Dana White says Eddie Hearn brought the UFC to a stadium for next UK show while Paddy Pimblett calls for Anfield
UFC boss Dana White has promised the UFC will return to the UK this year and says boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told him to make it a stadium show.
The UFC returned to London for the first time in three years last weekend and an electrifying show saw four top British stars claim epic victories to the delight of home fans.
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Pimblett (left) and McCann (right) were two of the British talents who impressed in the capital
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White beamed after UFC London
White gushed about the event when speaking to the media afterwards, saying it convinced him to bring the UFC back to the UK this year.
During the post-fight press conference he said: “Tonight gave me renewed energy and a reminder of what it’s like to fight in Britain.
“We will come back here this year. I don’t give a damn what the schedule is like. We’ll be roaming around when we get home.”
And Matchroom boss Hearn, who was present at UFC London, suggested White think bigger for the next location.
Fighters like Paddy Pimblett have called after a show at Anfield, home of Liverpool, but White has some reservations.
Aspinall did not disappoint in his main event when he defeated Alexander Volkov
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Hearn was among the thousands in attendance at O2 and suggested a stadium show for the next UFC in the UK to White
“Coming into this week I thought this was the greatest class of fighters to ever go into a fight week in UK history and were we right or wrong? We were right. Tonight they came in and proved they are,” White told talkSPORT.
“Eddie Hearn looked at me tonight and said, ‘You should do a stadium show after tonight.’ I’ll give you a few reasons why I don’t like stadium shows.
“First of all, most of them are outdoors and this is not an outdoor fucking country, OK? let’s be honest [laughs].
“And you don’t get the same experience as in a stadium [in an arena]but the difference here is you’re used to it.
“You guys are used to watching things in stadiums. I just think you get a better event, a better atmosphere and a better experience in an arena.”
Videos of British fans chanting the name of UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall are testament to the noise created, while White added that he didn’t care how many pints landed on his front row seat.
“All I can tell you right now is that tonight was incredible.”
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https://talksport.com/sport/mma/1068735/dana-white-eddie-hearn-ufc-uk-paddy-pimblett-anfield/ Dana White says Eddie Hearn brought the UFC to a stadium for next UK show while Paddy Pimblett calls for Anfield