5 fights to book for UFC London this summer

#4. Ricky Simon vs. Jack Shore

Jack Shore is an ominous presence in the UFC bantamweight division. The undefeated Welshman is finally getting the recognition he deserves, having broken into the rankings at 135 pounds. His professional record stands at 16-0, comprising four knockouts and eight submissions.

Following his unanimous decision victory over Timur Valiev earlier this year, 'Tank' claimed the No.15 spot in the bantamweight ranks. He is among the most well-rounded fighters in the division, and at just 27, he's still got a long way to go in his career.

Having fought unranked fighters in his first five appearances in the octagon, Shore will likely get a ranked contender next. Ricky Simon, who currently occupies the No.12 spot, appears to be a suitable next opponent for the rising Welsh star.

Simon has enjoyed a decent run in the bantamweight division so far. He joined the UFC in 2018 and has gone 7-2 in nine fights. His only losses in the octagon have come against top contender Rob Font and former WEC bantamweight champion Urijah Faber.

Ricky Simon is known for his suffocating wrestling and limitless gas tank. The Mexican-American will prove to be a tough test for Jack Shore if the duo end up locking horns.

Both fighters, who are yet to turn 30, will likely blossom into top-ranked contenders down the line and it'll be interesting to see who reaches the top tier of the division first.

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#3. Paddy Pimblett vs. Alexander Hernandez

Paddy Pimblett is one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster, despite having featured just twice in the octagon so far. 'The Baddy' was already very well-known on the UK MMA circuit before joining the UFC and his stardom has reached new heights over the last year.

The former Cage Warriors champion has enjoyed a scorching start to his UFC career. His back-to-back first-round stoppage wins have seen his stock skyrocket and he will look to build on his momentum later this year.

Pimblett's two opponents in the UFC so far, Luigi Vendramini and Rodrigo Vargas, are hardly known for their ability to sell fights. 'The Baddy' could benefit from fighting someone with more name value. Alexander Hernandez seemingly fits the bill.

Hernandez has emerged as a polarizing figure in the UFC since joining the promotion back in 2018. He secured a stunning knockout victory over Beneil Dariush in his promotional debut and put on a dominant performance against Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his next outing.

He then started making a lot of noise outside the octagon, seemingly taking inspiration from Conor McGregor as he adopted a more outspoken approach to fight promotion. Since then, he's struggled to find consistency in the cage. In his last six fights, the American has alternated wins and losses, and he's yet to claim a ranking in the lightweight division.

While Alexander Hernandez has struggled quite a bit lately, he's always been an exciting fighter to watch. Moreover, his tendency to antagonize his opponents makes for very interesting matchups. A potential bout against Paddy Pimblett will undoubtedly attract a ton of attention.

The back-and-forth between Pimblett and Hernandez leading up to a potential fight will be a sight to behold. Fans have already caught a glimpse of 'The Baddy's'abilities on the mic and it'll be interesting to see just how good his trash talking game is when he has an able and willing dance partner.

Additionally, a fight against Hernandez will be a true test of Pimblett's skills. 'The Great' is well-rounded and has fight-ending power in his fists. A win here will silence those who critique the Liverpool native's skills and his star power will likely compound.