UFC releases more tickets for UFC 120 for sold-out O2 Arena event

After reconfiguring the in-house production at the sold-out O2 Arena, London, England, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been able to increase the seating capacity for next week's UFC 120: BISPING v AKIYAMA event.

THE UFC is to make extra seats available for next weekend's fight card in London - after selling out the original allocation.

According to UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik on a conference call on Thursday to promote the event, the card will set both the gate and attendance records for a UFC event in the UK.

Despite complaints from some sections of the sport's following in the UK, the fight league has sold out the original seating plan for the O2 arena.

“We’re ecstatic that this event has captured the imagination like it has and sold out in its original plan," said UFC's UK chief Marshall Zelaznik.

"The level of support the British fighters get from their public is unbelievable and the O2 will have a blistering atmosphere from the very first horn.

"UFC 120 is already the most successful UFC event ever in Europe, and we are very happy to have been able to work with the O2 to reconfigure the seating plan to allow us to put more seats in.”

Celebrities turn out in force at O2 Arena as LA Lakers played their early season warm-up against the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves upset the LA Lakers with a 111-92 pre-season victory staged at London's O2 Arena.

For those who didn't know, the Los Angeles Lakers opened their preseason schedule with a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Kobe Bryant did make his first appearance since recent knee surgery.

Lakers star Kobe Bryant played just six minutes as the NBA champions were seen off by the young and hungry T-Wolves. Martell Webster led Minnesota with 24 points off the bench, and Michael Beasley added 21 to their total.

King of basketball Kobe Bryant led a delegation from Los Angeles Lakers to watch the Blues' 2-0 win against Arsenal, and Chelsea returned the compliment by sending a stellar contingent to the O2 arena last night.

In the VIP seats, Premier League stars Joleon Lescott, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Darren Bent, Anton Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson, Carlton Cole and Steve Sidwell plus Arsenal quartet Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Carlos Vela and Thomas Vermaelen tried hard not to look too disappointed.