(Updated at 5 p.m. ET on July 19, 2023, with additional content.)
The UFC is back in one of the world’s most iconic cities Saturday with UFC Fight Night 224 in London. A heavyweight contender from England returning from injury is at the top of the lineup.
Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 224 with heavyweights in the main event.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC Fight Night 224 has a main card that begins at 3 p.m. ET and streams on ESPN+. The prelims stream on ESPN+ beginning at noon ET.
John Gooden will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC Fight Night 224.
He’ll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by former UFC middleweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, as well as retired lightweight contender Paul Felder.
Main event: Tom Aspinall
A year to the weekend from the last time he headlined in England in front of his home fans, Tom Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) is back to take on Marcin Tybura in a heavyweight headliner. In the main event a year ago, Aspinall blew out his knee 15 seconds into a fight with Curtis Blaydes for his first UFC loss. But now he’s recovered and looking to build on the run he had before the injury with five UFC finishes, including four in the first round and four post-fight bonuses.
Main event: Marcin Tybura
Very quietly, Marcin Tybura (24-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) has turned himself into a heavyweight contender. He’s won seven of his past eight fights, and the only loss was a decision to former Bellator champion Alexander Volkov. He bounced back from that with decision wins over Alexander Romanov and Blagoy Ivanov earlier this year, and an upset of Aspinall would have him on the UFC’s heavyweight A List for sure.
Co-main event: Molly McCann
English fan favorite Molly McCann (13-5 MMA, 6-4 UFC) fought twice in London in 2022, and both times she pulled off highlight-reel finishes that got her performance bonuses. In the women’s flyweight co-main event against Julija Stoliarenko, McCann will be looking to bounce back from a UFC 281 submission loss to Erin Blanchfield this past November in New York.
Co-main event: Julija Stoliarenko
Julija Stoliarenko (10-7-1 MMA, 1-5 UFC) has not had an easy run of it in the UFC. She worked her way back to the UFC following a one-and-done UFC fight after Season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” but has lost four of her five fights since she returned. Her lone win in the UFC was a 42-second submission of Jessica-Rose Clark in 2022, but her follow-up was a TKO loss to Chelsea Chandler.
UFC London's international flair
UFC Fight Night 224 has an international feel in London, which should be expected. The 30 fighters on the lineup represent 14 different countries: Australia, Brazil, England, France, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, United States and Uzbekistan.
UFC debut: Jonny Parsons
Jonny Parsons (8-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) finally will make his UFC debut nearly two years after a win on Dana White’s Contender Series. Parsons beat Solomon Renfro in October 2021 and was set to make his UFC debut in February 2022, but withdrew. At long last, he’ll make the walk to fight England fan favorite Danny Roberts (18-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in a welterweight prelim.
UFC debut: Mick Parkin
Heavyweight Mick Parkin (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his UFC debut in front of his home fans in England when he takes on Jamal Pogues (10-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) on the prelims. Parkin’s 6-0 start has come by way of six stoppages, including four in the first round. On Dana White’s Contender Series this past August, he choked out Eduardo Neves in the first frame.
UFC debut: Shauna Bannon
Ireland’s Shauna Bannon (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who trains in Dublin under former UFC fighter Paddy Holohan, brings a perfect record to her promotional debut at women’s strawweight against Bruna Brasil (8-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on the prelims. Bannon turned pro only 15 months ago and has a pair of stoppages on her resume, plus two wins for Invicta.
UFC debut: Daniel Barez
Daniel Barez (16-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) fought on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, but lost a split decision to Carlos Hernandez. Less than two years later, he’s in the UFC to take on Jafel Filho (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC). After his DWCS loss, Barez has four straight first-round finishes.
ESPN main card betting odds
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)
- Tom Aspinall (-450) vs. Marcin Tybura (+340)
- Molly McCann (-350) vs. Julija Stoliarenko (+275)
- Andre Fili (+160) vs. Nathaniel Wood (-200)
- Paul Craig (+160) vs. Andre Muniz (-200)
- Jai Herbert (-115) vs. Fares Ziam (-105)
- Josh Culibao (+130) vs. Lerone Murphy (-155)
ESPN/ESPN+ preliminary card betting odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, noon ET)
- Davey Grant (+100) vs. Daniel Marcos (-120)
- Jonny Parsons (-125) vs. Danny Roberts (+105)
- Joel Alvarez (-155) vs. Marc Diakiese (+130)
- Mick Parkin (+120) vs. Jamal Pogues (-145)
- Bryan Barberena (+230) vs. Makhmud Muradov (-300)
- Pannie Kianzad (+160) vs. Ketlen Vieira (-200)
- Yanal Ashmouz (-105) vs. Chris Duncan (-115)
- Shauna Bannon (+105) vs. Bruna Brasil (-130)
- Daniel Barez (+100) vs. Jafel Filho (-120)
