UFC London main event was under a huge question mark considering the stance United Kingdom government has taken against Russia and Russian athletes. Earlier this month the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, Priti Patel, has stated that she has canceled the visas of any athletes whose country is complicit in Russia’s invasion.
Previously, Patel had canceled a Belarusian Men’s Basketball Team that was scheduled to play on February 27. Priti Patel took to her official Twitter account to announce this news.
“I have canceled the visas of the Belarusian Men’s Basketball Team who were due to play in Newcastle tomorrow night. The UK will not welcome the national sports teams of those countries who are complicit in Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.” Patel wrote on Twitter.
Now in spite of that, Volkov’s opponent Tom Aspinall confirmed that he had arrived to UK.
“No official updates, but Volkov has made it into the country. I know last week in the UK the British Boxing Board of Control [BBBofC] banned all fighters from like Wednesday or Thursday and they already had Russian fighters in the country so hopefully, that’s not going to happen to us. I’ve seen a few people like keep sending me screenshots of him. I’m just like, it’s f**king weird, ‘I know that he’s here, stop sending me screenshots of him like walking around in the middle of London.’ But yeah, he’s in the country, he’s made it anyway. So it’s all positive stuff. He’s coming.” Aspinall told submission radio.
Previously there were rumors one of the promotions biggest stars – Khamzat Chimaev was sidelined over visa issues not relating to the war between Russia and Ukraine.