UFC Targeting Feb. 28 Return to O2 Arena in London

The UFC has plans to return to London next February. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

UFC President Dana White announced the promotion’s intentions at the UFC Fight Night 38 post-fight press conference on Saturday from London’s O2 Arena. The event was broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass and saw Alexander Gustafsson earn his second crack at the light heavyweight title by dispatching Jimi Manuwa in the headliner.

The UFC has visited the O2 Arena six times in total. Prior to Saturday’s event, the venue last hosted the Las Vegas-based promotion in 2010, though the UFC more recently set up shop from London’s Wembley Arena one year ago to hold UFC on Fuel TV 7.

The Octagon debuted in the United Kingdom in 2002, when Royal Albert Hall played host to UFC 38. That event saw then-welterweight champion Matt Hughes defend his title against ex-champion Carlos Newton, while British heavyweight Ian Freeman upset future champion Frank Mir in front of a partisan London crowd.