Final Preventing Championship (UFC) travels to Manchester, England, for its eighth pay-per-view (PPV) occasion of the 12 months, UFC 304. In the primary occasion, welterweight champion Leon Edwards defends his 170-pound title for the third time as he takes on second-ranked contender Belal Muhammad. In UFC 304’s co-main occasion, interim Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall runs it again in opposition to Curtis Blaydes after their first encounter led to catastrophe.
UFC 304 is a strong card with a number of enjoyable fights. The ambiance needs to be unimaginable although the native followers will watch combined martial arts (MMA) fights in the course of the evening (particulars right here). However, earlier than all of it goes down later this night (Sat., July 27, 2024) — begin time slated for six:15 p.m. ET on ESPN+ — let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime.
‘Cottonopolis’
Do you know Manchester as soon as produced 32 % of all world cotton?
After staging untold occasions in London, UFC returns to Manchester for the primary time since 2016, by which Michael Bisping headlined in opposition to fierce rival, Dan Henderson, at UFC 204. Bisping gained the battle by way of unanimous choice.
Bonus reality: Edwards competed on UFC 204’s “Prelims” undercard in opposition to Albert Tumenov, successful by way of third spherical submission.
Night time Hawks
The primary card fighters on UFC 304 can be preventing at a wierd time … not less than by way of skilled sports activities. Certainly, UFC 304’s PPV begins at 10 p.m. ET, which is 3 a.m. native time in England, which has angered a number of combatants.
So for Edwards, he’ll defend his welterweight championship at 5 a.m. native time.
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Harm Title Rematches
Each title fights this weekend are rematches, and weirdly sufficient, they each led to accidents the primary time — Aspinall destroyed his knee, whereas Muhammad bought his eye poked severely (watch it occur) … extra on these in a bit.
Win Streaks On The Line
“Edwards vs. Belal 2” can be solely the fourth time that fighters with 10+ unbeaten streaks will battle. Edwards is using a 12-fight win streak, whereas Muhammad is on a 10-fight win streak (technically 9 due to the “no-contest” once they fought the primary time).
Gotta Go!
Somebody’s three should go this weekend in the primary occasion — Edwards’ document is 22-3 and Muhammad’s document is 23-3.
Three Years
Three years in the past at UFC Vegas 21 (March 21, 2021), Muhammad stepped up on brief discover to battle Edwards after Khamzat Chimaev pulled out two instances. The battle solely lasted a bit multiple spherical as Edwards poked Muhammad within the eye 18 seconds into the second spherical, ending the match by way of “no-contest.”
The rematch was by no means booked, and 1,221 days later, they run it again later tonight.
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One Likelihood
“Bear in mind the Identify” has scratched and clawed his strategy to a long-awaited welterweight title shot … and it’ll most likely be his solely alternative ever.
That’s as a result of it appears like UFC tried to keep away from this title battle for so long as potential, however at this level, it was unavoidable. Muhammad has to win the title, or he would be the Welterweight gatekeeper for the remainder of his profession. He isn’t a spring rooster, both, at 36 years outdated.
Licensed Important Eventer
UFC 304 can be Edwards’ fourth straight most important occasion (UFC 228, UFC 286 and UFC 296) and seventh most important occasion total. This weekend can be Muhammad’s third most important occasion.
The Uncommon Interim
Aspinall defends UFC’s interim Heavyweight championship this weekend, which is definitely a uncommon prevalence. Renan Barao, Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira have been a couple of different fighters who needed to defend interim titles.
Operating It Again
As talked about earlier than, Aspinall vs. Blaydes is a rematch. The primary battle passed off in 2022 at UFC London. Aspinall blew out his knee solely 15 seconds into the primary spherical, and Blaydes gained by way of technical knockout. Since that battle, “Razor” has gone 1-1, dropping to Sergei Pavlovich and Jailton Almeida, whereas Aspinall has been good (2-0), defeating Marcin Tybura and Pavlovich.
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Hardest Battle
Throughout UFC 304 media day, Aspinall instructed the media that Blaydes is his “hardest battle” up to now. Stylistically, Blaydes might be a nightmare matchup for Aspinall, particularly if the British fighter can’t knock him out.
Title Battle Noob
Blaydes can be preventing for a UFC title for the primary time in his 18-fight UFC profession.
Stand Up Chicago!
Each title challengers are from Chicago. Whereas Blaydes now lives and trains out of Colorado, Muhammad nonetheless trains within the “Windy Metropolis.”
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So Lengthy, Bobby
Bobby Inexperienced has legally modified his title to King Inexperienced —one thing he has talked about for greater than two years.
Shot At Prime 15
Paddy Pimblett, who’s preventing Inexperienced, will get his shot on the Light-weight Prime 15 rankings. Inexperienced is presently ranked No. 15
Pimblett is undefeated in UFC and is using a seven-fight win streak.
Frequent Opponents
Inexperienced and Pimblett have fought the identical opponents with totally different outcomes throughout the final two years. First, Jared Gordon — Inexperienced fought him to a “No Contest” after an unintentional head conflict (watch it), and Pimblett beat Gordon by way of tremendous controversial unanimous choice.
Pimblett defeated Tony Ferguson in his final outing by way of unanimous choice; nonetheless, at UFC 291, Inexperienced tapped Ferguson out.
Robust Camp
Pimblett revealed throughout UFC 304 media day that his coaches requested him to withdraw from the battle due to his psychological well being. “Baddy” clearly determined in opposition to that call and is able to go this weekend.
Iconic Orange
Pimblett bought his want and can be sporting customized Venom orange shorts. He got here up within the regional promotion Cage Warriors sporting orange shorts, however when he bought to UFC, they have been gone.
Middleweight Automobile Crash
Christian Leeroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues was moved from the “prelims” to UFC 304’s PPV most important card, and the matchmakers know precisely why. Each Middleweight fighters come to bang and have a ton of finishes.
Rodrigues has an 87 % end price with 9 knockouts, whereas Duncan boasts a 90 % end price with eight knockouts. This battle goes to finish violently … most likely within the first spherical — don’t blink!
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Prime 10 Featherweights Conflict
Opening up the PPV is a Prime 10 Featherweight matchup between Arnold Allen (No. 6) vs. Giga Chikadze (No. 10). Allen is coming off a two-fight dropping streak — the primary of his profession — whereas Chikadze is coming off a win over Alex Caceres.
A win is essential for each fighters.
No. 1 Contender Battle On The Prelims??????
For some motive, Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape bought moved from UFC 304’s PPV to the early “Prelims,” which is simply totally complicated as a result of the winner may problem Alexandre Pantoja for the Flyweight championship. Mokaev is ranked No. 6 within the division, and Kape is No. 8.
Kape is using a four-fight win streak, and Mokaev is undefeated.
Welcome To UFC!
Just one fighter is making their UFC debut this weekend at UFC 304.
Alice Ardelean (9-5) takes on Shauna Bannon. Ardelean was imagined to compete on this 12 months’s Contender Sequence, however now she is a UFC fighter. She holds an 88 % end price with 4 knockouts and 4 submissions.
Ardelean shouldn’t be actually an excellent fighter; nonetheless, she boasts a big social media following … particularly on TikTok. The Romanian-turned-English fighter has greater than three million followers on TikTok, a half-million subscribers on Instagram, and over 100,000 likes on OnlyFans.
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Eight Days Discover
Jake Hadley is stepping in on eight days’ discover in opposition to Caolan Loughran. He will even be preventing up a division at Bantamweight. Loughran was scheduled to battle Ramon Taveras, however an damage scrapped that battle.
Hadley is coming off two losses.
Strawweight Meatball
Molly McCann competes in her second strawweight battle this weekend in opposition to Bruna Brasil. McCann was victorious in her first strawweight battle when she made gentle work of Diana Belbita within the first spherical.
Whereas it’s too early to inform if McCann can shake up the Strawweight division, a dominant win at UFC 304 will maintain her momentum going.
UFC 304 Battle Chief
The fighter with essentially the most profession fights competing at UFC 304 is Inexperienced (48).
UFC 304 Battle Rookie
The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC 304 is Bannon (6).
UFC 304 Knockout King
The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 304 is Blaydes (13).
UFC 304 Submission Savant
The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession submissions competing at UFC 304 is Daniel Pineda (19).
Winners And Losers
Nineteen fighters are coming off wins, 9 are coming off losses
Multi-Divisions
Listed here are the divisions that can be on show this Saturday:
- Two Heavyweight fights
- One Mild Heavyweight fights
- One Middleweight
- Three Welterweight fights
- One Light-weight battle
- One Featherweight battle
- One Bantamweight battle
- Two Girls’s Strawweight fights
Beta Canine
Based on DraftKings, the “largest” underdog at UFC 304 is Kiefer Crosbie at +330.
For full UFC 304 outcomes and 360-degree protection click on right here.