UFC London gets cracking co-main event with an Irish twist

UFC London is just a month away and is in dire need of a shot in the arm.

The March 18 card has been slated by many fight fans who were left disappointed by the promotion's decision to position the light heavyweight meeting of Jimi Manuwa and Corey Anderson as the evening's headliner. The event was always lacking star power in as much as there were originally just four ranked fighters set to compete in the O2 Arena next month. Well the card has one more now in the form of Straight Blast Gym welterweight Gunnar Nelson, who has booked his first fight of 2017 opposite streaking 170lber Alan Jouban. https://twitter.com/UFCEurope/status/831427781867171840 Nelson will meet Jouban in the co-main event, with the Icelandic fighter hoping to put two consecutive victories together for the first time in three years. 'Gunni' most recently fought last May, when he submitted Albert Tumenov in Rotterdam while his upcoming opponent is riding a three-fight win streak. Jouban has claimed consecutive victories over Mike Perry, Belal Muhammad and Brendan O'Reilly in what is the 35-year-old's most successful spell in the Octagon. And given the complaints that had been showered on the card up to this point, it's safe to say that fight fans were relieved to see another high-profile bout added to the bill.

@UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban this is more like it

— Joey (@AntonioContbae) February 14, 2017

@AntonioContbae @UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban that is a fight and a half

— Ewan (@EwanMCFC) February 14, 2017

@UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban that'll do me ?

— AC/CD (@CDYYA) February 14, 2017

@UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban How is this not the main event??? Amazing fight! @arielhelwani @SBNLukeThomas @ChuckMindenhall @ufc

— T Mc L (@ZeroAcidCool) February 14, 2017

@UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban This is an incredible matchup!

— Dobz™ (@Dooobbz) February 14, 2017

@UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban This should be the main event instead of Manuwa/Anderson #UFCLondon

— Joe Wilson (@Joekein) February 14, 2017

@UFCEurope @GunniNelson @AlanJouban you just saved London

— ✨Viktor✨ (@viggidiggi) February 14, 2017