DANA WHITE is currently working on a contingency strategy in case Alexander Volkov doesn't make it to UFC London this month.
In the long-awaited return of Bellator to the UK, the former heavyweight champion will face Tom Aspinall, a surging Brit.
Alexander Volkov will headline UFC London
However, Volkov's participation in the card is now in serious doubt due to the UK Government's crackdown against Russian nationals and countries complicit in Vladimir Putin's illegal invasions of Ukraine.
White stated to SunSport at the UFC 272 press conference that: "We're working towards that." London's happening.
"The co-main events of this [card] fell out in this week and it was fixed. This is something we are quite good at."
Priti Patel, Secretary to the Home Office, revealed last week that the UK has begun cancelling visas for athletes and teams from countries connected with Putin's invasions of Russia's neighboring nations.
She tweeted: "I have cancelled visas for the Belarusian Men's Basketball Team, who were due to be in Newcastle tomorrow night."
"The UK won't welcome the national teams of those countries that are complicit with Putin's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."
White is not yet certain if Volkov will be allowed entry to the UK.
He stated, "Off the top of my mind right now I don't know [where we are] with that [right now]." Yes, I don’t know.
"Obviously, we've been working hard on it since the beginning of this whole thing."
Volkov is not the only Russian at risk of not being able to fight on the UFC’s first European card for almost three years.
Timur Valiev will face off against Jack Shore of Wales, while Shamil Abdurakhimov (heavyweight) and Sergei Pavlovich (heavyweight) are scheduled to battle it out.
Since March 2019, the UFC has not been in the UK. Their last show before the pandemic hit was headlined by a welterweight match between Darren Till & BMF Jorge Masvidal.
White stated that the return of the promotion was announced after White spoke out.
"The fans are amazing, and the fights always top the charts.
"It's an entirely different energy in England. And I can't get back there without a fight card for March 19th.
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