Tom Aspinall vs Alexander Volkov to headline UFC London with Arnold Allen vs Dan Hooker also on the card

British heavyweight Tom Aspinall will take on Alexander Volkov in UFC London’s headliner in March.

The promotion returns to the UK for the first time in three years with the Manchester fighter set for the biggest test of his career to date against Volkov, who is currently placed fifth in the heavyweight rankings.

Aspinall scored impressive wins over Andrei Arlovski and Sergey Spivak in 2021 impressive wins to propel him into the top 10. He is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak having won 11 of his 13 professional fights.

British featherweight star Arnold Allen meanwhile will take on Dan Hooker in another confirmed bout for the capital.

Allen, who currently holds the longest active winning streak in his division with eight victories, is targeting a world title shot by the end of 2022.

Victory over Hooker, who returns to featherweight for the first time in four years, will draw him closer to that goal.

Allen has only fought twice in two years, suffering a broken hand after his win over Sodiq Yusuff last April that sidelined him for the rest of 2021.

UFC last visited the capital in 2019 with Jorge Masvidal stunning Liverpool’s Darren Till with a stunning knockout win at the O2 Arena that night.

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The Covid pandemic saw a planned return in 2020, set to be headlined by Leon Edwards vs Tyron Woodley, postponed.

But its return has now been confirmed for 19 March back at the O2, the UFC’s 12th live event in the English capital.

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