Dana White says UFC London stars are Britain’s ‘Golden Generation’ as he reveals plans to ‘branch out’ in the UK
THE president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship believes the fight league's long-awaited return to the UK will be a showcase of the Golden Generation of British mixed martial artists.
The UFC returns to London's O2 Arena tomorrow night for the first time in over three years with a card featuring the Home Nations' best up-and-coming fighters.
Ten Brits are set to make the walk to the world-famous octagon, with top billing going to Wigan heavyweight Tom Aspinall and Russian Alexander Volkov.
Promoter Dana White has watched the UK grow from a fringe market to an MMA hotbed over the last 20 years and is adamant this crop of fighters is Britain's best-ever batch.
He said: "100 per cent this is the Golden Generation. Some of the fighters on this card have the opportunity and the ability to break into the top three and possible be world champions."
He added: "The UK has always been a massive fight country. And the amount of talent coming out of there.
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"I mean, just look at the talent on this card alone."
White, 52, has missed the raucous crowd at the O2 and is expecting the diehard British fans to whip up another unforgettable atmosphere on fight night.
He said: "I'm very excited to be back in London. You guys over have a different energy in the arena, especially when your guys are fighting.
"And just the pent up demand for an event. I'm expecting the fans to blow the roof off of that place."
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UFC fans in the UK won't have to wait long for their next fix of fights as SunSport understands the multi-billion-pound promotion will return to these shores in the summer.
And White plans to make up for lost time in the coming years by staging shows in new cities across the country in addition to promotion's normal ports of call.
He said: "We're looking to branch out. Manchester too and all the other great cities we've been to in the UK."
The UFC's second visit to the UK this year could be headlined by a heavyweight title eliminator if Aspinall, 28, extends his four-fight win streak by flattening 'Drago'.
The Wigan warrior has passed all of his tests inside the UFC cage with flying colours and has been touted as the dark horse of the division.
White said: "He'll break right into the top-six with a win. And then, you're looking at fights with Derrick Lewis, Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa and Ciryl Gane.
"He would work his way up, he wouldn't just pop right up and walk right into a title shot. But it's a big deal, this is a big fight.
"This is a major fight for him at the O2 in London, in his home country against a top-six guy in the world. It's a big deal."