Following a stunningly successful return to Miami for the first time in 20 years, Dana White has opened up about another return: London, England.
After a big show in London last month, where Leon Edwards defended his title in the rubber match of his trilogy with Kamaru Usman, it will be back to the U.K. for a repeat performance this July.
Speaking at the UFC 287 post-fight press conference, White confirmed the promotion’s return, noting that the city had been “very good” to the UFC. And with that in mind, while the event was originally supposed to be a Fight Night card, as was the case with the promotion’s second of two visits in 2022, White is hoping to upgrade the affair this time around.
“The fans over there are amazing. We’re supposed to have a Fight Night in July. I want it to be a Pay-Per-View,” White told media members backstage at the Miami-Dade Arena. “There’s a lot of internal sh*t that needs to be worked out, and I’m working on it.”
Sources previously confirmed to Cageside Press that the promotion was eyeing a return visit to London’s O2 Arena on July 22. There’s no indication as to whether the shift from a Fight Night card to a Pay-Per-View could change the date. Last year, the promotion held two PPV events in July, with UFC 276 on July 2 followed by 277 on July 30.
White also gave the go-ahead for Gilbert Burns to get the back-up spot for the planned Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington welterweight title fight. Burns campaigned for that during his own press conference appearance, with White approving.
“I love that. Why not? Deal. You’ve got a deal.”
It seems almost certain that should the promotion’s return to London wind up a PPV event as White suggested (which would likely make it UFC 291), Edwards vs. Covington will headline.
