MMA: Can heavyweight Tom Aspinall harness 'magical quality' of UFC London to become its latest star?

The UFC has come to the UK no less than 25 times in the past two decades.

Beginning with 'the Brawl at the Hall' — yes, the Royal Albert Hall — in 2002, it was as experimental a venture as it was a peculiar anomaly in the genteel environment of Knightsbridge.

Over the years, events in London have had the happy habit of creating stars — there is a magical quality about the events here.

Michael Bisping, notably, was the catalyst for fans to descend on the Docklands in Greenwich for major fight nights in the early days.

From 2007 against Matt Hamill, to a battle royale with Anderson Silva nine years later on one of the most memorable nights in the sport.

As a belated UFC middleweight champion, Bisping remains the greatest star and most successful MMA fighter from British shores.

But even overseas fighters have made their mark in London, notably American Jorge Masvidal, who silenced the crowd with his stunning knockout of Liverpudlian Darren Till, the last time the UFC came here back in 2019.

Masvidal, who notoriously also sucker-punched British rival Leon Edwards backstage that evening after his brutal finish of Till, emerged from journeyman status to fight in huge contests. They included beating Ben Askren for the fastest KO in UFC history in five seconds with the flying knee from hell in Sin City — and then Nate Diaz.

Without his London appearance, it is arguable Masvidal, 37, might never have become the megastar he has undoubtedly become.

This weekend, given the resonance London has enjoyed within the UFC, Salford heavyweight Tom Aspinall has — and this is not overstating it — a massive opportunity in the main event to propel himself towards glory if he can legitimately deal with highly-ranked Alexander Volkov.

Aspinall, 28,