Report – UFC ‘close’ to relocating targeted September London event back to Las Vegas, Nevada

The targeted UFC Fight Night London event on September 4th. is reportedly in jeopardy this evening, with the organization “close” to relocating the showcase to Las Vegas, Nevada as per MMA reporter, Ariel Helwani. 

The ‘Fight Night’ billed event was tentatively targeted to take place at the O2 Arena in London, England in accordance with the country’s easing of restriction in accordance with its roadmap to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging Delta variant. A high-stakes middleweight fight between longtime division mainstay, Derek Brunson and former welterweight title challenger, Liverpool native, Darren Till was expected to headline the event.

“The Sept. 4 UFC event — headlined by Darren Till x Derek Brunson — is close to being moved back to Las Vegas (Nevada) from London (England), sources say,” Helwani’s report read.

The event was set to mark the promotion’s first outing in the UK since March of 2019, where then welterweight, Till headlined at the O2 Arena against BMF champion and two-time undisputed welterweight title challenger, Jorge Masvidal — where he suffered a spectacular second round knockout loss. After the defeat, Till moved to the middleweight division. 

In March of last year, the organization had scheduled an event to take place once more at the O2 Arena, with a pivotal welterweight pairing between former division champion, Tyron Woodley and the #3 ranked contender, Leon Edwards set to headline the showcase. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the bout and event were cancelled entirely, with travel restrictions preventing Edwards’ travel to the United States for his matchup with Woodley.

Amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, the UFC has held events to limited spectators in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as well as hosting numerous events at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, and fielding showcases in select venues in the United States.

In April of this year, the promotion returned to a live gate format for the first time since March of 2020 — with UFC 261 taking place at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. 
The promotion then fielded a UFC 262 event in Houston, Texas at the Toyota Centre, a UFC 263 event at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, and a UFC 264 event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each of these events took place open to a live gate of spectators.

Upcoming events; UFC 265 is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas — UFC 266 in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC 267 back in Abu Dhabi, UAE on ‘Fight Island’ — while tentative plans are in place for the promotion to host a UFC 268 pay-per-view event on November 6th. from Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Per a later report from WHOATV reporter, Michael Morgan this evening, he confirmed that a deal for the event to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada had been reached, ultimately resulting in the cancellation of the targeted UFC Fight Night London event. 

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.