Could we finally see an all-UK UFC main event?

When it was finally announced last year, the long-anticipated matchup between Michael ‘Venom’ Page and Paul Daley looked as though it would be the story of UK MMA in 2019.

Bizarrely, however, rather than stage the Britons’ contest in their homeland, Bellator instead opted to have the bout headline its card at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut on February 16. Rather than being a celebration of British MMA, Bellator 216 has largely flown under the radar of the vast majority of UK fans.

Liverpool vs. Birmingham?

Instead, the hype machine surrounds Liverpudlian Darren Till’s UFC Fight Night contest with Jorge Masvidal at the O2 Arena next month. And, if Birmingham starlet Leon Edwards has his way, the night may result in the all-UK (and UK-hosted) main event British MMA fans have been crying out for.

The welterweight, who is riding a six-fight win streak dating back to 2015, faces Gunnar Nelson on the undercard of the March 16 event. But according to the 27-year-old, a matchup between himself and Till is the 170lb contest UK fans really want to see.

“I feel like I should’ve been the main event,” Edwards told MMA Fighting last month. “I pushed for the London card – me and Till – but he didn’t want it so that didn’t happen.

“I have to go out there and stop Gunnar Nelson to stake my claim and to get the winner of the main event.”

Till and Edwards must come through UFC London

For his part, Till claimed not to have been offered a fight with the Jamaican-born star, who last fought to an impressive decision victory over veteran ‘Cowboy’ Donald Cerrone in June 2018. Last time out for Till, meanwhile, was a submission loss to Tyron Woodley in his first welterweight championship opportunity – a shot he’d earned by outpointing Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson on home soil last May.

With dominant victories in their respective contests come March 16, Till and Edwards could find themselves on a collision course for the UFC’s first-ever all-British main event. Earlier today, Edwards reiterated his desire for the match to take place – with Nelson almost taking a backseat in the buildup to the London card.

Liverpool vs. Birmingham / @darrentill2 vs. @Leon_edwardsmma

Edwards still wants to prove who is No. 1 in the UK #HelwaniShow (via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/BFB4E5lz2N

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 4, 2019

“I was just telling [the media] that that was the fight to make,” Edwards insisted on the Ariel Helwani MMA Show, “Liverpool versus Birmingham – there can only be one top contender in the UK, and I feel as though that’s me.”