Tom Aspinall Abuses, Submits Alexander Volkov in UFC Fight Night 204 Headliner

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has a new heavyweight contender on its hands.

Tom Aspinall submitted former Bellator MMA and M-1 Global champion Alexander Volkov with a straight armlock in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 204 headliner on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. Volkov (34-10, 8-4 UFC) conceded defeat 3:45 into Round 1, as he was submitted for the first time in nearly 12 years.

The 28-year-old Aspinall (12-2, 5-0 UFC) was flawless on the big stage. He tore into Volkov with a three-punch combination, executed a takedown and drew blood with a series of elbows to the head. The 6-foot-7 Russian returned to an upright position, only to be taken down a second time. From there, a calm and calculated Aspinall isolated his left arm, bent his elbow beyond its bounds and forced his surrender.

Aspinall has finished eight straight opponents, seven of them inside one round.

Big Tom got his beers 🍻 #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/YOa2YW5Awx

— UFC (@ufc) March 19, 2022

Brilliant Allen Annihilates Hooker

Arnold Allen put forth a signature performance in the featherweight co-main event, as he put away City Kickboxing stalwart Dan Hooker with a hailstorm of punches, knees and elbows in the first round. Hooker (21-12, 11-8 UFC) succumbed to blows 2:33 into Round 1, losing for the fourth time in five outings.

Allen (18-1, 9-0 UFC) uncorked an overhand left that forced his adversary to retreat, then started ripping power punches with both hands. Hooker tried to shield himself, but the onslaught was relentless. Allen briefly reset, followed an overhand right with a head kick and flurried again. Hooker backtracked to the fence, where he was met with knees and a volley of standing elbows that brought about the finish.

The 28-year-old Allen has strung together 10 consecutive victories.

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Pimblett Choke Dismisses Vargas

Former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Paddy Pimblett submitted Rodrigo Vargas with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their featured lightweight pairing. Pimblett (18-3, 2-0 UFC) closed it out 3:49 into Round 1, whipping the crowd into a frenzy in the process.

Vargas (12-5, 1-3 UFC) clipped the charismatic Next Generation MMA product with a right hand, drove him to the mat and settled in full guard. Pimblett eventually returned to a vertical base, turned the tables with an exquisite hip toss and climbed to the back. From there, he went to work on the choke, snaked his arms into position and elicited the tapout from the Combate Global alum.

Pimblett, 27, will carry a four-fight winning streak into his next assignment.

Methodical Nelson Quiets Sato

Gunnar Nelson ran circles around Takashi Sato and claimed a one-sided unanimous decision over the Sanford MMA rep in their three-round welterweight feature. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 30-26 for Nelson (18-5-1, 9-5 UFC), who registered his first win since Dec. 8, 2018.

A short-notice replacement for Claudio Silva, Sato (15-5, 2-3 UFC) did little more than show up to collect a paycheck. Nelson secured takedowns in all three rounds, progressed to the back and cemented his advantage with a body triangle. From there, the Renzo Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt either chased rear-naked chokes or assaulted the Pancrase veteran with punches and hammerfists.

Sato, 31, has lost three of his last four bouts.

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McCann Elbow Levels Carolina

Next Generation MMA standout Molly McCann wrecked Dana White’s Contender Series alum Luana Carolina with a spinning back elbow in the third round of their women’s flyweight showcase. Carolina (8-3, 3-2 UFC) checked out 1:52 into Round 3, her modest two-fight winning streak at an end.

McCann (12-4, 5-3 UFC) made her intentions clear from the outset, as she wobbled the Brazilian with overhand rights on multiple occasions in the first round. She calmed down in the second, shifted gears with takedowns and lengthened her lead. Carolina upped her activity in Round 3 but walked into a trap in the center of the cage. McCann wheeled around with the elbow at close range, the impact instantly separating the Capital da Luta academy rep from her senses.

The stoppage was McCann’s first in more than four years.

Unbeaten Topuria Flattens Herbert

Climent Club prospect Ilia Topuria punched out former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Jai Herbert in the second round of their lightweight attraction. A short-notice substitution for Mike Davis, the undefeated Topuria (12-0, 4-0 UFC) drew the curtain 1:07 into Round 2.

Herbert (11-4, 1-3 UFC) was in position to spring the upset. He sat down Topuria with a head kick in the first round, withstood a ground exchange with the Brave Combat Federation veteran and later knocked his mouthpiece loose with a piercing knee strike. The intermission between rounds allowed Topuria to reboot. He backed Herbert to the fence early in the middle stanza, forced him to trade punches and melted him where he stood with a clean right hook. “The Black Country Banger” was out before he hit the canvas.

Topuria has authored three straight finishes inside the Octagon.

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