UFC London: Paddy Pimblett secures second UFC win with slick first-round submission of Rodrigo Vargas

Paddy Pimblett superbly submitted Rodrigo Vargas in the first round of their lightweight contest at UFC London.

Rising UFC star Pimblett's quick victory sparked jubilation inside the O2 Arena, with his team-mate Molly McCann leaping into the octagon to celebrate with her long-time friend.

A clean hip toss set up the rear-naked choke and Pimblett forced his Mexican opponent to tap to claim his second win in the UFC.

«It wasn't as clean as I would like but are you not entertained? I'm never in a boring fight,» Pimblett said.

«I would rate it five or six out of 10. He caught me with a nice punch.»

After a rapturous welcome, the London crowd fell silent in the opening exchanges as Pimblett was hurt by an onrushing Vargas.

The Mexican was eager to take Pimblett down but could not keep hos opponet grounded for long as the Liverpudlian got back to his feet before deciding to go for his own submission attempt.

A hip toss sent Vargas crashing to the canvas and Pimblett quickly took his back before locking in a tight rear-naked choke.

McCann — who won earlier in the night — was quickly in the cage to celebrate alongside a dancing Pimblett.

Molly McCann staked a claim for knockout of the year against Luana Carolina with a spinning back elbow stoppage.

It was a sensational, relentless performance from McCann who knocked her opponent out cold in the final round and then called for a return to Liverpool for the UFC in the summer.

McCann was excellent in the first round, ducking under Carolina's shots and firing off powerful short counters. The Liverpudlian found time to showboat in a dominant first three minutes, taunting her bloodied opponent and rallying an already enthralled London crowd.

There were fewer fireworks in the second, but McCann