.
When he’s firing on all cylinders, Diakiese is one of the most explosive, spectacular strikers you’ll find. His combination of speed, power and the ability to launch into spectacular techniques at the drop of a hat has seen him claim some stunning finishes during his career, including his highlight-reel knockout of Teemu Packalen in London back in 2017.
A change in training camp coincided with a three-fight skid, but after returning home to the UK to set up a new training camp, Diakiese has rediscovered his mojo, and in 2019 he righted the ship with decision wins over fellow strikers Joseph Duffy and Lando Vannata.
Now, after bouts with Stevie Ray, Jai Herbert and Patrick all fell through, Diakiese faces Fiziev, who edged a back-and-forth battle with Alex White in his last outing in October last year. He loves nothing better than to stand and bang, and Diakiese will likely be more than happy to oblige him.
Next up: A rearranged UFC London bout promises fireworks aplenty
Nicolas Dalby vs. Danny Roberts, July 25
While preparing for the UFC’s March event in London, one fight leapt off the bout sheet. The clash between Denmark’s former Cage Warriors welterweight champion Nicolas Dalby and English striker Danny Roberts screamed “Fight of the Night” at the time, and the welterweight clash, which opens the main card on the final “Fight Island” card on July 25, looks ideally placed to live up to its promise, four months removed from its original booking.
Roberts (17-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) always seems to find himself in a tear-up, and the striking stylist has repeatedly demonstrated both his toughness and his ability to turn out the lights on his opponents in spectacular fashion. His stunning one-punch knockout Zelim Imadaev at UFC on ESPN+ 21 last November was a carbon copy of his starching of Oliver Enkamp in London at UFC Fight Night 127 a year earlier.
On July 25, Roberts will be taking on the sort of fighter who will bring out the best in him. Dalby (18-3-1 MMA, 2-3-1 UFC) has built a well-earned reputation for a man who thrives in the trenches, and never seems to take a backward step in his fights.
After a hat-trick of consecutive losses saw him cut from the UFC, Dalby returned to Cage Warriors and captured the interim welterweight strap before earning his second stint on the big stage. He returned on home soil in Copenhagen and picked up an emotional win against Alex Oliveira at UFC on ESPN+ 18.
Now he’ll face Roberts in a bout that has the potential to steal the show on July 25.
Next up: British bantamweight star welcomes an undefeated Russian to the octagon
Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Nathaniel Wood, July 25
The UFC’s bantamweight division is where it’s at right now, with the 135-pound division boasting the deepest talent pool of any weight class in the sport, with a healthy mix of established stars and rising prospects making the division an absolute joy to follow in 2020.
The fight between Umar Nurmagomedov and Nathaniel Wood offers the chance to benchmark the abilities of two of the most talented up-and-comers at 135 pounds as they get set to throw down on the preliminary card on July 25.
Former Cage Warriors champion Wood (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) surged into the UFC on the back of a remarkable run of knockouts, then shocked the opposition with a hat-trick of submissions as Johnny Eduardo, Andre Ewell and Jose Quinonez were dispatched via choke finishes.
Wood’s momentum hit a roadblock in February when he was finished by John Dodson at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in his first defeat in four years. But the Brit is ready to bounce back against a highly-touted, unbeaten newcomer.
Nurmagomedov (12-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib, and comes from the same Dagestan-based team that produced the all-conquering 155-pound belt-holder. The 24-year-old arrives in the UFC as the former GFC bantamweight champion with five of his 12 wins coming via submission.
It offers a fascinating clash of rising prospects who have built their careers in very different regional scenes in Europe. While Nurmagomedov competed in a range of Russian promotions, including Fight Nights Global and GFC, Wood made his name predominantly on the UK regional scene, initially with UCMMA and BAMMA, then with Cage Warriors.
Both men have been earmarked as potential contenders of the future, but which one is best equipped to take on Top 15 opposition later this year? It’s going to be a lot of fun finding out.
Next up: A title shot is up for grabs as “The Gorilla” takes on “The Reaper”
Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till, July 25
Of course, we couldn’t run this feature without talking about the headliner of the final “Fight Island” event of the UFC’s four-date run. Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is looking to bounce back into title contention once again, but he faces a surging Brit who has title aspirations of his own.
Darren Till’s title tilt at welterweight ended in defeat against Tyron Woodley in an opportunity that perhaps came at the wrong weight class for the Liverpudlian. At the time, Till (18-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) was pushing himself to the limit just to make weight for his bouts and it’s almost certain we haven’t seen the very best of him in the octagon as a result.
But, since that defeat, Till has taken stock and made the decision to move up to middleweight. His first assignment was a real acid test of his credentials at 185 pounds, and he passed with flying colors as he neutralized Kelvin Gastelum and outstruck him to pick up arguably the most important win of his UFC career.
That victory positioned him as a new contender at middleweight and, with Till and reigning champion Israel Adesanya openly talking about a potential title fight earlier in their respective careers, that early talk may yet turn into reality. But for that happen soon, Till must take out the former champion.
Some will point to Whittaker’s championship pedigree as the potential difference-maker in this fight, while others may highlight the Australian’s loss to a technical striker in Adesanya. Till is certainly technical in his stand-up, albeit from more of a Muay Thai stance than “The Last Stylebender’s” more kickboxing-based setup. But if the Brit can control the range against Whittaker (20-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) as effectively as he did against Gastelum, British fans may be preparing themselves for another Darren Till title fight later this year.
