UFC Faces Setback as O2 Arena “Absolutely Dead” Despite Return After 12 Months

Despite featuring more than ten local fighters on the UFC London card, the event failed to generate the expected hype. On March 21, UFC Fight Night 270 saw Dana White and Co. return to London for their 17th visit, hosting the event inside the iconic O2 Arena after nearly a 12-month gap since their last stop. However, despite MMA’s growing global popularity, the O2 atmosphere felt lifeless, experts reported.

Scott Lagdon, global PR official for European MMA promotion Oktagon, attended the event and shared that the experience did not meet his expectations. On X, Lagdon highlighted the disappointing reality that the crowd did not seem to enjoy the matchups on the card.

“The O2 Arena is absolutely dead,” wrote Scott Lagdon on X. “Compared to ten years ago, the atmosphere is just non-existent. The extortionate ticket prices and lackluster cards seem to have taken their toll.”

The O2 Arena is absolutely dead. Compared to ten years ago, the atmosphere is just non-existent.

The extortionate ticket prices and lackluster cards seems to have taken its toll.

— Scott Lagdon (@scott_lagdon) March 21, 2026

Lagdon also revealed that UFC CEO Dana White appeared bored with the event. In fact, according to him, White even left before the co-main event.

“Dana left during MVP vs. Patterson and hasn’t been back since,” Lagdon added.

Among the rest of the fight card, Michael “Venom” Page’s bout against Sam Patterson drew the most criticism. As a result, the backlash hit so hard that fans on social media are now demanding that the promotion fire MVP, who has built a reputation as one of the most entertaining fighters in MMA throughout his career.

(More to come…)

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