Can Tom Aspinall continue his rise up the UFC’s heavyweight ladder? Can Dan Hooker halt the win streak of Arnold Allen? The predictions from the MMA Empire team, along with our guest picker, can be found below for the six-fight main card.
Our guest picker for this event is Canadian featherweight prospect Cody Chovancek (2-0). After a solid amateur career, Chovancek has kicked off his professional career perfectly, earning two stoppage victories in under four months. Training out of Niagara Top Team, Chovancek will be one to watch moving forward, starting with his next bout, likely at BTC 15.
The UFC's return to London marked the promotion's first event in England's capital in three years, and the card was built almost entirely around British talent — Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann and Jai Herbert all featured on a main card tailored for a partisan O2 Arena crowd. Events like this one tend to produce star-making performances, and the promotion clearly positioned several of its UK prospects for exactly that.
2022 standings thru UFC Fight Night 203
1. Dylan Bowker (31-12) 113-108-3 in 2021
T2. Joe McDonagh (30-13) 122-99-3 in 2021
T2. Cody Rempel (30-13) 134-87-3 in 2021
T2. Cooper Riehl (30-13) 136-85-3 in 2021
T5. Cole Shelton (28-15) 138-83-3 in 2021 *Champion
T5. Guest picker (28-15) 115-106-3 in 2021
T7. Jason Hagholm (26-17) N/A in 2021
T7. Kylan Knowler (26-17) 128-93-3 in 2021
T7. Joel Griffith (26-17) 135-86-3 in 2021
Aspinall arrived at this bout as arguably the fastest-rising heavyweight prospect in the sport — unbeaten in the UFC at that point, with every one of his promotional wins coming by stoppage and none of his fights escaping the second round. Volkov, the towering Russian veteran, represented a different level of test: a former title contender whose range striking and experience had troubled the division's elite for years. A win over him would announce Aspinall as a genuine top-five threat rather than merely a prospect.
Alexander Volkov vs. Tom Aspinall
Dylan Bowker: Tom Aspinall via submission.
Joe McDonagh: Tom Aspinall via knockout.
Cody Rempel: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Cooper Riehl: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Cole Shelton: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Cody Chovancek: Alexander Volkov via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Tom Aspinall via decision.
Joel Griffith: Tom Aspinall via TKO.
Picks – Alexander Volkov: 1, Tom Aspinall: 8
Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker
Dylan Bowker: Dan Hooker via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Dan Hooker via decision.
Cody Rempel: Arnold Allen via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Dan Hooker via decision.
Cole Shelton: Arnold Allen via decision.
Cody Chovancek: Dan Hooker via TKO.
Jason Hagholm: Arnold Allen via submission.
Kylan Knowler: Arnold Allen via submission.
Joel Griffith: Dan Hooker via decision.
Picks – Arnold Allen: 4, Dan Hooker: 5
Paddy Pimblett vs. Rodrigo Vargas
Dylan Bowker: Paddy Pimblett via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Paddy Pimblett via decision.
Cody Rempel: Paddy Pimblett via submission.
Cooper Riehl: Paddy Pimblett via submission.
Cole Shelton: Paddy Pimblett via submission.
Cody Chovancek: Rodrigo Vargas via TKO.
Jason Hagholm: Paddy Pimblett via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Paddy Pimblett via decision.
Joel Griffith: Paddy Pimblett via submission.
Picks – Paddy Pimblett: 8, Rodrigo Vargas: 1
Gunnar Nelson vs. Takashi Sato
Dylan Bowker: Gunnar Nelson via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Gunnar Nelson via knockout.
Cody Rempel: Gunnar Nelson via submission.
Cooper Riehl: Gunnar Nelson via submission.
Cole Shelton: Gunnar Nelson via submission.
Cody Chovancek: Gunnar Nelson via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Gunnar Nelson via decision.
Kylan Knowler: Gunnar Nelson via submission.
Joel Griffith: Gunnar Nelson via submission.
Picks – Gunnar Nelson: 9, Takashi Sato: 0
Molly McCann vs. Luana Carolina
Dylan Bowker: Molly McCann via decision.
Joe McDonagh: Molly McCann via decision.
Cody Rempel: Molly McCann via decision.
Cooper Riehl: Molly McCann via decision.
Cole Shelton: Molly McCann via decision.
Cody Chovancek: Luana Carolina via decision.
Jason Hagholm: Molly McCann via decision.
Kylan Knowler: Molly McCann via decision.
Joel Griffith: Molly McCann via decision.
Picks – Molly McCann: 8, Luana Carolina: 1
The co-main event carried its own intrigue as Liverpool's Arnold Allen put his perfect UFC record on the line against Dan Hooker, who returned to featherweight after a run at lightweight that included wars with some of the division's best. Hooker's durability and volume made him a genuine threat, but Allen's blend of speed and technical boxing had taken him through every featherweight test to that point — a signature win here would put him in the title conversation.
Jai Herbert vs. Ilia Topuria
Dylan Bowker: Ilia Topuria via TKO.
Joe McDonagh: Ilia Topuria via decision.
Cody Rempel: Ilia Topuria via TKO.
Cooper Riehl: Ilia Topuria via decision.
Cole Shelton: Ilia Topuria via TKO.
Cody Chovancek: Ilia Topuria via submission.
Jason Hagholm: Ilia Topuria via TKO.
Kylan Knowler: Ilia Topuria via submission.
Joel Griffith: Ilia Topuria via submission.
