Unbeaten British heavyweight to make UFC debut as London event shapes up

16 May 2023 , 15:00

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 23: (R-L) Eduardo Neves of Brazil punches Mick Parkin of England in a heavyweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series season six, week five at UFC APEX on August 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) (Image: Getty Images)

The UFC's return to London is beginning to shape up as unbeaten heavyweight Mick Parkin makes his promotional debut at the event.

Parkin, 27, earned himself a UFC contract when he choked out Eduardo Neves in the opening round of their fight at a Contender Series event last August. The win improved Parkin's unbeaten professional record to 6-0 and all of his victories have come by stoppage inside two rounds.

The Brit will fight another Contender Series alumni in London as he meets Jamal Pogues, who won his UFC debut against Josh Parisian in February. Pogues boasts a record of 10-3 and is currently on a three-fight unbeaten streak dating back to 2020. The American has appeared twice on the Contender Series, successfully earning a UFC contract last year after missing out on one in 2019.

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Parkin was hoping to make his debut at UFC 286 in March as he said after his win on the Contender Series: "I've actually been to the last two events at The O2 to watch my friends Paul [Craig] and Tom [Aspinall] fight. The atmosphere is absolutely amazing, I remember watching the first one where all of the guys got finishes and thinking 'This is going to be me'.

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"I feel like I've got the best training partners in the world for striking, grappling and wrestling. Especially for big guys it's hard to even get one and now I've got three. Tom is amazing, everyone can see that. Paul off his back is probably the best in the world. My other training partner big Phil [De Freis], his wrestling is amazing."

Mick Parkin makes his UFC debut against Jamal Pogues (Getty Images)

"UK MMA is doing mint now and I'm fortunate that there isn't many heavyweights so it's a little bit of an easier path for me compared to these lighter guys. When you're younger you think 'Am I better than these American guys' but then it's like 'Why am I not?' as I train just as hard as them."

The UFC were hoping for their July event in London to be a pay-per-view card, but welterweight champion Leon Edwards is now expected to fight later in the year. Tom Aspinall will return at the event as he meets fellow top-ranked heavyweight Marcin Tybura in the headliner.

Watch Mick Parkin take on Jamal Pogues at UFC Fight Night London: Aspinall vs Tybura on Saturday July 22, live on BT Sport 1.

Harry Davies