The UFC has had its trouble making inroads in England, but the promotion seems to be winning the locals over. Last week, Paul Concannon captured the national mindset before UFC 85.

You get your sustenance on the run on fight day.

I'm approximately halfway through a 12-inch carbohydrate coma with extra cheese at a sub shop in London when the radio blaring from behind the counter makes my ears prick up. It's advertising the UFC 85 card we're heading too shortly.

The announcement informs my buddy and I that the fast-growing satellite sports channel Setanta Sports will be screening the event, which features welterweight legend Matt Hughes (Pictures). Setanta is known largely in the United Kingdom for traditional mainstream sports such as football -- soccer to our American cousins -- darts, rugby and horseracing. Yet this particular radio ad is leading with exclusive coverage of UFC 85.

"Things are changing," my friend tells me.

He's MMA fanatic Nick Davis, a fan of all things fistic and the man responsible many years ago for introducing me to MMA.

"Bisping's fight has had coverage in national rags like The Sun, The Telegraph and even The Lancashire Evening Telegraph," Davis says. "In fact, they've been covering him for f---ng ages."

Later we find ourselves on the tube heading toward the O2 Arena. Our carriage is packed, which is expected on a Saturday afternoon in London. A little less anticipated is the disproportionate amount of passengers wearing Affliction, Tapout, UFC and Encounter clothing.

Sherdog.com's Jim Page, the site's resident expert on all things MMA in the United Kingdom, joins us. As we make our way to our seats, one of the stewards informs us that the arena is sold-out. Approximately 16,000 fans will be in attendance to witness the event.

"There were huge billboards on loads of A roads into London advertising [original headliner] Chuck Liddell (Pictures)'s fight, but the buzz surrounding the event was amazing," Page says. "My ex, who works for OK magazine, was going to get company tickets."

Davis agrees: "There is a buzz. I have had mates who are not really MMA fans who are here tonight. UFC is a very recognizable brand. Everyone knows what I am talking about when I say I am going to see UFC this weekend. Well, all blokes do and a lot of women too."

The arena is approximately one-third full and growing when the fights get underway. Heavyweight powerhouses Eddie Sanchez and Antoni Hardonk (Pictures) deliver their anticipated slugfest. Those yet to reach their seats don't know what they're missing. Hardonk survives two heavy knockdowns, a slew of George Foreman-esque uppercuts and some nasty ground-and-pound to scorch Sanchez with a brutal fusillade in the second round.

Yet the moment that stands out most significantly is the smattering of polite applause Sanchez receives after scoring a wonderfully executed takedown in the opener.

Apparently this mob of fight fans is not simply enthusiastic. They're knowledgeable and respectful too.

Studying the crowd during the event, we see there's a large Danish cheering section for Martin Kampmann (Pictures) and a strong following for American Marcus Davis (Pictures). U.K.-based fighters such as Paul Taylor (Pictures) and Jess Liaudin (Pictures) have their own pockets of followers. Irrespective of the demographic or their primary motives to be here, this doesn't seem like the type of fair-weather crowd that will populate an arena when their guy is in action, only to depart en masse to the bar afterward.

This is an audience that enjoys and understands what it is watching.

Sitting next to us are Irish fight fans P.J. Lucey, Jake Kiley and Mark O'Brien. They're regularly found in attendance when the UFC showcases in England and Ireland. Lucey is a teacher back home, and all three are practicing martial artists.

"The only one we missed so far was Newcastle [UFC 80]," Lucey says. "The scene is expanding in Ireland. There are MMA gyms popping up more regularly. We noticed every time we have flown over, the number of UFC hoodies and beanies increases on the planes. You can spot the fellas -- the numbers are growing."

With the prelims done and dusted, the main event bouts play out.

Visitor Brandon Vera (Pictures)'s huge reception reveals he's clearly captured a few hearts and minds here in London despite his controversial defeat moments later. A three-round war between Thales Leites (Pictures) and Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) further engages the ever-swelling throng in attendance. Technical nuances, the fouls, the point deductions and endeavor on display are understood and appreciated.

Predictably, Michael Bisping (Pictures)'s entrance and subsequent victory over Jason Day (Pictures) raises the roof. Bisping rose to prominence in London-based promotion Cage Rage. My buddy Nick Davis feels comparing the UFC with the ailing British promotion is like comparing apples and oranges.

"UFC is leagues above Cage Rage, both in popularity, professionalism and production," Davis says. "Cage Rage can be a bit of a circus show sometimes."

Jim Page attends every Cage Rage card for Sherdog and has kinder words for the homespun MMA promotion.

"Cage Rage has a loyal fan base and has attracted massive interest over the years and was for a long time the most watched show in Europe," Page says. "Certainly still the most watched indigenous show. UFC, though, with its Chuck Liddell-type appeal just blitzes everything else in the U.K., though people who are more into the sport are finding their way to Cage Rage."

On to the main event. While a few fans have filtered out following Bisping's demolition of Day, the arena buzzes with remaining fans who are enthused about an intriguing headliner.

While clearly the likes of Bisping and Vera will always draw a crowd, it's not as though Matt Hughes is a secret on these shores. The former UFC welterweight champion is received warmly. Similarly, the fans show appreciation for Thiago Alves, the power-kicking Brazilian standing opposite Hughes in the cage.

"I don't think everyday people know who all the fighters are, but even casual MMA fans will know Hughes," says my friend Nick, who watched Hughes on "The Ultimate Fighter" and is clearly not a fan. "There are a few [advertisements] around London featuring him and Alves, but what a deplorable character."

Alves duly separates Hughes from his senses with a phenomenal flying knee in round two. The crowd is impressed with Alves, though also respectful of Hughes while he mans up to defeat respectfully in his postfight interview.

With a nice mixture of well-matched fights, upsets, explosive endings, solid submissions, a bit of controversy here and there and a classic changing of the guard between Hughes and Alves, UFC 85 delivers a solid night's entertainment to a packed house.

The event confirms to this writer that MMA is very much on its way into the mainstream here in the U.K., and the UFC is very much at the helm of the sport's push into the British and Irish sporting consciousnesses.