Express Sport can confirm Londoner Manuwa will take on Corey Anderson at the O2 arena on Saturday March 18 as the main event.
“It feels like it’s only right that I’m headlining UFC Fight Night London,” Manuwa said in his first Express Sport diary piece in the build up to UFC Fight Night London.
“This is my hometown and I’m the best MMA fighter in London so it’s about time. Everyone is going to see me knock someone out in my hometown. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
The 36-year-old comes into the bout on the back of an impressive win over Ovince Saint Preux in Manchester at UFC 204.
The explosive second round knockout was voted performance of the night despite Michael Bisping retaining his title.
Manuwa is 16-2 since kicking his MMA career off with a win over Tom King in Portsmouth back in 2008.
And the Poster Boy is now one of the UK’s most successful fighters and is currently ranked no.5 in the UFC light heavyweight division.
This is will be the second time Manuwa headlines in London – although the last time he was defeated by Alex Gustafsson in back in March 2014.
The winner this time round could be in line for a light heavyweight title shot with Daniel Cormier due to take on Anthony Johnson later this year.
Anderson, 27, won season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter and has fought seven times in the UFC and has moved up no.8 in the light heavyweight division.
The American beat Sean O’Connell in December in a second round knockout but will meet his biggest test in Manuwa in London.
Brad “One Punch” Pickett will also make his final walk to the Octagon on March 18, while exciting prospects Arnold Allen, Tom Breese and Leon Edwards are in action.
For Jimi Manuwa’s first exclusive UFC London Fight Night diary piece click here
VIP tickets to UFC Fight Night London are still available from Ticketmaster or AXS.com
