Liverpool to host first UFC event in May; Darren Till to headline

The UFC is finally headed to Liverpool, England.

The promotion officially announced Friday that they will hold an event on May 27 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Over the past few years, the Liverpool MMA scene has exploded. The face of Scouser MMA is top-ranked undefeated welterweight Darren Till. He was announced as the event headliner, though no opponent has been finalized for him just yet.

Till has repeatedly predicted that a UFC event in Liverpool would sell out in a matter of minutes.

In addition to announcing that Till will headline the card, two fights have also been officially announced: Dan Kelly vs. Tom Breese and Elias Theodorou vs. Trevor Smith.

European-based Cage Warriors has had a lot of success holding events at the Echo Arena recently, with the likes of Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann and Chris Fishgold becoming lucrative local draws. Those three aren’t signed to the UFC just yet.

The UFC has held 17 events in England. They’ll make it 18 on Saturday with a card headlined by Fabricio Werdum vs. Alexander Volkov. The Liverpool card will mark the promotion’s 23nd in the United Kingdom.

The May 27 date was originally earmarked for Dublin, Ireland, but the promotion recently decided to move the card to Liverpool. It will air live in the United States on FS1.