talkSPORT betting tips – Best bets and expert advice for UFC London Edwards v Brady

Leon Edwards is once again the star UK attraction in London on Saturday night as he looks to make the first step towards regaining the welterweight title against Sean Brady.

The former champion lost his belt eight months ago at UFC 304 in Manchester when dominated by Belal Muhammad over five rounds on a card that started early to suit US viewers.

The good news for fans at the O2 is that this event is in a later time slot and the card is once again stacked with homegrown talent including Jordan Vucenic, Nathaniel Wood and Mick Parkin.

UFC London Tips

• Jordan Vucenic to win by submission v Chris Duncan @ 9/4
• Nathan Fletcher to win by submission v Caolan Loughran @ 11/2
• Michael Parkin to win v Marcin Tybura @ 4/5

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V is for victory

An entertaining main card match-up sees Jordan Vucenic (13-3-0) facing off with Chris Duncan (12-2-0).

Vucenic made his UFC debut with just over a week’s notice last August against Guram Kutateladze in Abu Dhabi.

Although he lost a unanimous decision, the 29-year-old put in an impressive performance showcasing the all-round skills that have made him a firm favourite on the European scene.

Now fighting at lightweight, the former Cage Warriors featherweight champion has had some solid wins in his old promotion, taking the title from Morgan Charrière (who faces Nathaniel Wood on this card), as well as beating recent PFL title challenger Paul Hughes.

Duncan hails from Scotland but now trains out of the American Top Team gym and has a 3-1 UFC record.

Known for his all-action style, the 31-year-old earned his first stoppage win and performance bonus when submitting Bolaji Oki in the opening round in Paris last September.

Expect Duncan to bring the pace early but Vucenic has shown himself to be tactically astute and with his last five wins coming by submission it would be no surprise to see him locking in another one.

Gym rivalries take centre stage

Nathan Fletcher and Caolan Loughran first clashed in a small hall show in Belfast seven years ago and now they meet again on the biggest of stages inside the UFC Octagon.

Fletcher got the win under the amateur rule set that night. He fights out of Liverpool’s surging Next Generation gym that is home to Paddy Pimblett, while Loughran is now training with Team Kaobon, famous for producing Darren Till. 

The 27-year-old Fletcher got a short-notice victory on his UFC debut when submitting Zygimantas Ramaska in the second round at the Apex in September.

It was a surprise call-up after the Liverpool fighter broke his leg during a unanimous decision defeat in the Ultimate Fighter quarter-finals earlier in the year.

Loughran is 1-2 in the UFC having lost to Jake Hadley at UFC 304 in Manchester.

The 28-year-old had secured his first win last March over three rounds against Angel Pacheco after his UFC debut brought a unanimous decision defeat to Taylor Lapilus in 2023.

Loughran has a bulldozing style and is tough, however Fletcher has the skill and athleticism advantage.

Coupled with a killer instinct on the ground, with seven of his nine wins coming via submission, Fletcher is the pick to win this battle of fighters from Merseyside gyms. 

Big Mick to follow Big Tom

Mick Parkin (10-0-0) could force his way into the top 10 of the heavyweight division with a win over Marcin Tybura (26-9-0).

Parkin has an unblemished 4-0 record inside the Octagon with a first-round knockout of Łukasz Brzeski at UFC 304 in Manchester last July bringing his first stoppage victory. 

Three unanimous-decision wins over Jamal Pogues, Caio Machado and Mohammed Usman has shown that the 29-year-old has the patience, belief in his kickboxing and striking and grappling defence to climb the rankings.

Tybuura is 13-8 in the UFC and won on his last outing in November against Jhonata Diniz via a second-round doctor stoppage. 

That victory was part of an active three-fight run in 2024 for the 39-year-old with his other outings bringing a first-round rear naked choke win over Tai Tuivasa in March and an early armbar defeat to Serghei Spivac in August. 

Brzeski was knocked out in the first round by Tom Aspinall in the Main Event at the O2 in 2023, with the now interim heavyweight champion a regular training partner of Parkin.

Parkin has shown himself to be more than capable of making this push into the top 15 of the current division and he can take another step forward by getting the win.

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