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Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC Fight Night 208, which took place Saturday in London.
What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 208 at the The 02 in London? Here are a few post-fight musings …
Molly McCann owns two of six spinning elbow knockouts in UFC history after UFC Fight Night 208.
The UFC’s encore in London did not live up to the standards of its visit to the city earlier this year. Nine of the 14 bouts at UFC Fight Night 208 on Saturday at The O2 went to a decision.
The heavyweight main event capped off in disappointing fashion when [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the fight, giving [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) a TKO victory.
For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 208.
Tom Aspinall is taking a devastating UFC Fight Night 208 main event result in stride.
[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] is taking a devastating UFC Fight Night 208 main event result in stride.
Saturday’s heavyweight headliner at The O2 in London was brought to an abrupt end just 15 seconds in when Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a knee injury that sent him to the canvas in agony. His opponent Curtis Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) was awarded the win by TKO, and it looked like a grim scene for the British fighter.
Aspinall has not revealed the extent of his injuries, but deemed it a “freak accident.” He appears to be in good spirits, and even shared a beer with Blaydes in the fighter hotel in the aftermath of the event (via Instagram):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgYFZNcKHbz
A beer makes everything feel better. What a guy, big Curtis and his team popped up to say hello. Freak accidents happen unfortunately, tonight wasn’t my night. Love u all xx
What the future holds for Aspinall remains a mystery after he suffered his fist loss since joining the promotion six fights ago.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
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See the top Twitter reactions to Curtis Blaydes’ win over Tom Aspinall in the UFC Fight Night 208 main event.
[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] left UFC Fight Night 208 with a main event win over [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag], but it didn’t come the way he wanted.
Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a knee injury in the opening moments of the heavyweight headliner at The 02 in London, bringing an end to the fight to end just 15 seconds after it began and giving Blaydes (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) the injury TKO win.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Blaydes victory over Aspinall at UFC Fight Night 208.
Tom Aspinall’s home showing was spoiled in devastating fashion.
LONDON – [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag]’s home showing was spoiled in devastating fashion.
[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) beat Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) by injury TKO in the first round when Aspinall blew out his right knee just 15 seconds into the fight. The heavyweight bout was the UFC Fight Night 208 main event at The O2 in London.
The injury appeared to happen after Aspinall threw a right kick to Blaydes’ thigh. He then stepped back and immediately tumbled backward and hit the canvas. A confused Blaydes stepped back and the fight was waved off by referee Herb Dean (via Twitter).
Absolute heartbreak. 💔
Tom Aspinall's return to London ends in seconds after an unfortunate injury. #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/T8ZO7JvVpf
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 23, 2022
Aspinall laid on the mat for minutes until a knee brace was placed on his leg and he was helped out of the octagon. In his post-fight interview, Blaydes expressed his disappointment on how he was looking forward to the test of facing a legit Aspinall.
The TKO loss snapped Aspinall’s eight-fight winning streak and handed him his first octagon setback. Blaydes made it three straight wins.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 208 results include:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
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Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 208 bout odds and lines between Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes, with MMA picks, tips and predictions.
In a heavyweight bout in the main event, Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 208 at O2 Arena in London. Below, we analyze the UFC Fight Night 208 Aspinall vs. Blaydes odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The card can be viewed on ESPN+ with the prelims starting at noon ET, followed by the main card at 3 p.m ET.
The Englishman Aspinall takes a walk to the octagon fighting in front of a raucous crowd who will be behind him. He was supposed to fight Jake Collier in London in March 2020, but that card was moved due to the pandemic. So he finally gets a chance to fight in front of the home crowd.
Aspinall has won 5 straight since arriving at the UFC level, all finishes. Four of the victories have come in the 1st round, including a submission victory over Alexander Volkov in the main event last time out in March. He has 3 KO/TKO wins and 2 submission victories across the 5-bout span.
Blaydes made quick work of Chris Daukaus via 2nd Round KO/TKO last time out in late March in the main event. “Razor” has won 2 fights in a row since getting dropped by Derrick Lewis in the main event in late Feb. 2021. Six of his last 9 events have ended via KO/TKO, with Blaydes going 4-2 in those outings.
Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 2:23 p.m. ET.
[tipico]
Records: Aspinall (12-2-0) | Blaydes (16-3-0)
ASPINALL (-150) takes the walk to the octagon looking to stay perfect at the UFC level, but Blaydes will easily be the most impressive opponent he has faced to date.
However, despite the increase in opponent quality, Aspinall is still the play based on his ability to grab finishes and the fact he’ll be fighting in front of a pro-Aspinall U.K. crowd adding more fuel to the fire.
UNDER 3.5 ROUNDS (-200) is the play based on Aspinall’s fight history, although it’s getting a little rich for my blood. Aspinall just hasn’t gone past the second round in his UFC career and he’s posted 7.33 significant strikes landed per minute, with a 67.61% significant strikes accuracy percentage.
Blaydes is also a puncher who goes for the big shot early, so this will be a brawl right from the jump. It would be stunning to see this even last late into the 3rd round.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
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Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC Fight Night 208 main card in London, featuring Curtis Blaydes vs. Tom Aspinall.
| Blaydes vs. Aspinall |
Curtis vs. Hermansson |
Leavitt vs. Pimblett |
Gustafsson vs. Krylov |
Goldy vs. McCann |
Craig vs. Oezdemir |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 119-67 |
 Aspinall (65%) |
 Curtis (60%) |
 Pimblett (76%) |
 Gustafsson (63%) |
 McCann (83%) |
 Craig (69%) |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 127-64  2018 Champion |
 Blaydes |
Curtis |
 Leavitt |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 122-69 |
Blaydes |
Curtis |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 122-69 2014 Champion |
Blaydes |
 Hermansson |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 120-71 |
Aspinall |
Curtis |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 120-71 |
Blaydes |
Curtis |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 119-72 |
Aspinall |
Curtis |
Leavitt |
 Krylov |
McCann |
Craig |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 114-77 |
Blaydes |
Hermansson |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
 Oezdeir |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 112-79 2017 Champion |
Blaydes |
Hermansson |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 112-79 |
Blaydes |
Hermansson |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Oezdeir |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 106-85 |
Blaydes |
Curtis |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 93-98 |
Blaydes |
Curtis |
Pimblett |
Gustafsson |
McCann |
Craig |
The UFC is back in London just four months after its highly successful event there in March, and heavyweights are at the top of the lineup.
UFC Fight Night 208 takes place Saturday at The O2 in London. The card streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) takes on [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) at heavyweight. Aspinall, from England, is a slight -145 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Blaydes is +115. But our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers mostly see it the other way. Blaydes has a big 9-2 advantage in the picks.
In the middleweight co-feature, [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) meets short-notice replacement [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] (29-8 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who stepped in for the injured Darren Till. The fight nearly is a pick’em at the betting window, but it’s Curtis with a 7-4 edge from our staff members.
Also on the main card, rising British star [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) fights [autotag]Jordan Leavitt[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at lightweight. Pimblett is a -270 favorite and has a big 9-2 picks lead.
Three-time light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] (18-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC) is back in the division after a one-fight stint at heavyweight in 2020. He is a +160 underdog against -210 favorite [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] (27-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC). But despite the betting odds in Krylov’s favor, Gustafsson is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.
Our lone unanimous pick on the main card is another British fan favorite, Pimblett’s teammate [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC). She’s the main card’s biggest favorite at -420 for her women’s flyweight bout against [autotag]Hannah Goldy[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), and she has a shutout in the picks at 11-0.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] (16-4-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) takes on former light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 5-5 UFC), who is a -155 favorite. But despite that, +120 underdog Craig has a big 9-2 lead in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Aspinall (65 percent), Curtis (60 percent), Pimblett (76 percent), Gustafsson (63 percent), McCann (83 percent) and Craig (69 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
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Ahead of UFC Fight Night 208, heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall squared off for the final time ahead of their fight.
LONDON – [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] faced off one final time Friday ahead of their pivotal clash Saturday.
Blaydes (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Aspinall (12-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) square off in a five-round heavyweight main event at UFC Fight Night 208, which takes place at The O2 in London. The card streams on ESPN+.
Both fighters look to enter title contention with a win. Blaydes showed off his hands with a second-round TKO of Chris Daukaus in March. A week prior, Aspinall made quick work of Alexander Volkov with a first-round submission in London.
Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall face off for the final time ahead of what should be a fantastic #UFCLondon headliner. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xl33TzFApO
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 22, 2022
The ceremonial faceoffs took place Friday, hours after fighters officially made weight. Check out Blaydes and Aspinall’s faceoff in the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
The heavyweight headliner for UFC Fight Night 208 is official after Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall made weight.
LONDON – The heavyweight headliner for UFC Fight Night 208 is official after [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] made weight on Friday.
Ahead of Saturday’s main event at The O2, Blaydes (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Aspinall (12-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) stepped on the scale without issue at official weigh-ins.
Blaydes registered at 260 pounds, while Aspinall tipped the scale at 251 pounds.
Check out the video of them stepping on the scale above.
Both men will look to enter title contention with a win. Blaydes is coming off a second-round TKO of Chris Daukaus in March, earning his first performance bonus in the UFC. Unbeaten in the octagon, Aspinall entered the upper echelon of the division when he submitted Alexander Volkov in the first round at UFC Fight Night 204.
The UFC Fight Night 208 card streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
UFC Fight Night 208 fight week is officially underway in England, with media day and a handful of faceoffs going down.
LONDON – UFC Fight Night 208 fight week is officially underway, with media day and a handful of faceoffs going down Wednesday.
After notable athletes from the card spoke with reporters, the top three matchups for Saturday’s event, which streams on ESPN+ at The O2, locked eyes for the first time in front of cameras.
Everyone stayed professional, from heavyweight headliners [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC), to middleweight co-headliners [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] (29-8 MMA, 3-0 UFC), and finally the lightweight featured bout between [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and [autotag]Jordan Leavitt[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC).
Check out the video above to see the faceoffs from all three bouts at UFC Fight Night 208 media day.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 208.
