UFC Fight Night 208: Blaydes vs. Aspinall (UFC London) | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- May 22
- 6 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 208: Blaydes vs. Aspinall took place on July 23, 2022 at the sold-out O2 Arena in London, England — the UFC’s second visit to the British capital in 2022 following FN 204 in March. The main event was a top-5 heavyweight contest between No. 4-ranked Curtis Blaydes and No. 6-ranked hometown hero Tom Aspinall, but the fight lasted only 15 seconds before a devastating knee injury to Aspinall — later revealed to be a torn MCL and meniscus — ended proceedings.
Despite the main event disappointment, the crowd had much to celebrate. Liverpool teammates Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann both delivered memorable finishes — Pimblett with a comeback submission victory and an emotional post-fight mental health speech, and McCann with a spinning back elbow KO that made her the first fighter in UFC history to record two spinning elbow knockouts. The card distributed four Performance of the Night bonuses.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, July 23, 2022
📍 Venue: The O2 Arena, London, England | Attendance: 17,813 | Gate: $4,320,679
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 66) | Second UFC London of 2022
🏆 Main Event: Curtis Blaydes vs. Tom Aspinall — Heavyweight (5 rounds)
✅ Result: Curtis Blaydes def. Tom Aspinall via TKO (Injury) (Round 1, 0:15) — Aspinall suffered torn MCL and meniscus
⭐ Notable: Aspinall knee injury at 0:15 | McCann 2nd spinning elbow KO (UFC first) | Pimblett emotional mental health speech | 4 PoN bonuses, no FotN
The Build-Up
The UFC’s second return to London in 2022 was headlined by what looked on paper like one of the most compelling heavyweight matchups of the year. Tom Aspinall had just submitted Alexander Volkov in the first round at FN 204 in March at the same arena, and was now facing his stiffest test: Curtis Blaydes, the #4-ranked heavyweight, a dominant wrestler with significant knockout power and legitimate title-shot credentials.
The undercard was packed with British interest: Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann both on the main card, Nikita Krylov vs. Alexander Gustafsson, and Jack Hermansson vs. Chris Curtis in the co-main event. The crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable well before the first punch was thrown.
Main Event: Blaydes vs. Aspinall
The fight lasted 15 seconds. After the fighters engaged with opening exchanges, Aspinall’s knee buckled beneath him and he went to the canvas in obvious distress. Referee Marc Goddard immediately called the fight off, and Aspinall was attended to by the medical team. Blaydes was declared the winner by TKO (injury) at 0:15 of round one.
A month after the event, Aspinall revealed the full extent of the damage: a torn MCL and torn meniscus. The injury required surgery and would keep him out of action for nearly a year. The crowd’s reaction was one of stunned silence, followed by sympathy. Blaydes received his win but acknowledged the circumstances were far from ideal.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Jack Hermansson defeated Chris Curtis by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) to earn the co-main event win. The real stories of the night, however, came further down the card.
Paddy Pimblett survived a challenging first round against Jordan Leavitt before submitting him with a rear-naked choke at 2:46 of round two. His post-fight interview became the most-discussed moment of the event when he made an emotional, heartfelt plea for mental health awareness, dedicating his win to a close friend who had recently died by suicide.
Molly McCann knocked out Hannah Goldy with a spinning back elbow in round one — her second spinning elbow KO in the UFC. Post-event facts confirmed she became the first fighter in UFC history to record two spinning elbow knockouts. Nikita Krylov finished Alexander Gustafsson on the main card, and Jonathan Pearce earned his Performance of the Night bonus by stopping Makwan Amirkhani in round two on the prelims.
Full Results
Main Card
Curtis Blaydes def. Tom Aspinall — TKO (Injury) (Round 1, 0:15) | Aspinall torn MCL + meniscus | Crowd stunned
Jack Hermansson def. Chris Curtis — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28, 29-28, 30-27
Paddy Pimblett def. Jordan Leavitt — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (Round 2, 2:46) — Performance of the Night | Emotional mental health speech post-fight
Nikita Krylov def. Alexander Gustafsson — KO/TKO Finish — Performance of the Night
Molly McCann def. Hannah Goldy — KO (Spinning Back Elbow) (Round 1) — Performance of the Night | 2nd spinning elbow KO — UFC first
Preliminary Card
Jonathan Pearce def. Makwan Amirkhani — TKO (Round 2) — Performance of the Night | 4th straight win
Muhammad Mokaev def. Charles Johnson; Nathaniel Wood def. Charles Rosa; Marc Diakiese def. Damir Hadzovic; Mason Jones def. Ludovit Klein; Nicolas Dalby def. Claudio Silva — UD R3 — Prelim Card
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded
🏆 Performance of the Night: Paddy Pimblett ($50,000) — RNC of Jordan Leavitt R2, 2:46
🏆 Performance of the Night: Nikita Krylov ($50,000) — Finish of Alexander Gustafsson
🏆 Performance of the Night: Molly McCann ($50,000) — KO (Spinning Back Elbow) of Hannah Goldy R1 | 2nd spinning elbow in UFC history
🏆 Performance of the Night: Jonathan Pearce ($50,000) — TKO of Makwan Amirkhani R2
Records & Milestones
🥊 Molly McCann’s spinning back elbow KO of Hannah Goldy was her second spinning elbow knockout in the UFC. Post-event facts confirmed she was the first fighter in UFC history to record two spinning elbow KOs. Her first had come at FN 204 in March 2022 — the same venue, four months earlier.
🥊 Aspinall’s injury at 15 seconds was one of the most unlucky outcomes in the history of a UFC main event. He was the fighting favourite against Blaydes and had been performing at a level many believed put him in genuine contention for a UFC Heavyweight Championship run.
🥊 Paddy Pimblett’s post-fight speech on mental health generated significant media coverage outside of MMA. It became one of the most-viewed UFC post-fight interview clips of the year and prompted widespread discussion about mental health awareness in combat sports.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 208 is a difficult card to summarise. The main event was a tragedy of circumstance — not a result of either fighter’s actions, but of bad luck at the worst possible moment. Aspinall’s injury deprived the sport of what would almost certainly have been one of the best heavyweight contests of 2022.
The card’s lasting legacy is split between two things: Molly McCann’s historically unique spinning elbow record, and Paddy Pimblett’s post-fight words. Both brought the O2 crowd back to its feet after the main event disappointment — and both extended the cultural reach of the UFC’s London events beyond the fight world.
FAQ
What injury did Tom Aspinall suffer?
Aspinall suffered a torn MCL (medial collateral ligament) and a torn meniscus in his knee, revealed in the weeks after the event. The injury required surgery and kept him out of competition for nearly a year. The mechanism was either a natural collapse of the joint or an awkward engagement with Blaydes in the opening seconds.
What record did Molly McCann set?
McCann became the first fighter in UFC history to record two spinning elbow knockout victories. Her first had come at FN 204 in March 2022 at the same O2 Arena venue. To do it twice in the same building, at consecutive UFC London events, cemented her reputation as one of the most exciting finishers in the women’s flyweight division.
What did Paddy Pimblett say post-fight?
Pimblett’s post-fight interview was one of the most emotionally impactful moments of the UFC’s 2022 calendar. He dedicated his win to a close friend who had died by suicide, and spoke candidly about the importance of men reaching out when they are struggling with mental health. The speech went viral well beyond MMA, reaching audiences who had never watched a UFC fight.
Was Aspinall’s career impacted long-term by the injury?
Aspinall returned to competition in 2023 and eventually captured the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship. His recovery and return became one of the sport’s best resilience stories. The FN 208 injury, as devastating as it was, did not define his career — it became a chapter in a story that continued to develop into genuine championship territory.
What happened after the main event ended so quickly?
The crowd at the O2 was naturally deflated, but the subsequent fights gave them plenty to celebrate. Pimblett’s comeback submission, his speech, McCann’s spinning elbow, and Krylov’s finish of Gustafsson collectively rescued the event’s atmosphere. The card was remembered not only for its main event tragedy but for the moments that followed.
References
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