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Category: MMA

  • Tom Aspinall Tells Jon Jones To Hand Over The Title If He Doesn’t Want To Fight Him After UFC 304 Win

    Tom Aspinall Tells Jon Jones To Hand Over The Title If He Doesn’t Want To Fight Him After UFC 304 Win

    Tom Aspinall felt that he was in the fight of his life when he stepped in the Octagon for his UFC 304 interim heavyweight championship co-main event against Curtis Blaydes.

    The Brit is two years removed from his devastating MCL tear the first time he faced “Razor” in England, and it was his first fight since winning the interim belt at New York’s Madison Square Garden last November.

    And despite a day that he described as the longest of his life, with nerves going throughout his body, Aspinall got the job done in just 60 seconds, finishing Blaydes to retain the championship.

    Though Aspinall told Megan Olivi of ESPN MMA that it felt like a homecoming redemption moment after all he’s been through, he made sure to give a ton of respect to Blaydes.

    “Curtis is a great wrestler, but he’s also got great hands. He’s a great MMA fighter,” Aspinall said. “The guy’s been in the top five since before I was in the UFC. He’s a veteran. There is a lot of emphasis on his wrestling because not a lot of guys in the heavyweight division can wrestle well, but he’s an MMA fighter, so I was expecting everything.

    “I’ve got a lot of respect for Curtis, and I want to get in and out as quick as possible without anyone getting hurt. That’s my plan. I hope Curtis is OK.”

    ‘You Can’t Leave Me Out’ – Tom Aspinall Awaits Jon Jones Or Stipe Miocic To Unify Heavyweight Championship

    Following the win, Aspinall had a callout of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones — a fight that many have been clamoring to see over Jones vs. Stipe Miocic. The interim champ commented about having a conversation with UFC CEO Dana White, implying the chance that plans could change.

    White, however, stated at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference that the plan is still to go with Jones vs. Miocic. However, he appeared to insinuate that Aspinall will be assigned as the backup fighter in case Jones vs. Miocic falls through again.

    Aspinall told Olivi that the plan is to fight the winner of Jones vs. Miocic, but he urged “Bones” to hand the belt over if he doesn’t want the fight.

    “I’ll wait…that’s one worth waiting for,” Aspinall said. “If Jon Jones doesn’t want to do it, OK. Just hand me over the title. I’ll take it, no problem. But that’s the fight I want. It’s the right fight to do. I understand that’s a huge fight for the UFC and the company — Stipe vs. Jon Jones. But, c’mon, you can’t leave me out.”

    Jones vs. Miocic was scheduled to headline UFC 295 last November before Jones tore his pec, which led to the fight where Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich to become interim champion.

    Jones defeated Ciryl Gane to win the then-vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 following Francis Ngannou’s departure from the promotion. Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought since dropping the heavyweight title to Ngannou at UFC 260.

    Rumors, reports, and even Jones himself have stated the plan is for Jones vs. Miocic to headline a Madison Square Garden PPV card in November. Those event plans, however, have not been confirmed by the UFC and have been left murky with a concert series taking place at the venue during UFC 309’s original target date of November 9.

  • ‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC

    ‘The PFL Will Get A Great, Undefeated Guy’ – Dana White Reveals Muhammad Mokaev Will Be Let Go By UFC

    Muhammad Mokaev will not be coming back to the UFC, according to promotional CEO Dana White at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference.

    Mokaev scored a win over Manel Kape during the UFC 304 prelims. In spite of being promoted as a potential flyweight title eliminator, the fight proved to be disappointing and widely panned. The bout marked the final one on Mokaev’s current deal.

    According to White, matchmakers are not a fan of Mokaev’s conduct, and the Dagestani-Englishman has caused unnamed issues in the past few months.

    “I think the PFL will get a great, undefeated guy,” White said. “Good luck to him.”

    Dana White, UFC Appears To Formally Part Ways With Muhammad Mokaev

    The unbeaten Mokaev, a noteworthy flyweight contender, was a big talking point heading into this card. Mokaev and Kape had bad blood between them, resulting in a number of confrontations in the week leading up to the fight.

    The bout was also notable for the number of times it moved in the card order, going from the main card, to the televised prelims, to the early prelims, then finally settling in as the opening bout of the televised prelims.

    Despite the supposed bad blood, the fight proved to be lackluster. The first round saw little actual action from both men. Early in the second, Mokaev grabbed Kape’s shorts in a grappling exchange and appeared to show disrespect to referee Mike Beltran, causing Beltran to loudly admonish him during the pause in the action.

    Mokaev ultimately won the fight by unanimous decision.

    Earlier in the week, Mokaev acknowledged this being the last fight on his deal and desired a guaranteed title shot in a new deal, following a win.

    Mokaev has not commented on the matter as of press time, but he did tweet this out after the event.

  • ‘Love Or Hate Belal, He Came, He Saw & Conquered!’ – MMA Fighters React After Belal Muhammad Imposes His Will (Mostly) On Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    ‘Love Or Hate Belal, He Came, He Saw & Conquered!’ – MMA Fighters React After Belal Muhammad Imposes His Will (Mostly) On Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    Muhammad got right to work with what works best for him, scoring a pair of takedowns early. Edwards had good connections on the feet during the round, but Muhammad connected with a late uppercut that seemed to rock Edwards.

    Muhammad then completely had his way with the defending champion in the second round, landing a couple of more takedowns and showing complete pressure and control. This included a takedown where Edwards was notably dumped on his head.

    Edwards fought back against Muhammad’s pressure in the third round, taking control on the ground and getting to Muhammad’s back with a body triangle, threatening a choke. Edwards looked to land in the fourth and had solid connections. But Muhammad answered and went back to his wrestling pressure, scoring another takedown and having complete control of Edwards’s back this time around.

    The two exchanged early in the fifth round, with Edwards fending off a takedown attempt. But Muhammad pressured him back to the fence and took a hold of him again. There, Muhammad got another body lock and another takedown, overwhelming Edwards with wrestling. Edwards busted Muhammad open with two elbows in the fight’s closing seconds, but it was too little, too late.

    Muhammad won on all three scorecards, with two 48-47s and a 49-46.

    Belal Muhammad Claims Welterweight Championship With Decision Win Over Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    https://twitter.com/lthomasnews/status/1817428389965250999

    Muhammad has won all but two fights in the UFC since 2017. This now marks six straight wins for Muhammad since a no-contest in his first fight with Edwards.

    This marks Edwards’s first loss since dropping his initial battle with Kamaru Usman at the end of 2015. Edwards won the welterweight title at UFC 278 with a fifth-round knockout of Usman and retained in a trilogy fight with Usman, as well as Colby Covington.

  • UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards

    UFC 304 Results & Highlights: Belal Muhammad Decisions Leon Edwards

    UFC 304 took place tonight from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Leon Edwards put his welterweight title on the line against Belal Muhammad. While in the co-main event, heavyweight interim champ Tom Aspinall took on Curtis Blaydes. 

    UFC 305 Results: Main Card

    • Welterweight Championship Main Event: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46)
    • Interim Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes via KO: R1, 1.00
    • Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. King Green via submission: R1, 3.22  
    • Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 
    • Featherweight: Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-27×2, 29-28)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Bantamweight: Jake Hadley def. Caolán Loughran via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)

    Early Preliminary Card

    • Welterweight: Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
    • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio via submission: R3, 3.12
    • Welterweight: Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie via submission: R1, 2.50
    • Heavyweight: Mick Parkin def. Łukasz Brzeski via TKO: R1, 3.23  
    • Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Mick Parkin def. Łukasz Brzeski

    Mick Parkin made it four wins in a row in the UFC with a first-round TKO of Łukasz Brzeski in their heavyweight bout.

    Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie

    In this welterweight bout, Sam Patterson submitted Kiefer Crosbie with an arm triangle in the first round.

    Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio

    Modestas Bukauskas got it done via submission against Marcin Prachnio in the third round of their light heavyweight matchup.

    Main Card Highlights

    Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze

    In this featherweight bout, Arnold Allen earned a unanimous decision win against Giga Chikadze.

    Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy

    In this middleweight bout, Gregory Rodrigues earned a unanimous decision win against Christian Leroy.

    Paddy Pimblett def. King Green

    Paddy Pimblett kept his UFC unbeaten streak alive after submitting King Green with a triangle choke in the first round of their lightweight contest.

    Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes

    In the co-main event, Tom Aspinall retained his interim heavyweight title with a KO of Curtis Blaydes after just one minute of action.

    Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards

    In the main event, Belal Muhammad clinched the welterweight title with a unanimous decision against Leon Edwards.

  • ‘No Reason Why Anyone Should Consider Jones The Champ’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React After Tom Aspinall Notches Up Another Impressive First-Round Finish At UFC 304

    ‘No Reason Why Anyone Should Consider Jones The Champ’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React After Tom Aspinall Notches Up Another Impressive First-Round Finish At UFC 304

    Tom Aspinall successfully defended his UFC interim heavyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 304 by stopping Curtis Blaydes in the first round.

    As fans have come to expect from the Brit, he closed the show early on after dropping Blaydes and getting the TKO finish in the opening minute.

    The challenger was able to have some success early on with his strikes but Aspinall only needed to pull off one well-timed entry to find the shot he was looking for.

    Aspinall, and the UFC commentary team, called for the title unification fight with Jon Jones who is expected to return later this year against Stipe Miocic.

    MMA World Reacts To Tom Aspinall’s Successful Homecoming In Manchester

    MMA fighters and fans reacted on social media as Aspinall finished yet another opponent without needing to go to a second round.

    Many, as expected, want to see him stand across the cage from “Bones” as was the case before this fight.

    https://twitter.com/TheAnswerMMA/status/1817412935192596831
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    Read also: UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘Don’t Mess With Paddy On The Ground, Sheesh’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React As Paddy Pimblett Makes It Look Easy Against King Green At UFC 304

    ‘Don’t Mess With Paddy On The Ground, Sheesh’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React As Paddy Pimblett Makes It Look Easy Against King Green At UFC 304

    There can be no question that Paddy Pimblett is legit now, as he will have a ranking next to his name after his win over King Green (formerly Bobby Green) at UFC 304.

    Green looked to use the leg kicks and set things up early, but he found himself unable to establish the jab.

    In a move that baffled people late in the first round, Green shot in for a takedown. Pimblett easily countered it and looked for a guillotine before transitioning into a triangle choke. Pimblett sunk in the triangle in tight, and as he looked to turn it into a triangle armbar, it could be seen that Green was out cold, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

    Following the fight, Pimblett used the opportunity to call out Renato Moicano.

    Paddy Pimblett Makes Emphatic Statement With Easy First-Round Submission Of King Green At UFC 304

    https://twitter.com/adfive/status/1817407817764024380

    Pimblett has now won eight straight and is a perfect 6-0 in the UFC. His win streak also includes names such as Tony Ferguson, Jared Gordon and Jordan Leavitt.

    Green has now lost two of his last three, though he has still won three of his last six.

  • ‘McCann Has Heart…But Is Becoming The Chisora Of MMA’ – MMA Fans React After Molly McCann Gets Outclassed By Bruna Brasil At UFC 304

    ‘McCann Has Heart…But Is Becoming The Chisora Of MMA’ – MMA Fans React After Molly McCann Gets Outclassed By Bruna Brasil At UFC 304

    Molly McCann suffered the first defeat of any of the home fighters at UFC 304 as she lost a one-sided decision to Bruna Brasil.

    McCann’s signature toughness was on full display once again as she battled through a tough opening round to make it the distance.

    Brasil had a lot of success with her striking after hurting her opponent with a body kick in the opening round, that appeared to be the beginning of the end.

    Despite McCann’s best efforts to turn the tide late on, it wasn’t enough to get the nod on the scorecards in this prelim bout.

    MMA Fans React As Molly McCann Suffers A Defeat On Home Soil

    MMA fans reacted on social media as McCann battled against a strong showing from Brasil through all three rounds.

    The crowd was on her side but it wasn’t the Liverpool fighter’s night on this occasion.

    Read also: UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘Cut Them Both’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React After Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape Turns Out To Be A Dud After Heated Build-Up

    ‘Cut Them Both’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React After Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape Turns Out To Be A Dud After Heated Build-Up

    Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape had so much bad blood and fighting outside the cage going into their collision at UFC 304 that many expected a brawl when they faced off, especially with a potential title shot on the line.

    What we got, however, was something completely different – a fight panned by many that saw Mokaev ultimately come up with a decision win.

    The first round ultimately featured a lot of feinting, with neither man scoring a clear edge. Arguably the biggest action in the fight came from a moment in the second where Mokaev grabbed Kape’s shorts in an exchange on the ground. Mokaev appeared to show disrespect to referee Mike Beltran, who yelled at Mokaev during the time-out but elected not to take a point.

    Mokaev scored a takedown in the third round and had position advantage, though Kape locked in a guillotine choke attempt.

    Mokaev won on all three scorecards, with two 29-28 scores and a 30-27.

    Muhammad Mokaev Scores Controversial Decision Over Manel Kape In Fight That Proves Lackluster

    https://twitter.com/GeezFX/status/1817359781641769243

    Mokaev’s record now improves to 13-0 (1 NC), including a 7-0 run in the UFC so far. This fight marked the last one in Mokaev’s current UFC deal.

    Kape sees a four-fight win streak snapped.

  • Max Holloway Gives His Reaction To Not Headlining UFC 306 At The Sphere: ‘I Feel Damaged, Bro…’

    Max Holloway Gives His Reaction To Not Headlining UFC 306 At The Sphere: ‘I Feel Damaged, Bro…’

    The huge event that is planned for UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas has got its main event, with UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley taking on Merab Dvalishvili.

    Another contender to headline this card was the planned featherweight title fight.

    Ilia Topuria making his first title defense against Max Holloway may just be the best fight of the year but it appears that the two 145-pounders will be meeting at a later date.

    Despite being in the UFC’s good books following his emphatic performance at UFC 300, Holloway is disappointed to have missed out at The Sphere event.

    Max Holloway Reacts To Missing Out On Headlining The Sphere

    During a recent stream, Holloway reacted to the news of the official card announcement for UFC 306, which is set to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.

    “Blessed” was hoping to be a part of the first combat sports event to be hosted at the groundbreaking venue – and for good reason.

    Dana White has promised an event unlike any other, and whilst O’Malley vs Dvalishvili is a fitting main event, Topuria and Holloway might have been even better if online fan reaction is to be gauged.

    The BMF champ gave his thoughts on having to wait a little longer to get his shot at the title that formerly belonged to him.

    “This is how I feel though the about the Sphere card, this is how I feel right here, s*** sucks bro. I feel damaged bro, it should have been us brother. It’s Mexican Independence Day guys, you guys cannot have a Spaniard, who Mexicans got their independence back from, to headline the card on Mexican Independence Day bro. Come on. I was trying to tell you guys but everybody knew that I was fighting in the Sphere, except for me.”

    Read also: UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Live Results & Highlights

  • MMA Community’s Final Thoughts & Predictions On UFC 304: ‘Edwards Won’t Let Us Live In A World Where ‘No Name’ Muhammad Is Champion’

    MMA Community’s Final Thoughts & Predictions On UFC 304: ‘Edwards Won’t Let Us Live In A World Where ‘No Name’ Muhammad Is Champion’

    UFC 304 is almost upon us, and many in the mixed martial arts community have been posting some late takes on the event.

    The promotion hosts its latest pay-per-view card from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, tonight, where a fiery fight week across the pond will culminate in championship stakes inside the Octagon.

    Headlining UFC 304, welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards will attempt to get the better of challenger Belal Muhammad at the second time of trying. After having his early success rendered null when an eye poke left “Remember the Name” unable to continue back in 2021, “Rocky” will look to pick up where he left off and make Muhammad the third victim of his title reign.

    The co-main event, meanwhile, will see another home champ in action as Tom Aspinall puts his interim heavyweight gold on the line. Like Edwards in the headliner, Aspinall will be facing a familiar foe in the form of Curtis Blaydes. The Manchester native has redemption on his mind after a knee injury sent him to defeat opposite “Razor” after just 15 seconds two years ago.

    Also on the lineup, Paddy Pimblett makes his return to the cage on home soil to compete for a spot in the lightweight rankings against King Green, Arnold Allen looks to bounce back from his first career losing skid opposite Giga Chikadze, and flyweight standouts Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape vie for a potential shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s belt.

    To prepare yourself for tonight’s event, catch up on the latest betting odds here, look back on the faceoffs from Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins here, and follow along with the results and highlights here, live from 6 PM ET.

    MMA Community Gives Final Thoughts On UFC 304: ‘There Is Something About English Fight Cards…’

    UFC 304 will get underway shortly, meaning the buildup and time for talking is almost over.

    The MMA community is sure to be locked in and engaged in hot discussion over the events that unfold in the coming hours, but throughout today, plenty have been getting in their late predictions and final thoughts on the momentous occasion. 

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  • UFC 304 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Edwards vs. Muhammad 2, Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2, Green vs. Pimblett, & More

    UFC 304 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Edwards vs. Muhammad 2, Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2, Green vs. Pimblett, & More

    UFC 304 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, July 27, at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards, who is tasked with getting the better of Belal Muhammad at the second time of trying if he’s to successfully defend his title on home soil once again.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another English champ in action as interim heavyweight kingpin Tom Aspinall runs it back with Curtis Blaydes. Their second clash comes two years on from an injury rendering the Brit unable to continue after just 15 seconds at the London-held UFC Fight Night in July 2022.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett and his teammate Molly McCann, another home favorite in Arnold Allen, and the undefeated Muhammad Mokaev.

    Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 304 main card here.

    UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 304 (as of 7/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Leon Edwards (-265) vs. Belal Muhammad (+215)
    • Tom Aspinall (-395) vs. Curtis Blaydes (+310)
    • King Green (-115) vs. Paddy Pimblett (-105)
    • Christian Leroy Duncan (-135) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (+114)
    • Arnold Allen (-238) vs. Giga Chikadze (+195)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Nathaniel Wood (-380) vs. Daniel Pineda (+300)
    • Molly McCann (-345) vs. Bruna Brasil (+275)
    • Caolán Loughran (-225) vs. Jake Hadley (+185)
    • Modestas Bukauskas (-155) vs. Marcin Prachnio (+130)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Oban Elliott (+136) vs. Preston Parsons (-162)
    • Muhammad Mokaev (-185) vs. Manel Kape (+154)
    • Sam Patterson (-440) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (+340)
    • Mick Parkin (-455) vs. Łukasz Brzeski (+360)
    • Shauna Bannon (-180) vs. Alice Ardelean (+150)
  • UFC Commentator Feels Belal Muhammad’s Trash Talk Is Not Affecting Leon Edwards At All: ‘I Think He’s Laughing It All Off’

    UFC Commentator Feels Belal Muhammad’s Trash Talk Is Not Affecting Leon Edwards At All: ‘I Think He’s Laughing It All Off’

    UFC 304 appears to be a personal affair for welterweight title challenger Belal Muhammad, who has had to wait a long time to get his shot.

    Ever since the way that his first fight ended with Leon Edwards three years ago, Muhammad has been campaigning for this rematch and slandering the character of “Rocky.”

    “Remember the Name” has continued to speak about how winning the title is one thing but beating Edwards for it in particular makes this fight even more meaningful to him.

    The champion, on the other hand, believes that his opponent is coming up with this narrative and has referred to him as “deluded.”

    John Gooden Believes Leon Edwards Isn’t Bothered By Belal Muhammad’s Words Pre-UFC 304

    Muhammad’s trash talk at the press conference on fight week didn’t appear to bother Edwards, and UFC commentator John Gooden believes that this comes from experience.

    He spoke in an interview with InsideFighting about how he doesn’t think the champion is going to be bothered by anything that his next opponent can say about him.

    Having already gone through the experience of facing Colby Covington in his last outing, Edwards has been through the ringer when it comes to pre-fight comments.

    “Leon, I think, used to suffer from some of that and biting back and not really finding the right sort of quips and banter to answer back. I’m going back to like, Darren Till times, because before that, it didn’t really happen. But I feel like when he walked out and then he got the boos in London, I think he was a little bit p***** off.

    “But, he’s now gone through issues with Kamaru, Kamaru was still digging at home and it wasn’t egregious and really horrible and toxic like Colby was. But I think when you go through a little bit more and a little bit more, your skin gets thicker, and then you realize like, ‘What’s the use in me taking this on board?’ And I have to say, I’ve had a few interactions with Leon now and his team and I think he’s just laughing a lot of it off. Belal is really going in on Leon, really going in.”

  • Winner Of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304 Touted To Be Long-Reigning Heavyweight Champion: ‘He Kind Of Cruises A Little Bit’

    Winner Of Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304 Touted To Be Long-Reigning Heavyweight Champion: ‘He Kind Of Cruises A Little Bit’

    Daniel Cormier and Anthony Smith recently shared their belief that the victor of the Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 is destined to dominate the heavyweight division for years to come.

    Aspinall is set to run it back with Blaydes to defend his UFC interim heavyweight championship in the co-headliner of the upcoming pay-per-view event, scheduled for this Saturday at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

    The two fighters previously crossed paths two years ago in the main event of UFC Fight Night London in July 2022. In that bout, “Razor” emerged victorious with a 15-second TKO after the Brit sustained an unfortunate knee injury.

    Aspinall had hoped to unify his belt after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 with heavyweight champion Jon Jones. However, realizing that a bout with “Bones” is unlikely due to Jones’s determination to face Stipe Miocic next, potentially the last fight of both their careers, Aspinall chose to pivot. Embracing the situation, he decided to defend his interim title instead.

    According to Cormier and Smith, the upcoming rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes is set to determine the future kingpin of the heavyweight division…

    Cormier Declares Aspinall vs Blaydes Interim Title Fight As True Championship Bout

    During a recent video on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Cormier and Smith delved into the upcoming rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes. “DC” emphasized that the exceptional skill levels and challenging styles of both fighters make this bout the one that will ultimately reveal the true heavyweight champion.

    “There’s a lot of confidence in Tom Aspinall as he holds the interim championship, which I believe is the actual heavyweight championship of the world,” Cormier said. “Because I think he’ll be more active than Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic.”

    “Lionheart” echoed Cormier’s sentiment, suggesting that with Jones and Miocic nearing the end of their careers, Aspinall and Blaydes are poised to take over and dominate the heavyweight division for the foreseeable future.

    “I totally agree, and I think that the fact that these guys are fighting now almost solidifies a long title run in my mind,” Smith said. “I think these two guys are the hardest matchups for each other. They’re both big, they’re both physical, both crazy athletic for their size, and both of them can wrestle… I think Curtis beats Aspinall, he kind of cruises for a little bit, and if Aspinall beats Curtis, he absolutely cruises for a little bit.”

    During the pre-fight press conference on Thursday, UFC CEO Dana White said that the winner of the Aspinall vs. Blaydes bout will go on to challenge the winner of the Jones vs. Miocic showdown, which is rumored to take place in November.

  • ‘He’s A Bit Like McGregor’ – Molly McCann Predicts Big First-Round Finish For UFC 304 Star

    ‘He’s A Bit Like McGregor’ – Molly McCann Predicts Big First-Round Finish For UFC 304 Star

    Molly McCann is certain that her teammate and compatriot, Paddy Pimblett, will clinch a decisive first-round victory against King Green at UFC 304.

    Both McCann and Pimblett are primed to be in action on their home turf this Saturday at UFC’s upcoming event at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. UFC 304 signifies the MMA promotion’s return to the “Rainy City” for the first time since UFC 204 in October 2016.

    “Meatball” is set to clash with Bruna Brasil in a strawweight bout during the preliminary card of the event. This fight marks her second appearance in the division, following a triumphant return with a first-round submission victory over Diana Belbiță in February. She made the move down to 115 pounds after enduring back-to-back losses at 125 pounds.

    Meanwhile, “The Baddy” is set to square off against Green on the main card of UFC 304. Pimblett is riding high after a commanding unanimous decision victory over lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 last December, extending his impressive win streak in the Octagon to five consecutive fights.

    Coming from the same hometown of Liverpool, McCann and Pimblett have not only forged a strong bond but also train together at the Next Generation MMA Gym. Naturally, McCann is fully backing her fellow Liverpudlian, confident that Pimblett will overpower Green in their upcoming clash…

    McCann Foresees Pimblett Silencing Critics At UFC 304

    During a recent interview with Kaz Crossley for Title Sports Network, McCann shared her thoughts on Pimblett’s upcoming clash with Green. She confidently predicted that “The Baddy” will secure a first-round finish, propelling him closer to a coveted title shot.

    “I think he gets to silence the critics again,” McCann said. “I think he’s going to finish Bobby in the first round. I think he’s a bit like [Conor] McGregor in terms of not being scared to speak his truth and manifest.”

    McCann and Pimblett have shared the Octagon on the same night twice before, both going undefeated with remarkable performances at The O2 arena in London during UFC Fight Night events in 2022.

  • Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Gets ‘Too Much Credit’ For Kamaru Usman Wins 

    Belal Muhammad: Leon Edwards Gets ‘Too Much Credit’ For Kamaru Usman Wins 

    UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad was seemingly not too impressed by Leon Edwards’ title win and successful defense against Kamaru Usman.

    Muhammad will mark the latest challenger in the reign of Edwards this weekend, with the pair set to run it back in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    While the champion has dismissed talk of bad blood between the pair, “Remember the Name” has been open in expressing his disdain for his rival ahead of his opportunity to dethrone him in enemy territory.

    More than just a personal hatred for “Rocky,” Muhammad has frequently attempted to take away from his achievements on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    During UFC 304 fight week, that’s included branding both of Edwards’ wins over the great Usman as unimpressive…

    Muhammad Insists His Strength Of Schedule Trumps Edwards’

    During a fight week interview for UFC.com, Muhammad looked ahead to his long-awaited first title shot and assessed the man at the expense of whom he’s tasked with winning the belt.

    The challenger has long questioned Edwards’ own path to the championship en route to facing Usman in 2022. But in his latest remarks, Muhammad even downplayed his last-gasp knockout of “The Nigerian Nightmare” to capture gold and subsequent five-round win over the ex-champ to defend it in their trilogy fight.

    “I’ve had the harder journey,” Muhammad said. “He’s fought Nate Diaz, who is a lightweight. Then he got the Usman fighter, getting beat up and threw a Hail Mary, caught him with it. And then the third fight with Usman wasn’t the same Usman. I think people give Leon a little bit too much credit. I don’t think Usman was the same person. And then the Colby (Covington) fight, I don’t even consider that a fight. Both guys suck.

    “Not impressed at all. It’s impressive that he found that needle in a haystack to catch Usman with that kick. But other than that, I think I’ve fought and had to go through tougher tests than him,” Muhammad continued. “I’ve showed more in my fights than he’s showed in his.”

    Muhammad will look to prove that he’s a bigger threat to Edwards than both Covington and Usman when the cage door closes behind him and the champ at UFC 304 on Saturday night.

  • Alexa Grasso & Diego Lopes Fights Confirmed For Noche UFC Main Card At The Sphere

    Alexa Grasso & Diego Lopes Fights Confirmed For Noche UFC Main Card At The Sphere

    Mexican fan favorites Alexa Grasso and Diego Lopes will get their expected appearances at the high-profile Noche UFC event at the Sphere this Fall.

    After its successful inaugural celebration of Mexican Independence Day last September, Las Vegas will once again play host to the UFC’s festivities for the occasion in 2024, this time at a grander venue.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena, this year’s iteration of Noche UFC will play out inside the Sphere in the form of UFC 306. Ever since vowing to stage the first live sporting event there, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a first-of-a-kind event that will leave the fanbase in awe.

    And as the September 14 date fast approaches, the UFC 306 lineup has taken shape.

    White revealed the main card in a social media video this week, confirming that Sean O’Malley will defend his bantamweight title in the main event opposite Merab Dvalishvili.

    There will also be championship stakes in the co-headliner, as Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko complete their trilogy a year on from their Noche UFC main event concluding in a controversial draw.

    Lopes, Grasso’s teammate and jiu-jitsu coach, also has a major assignment set for the Sphere. The rising featherweight was expected to feature on the card following his latest triumph at UFC 303 last month.

    The Mexico-residing Brazilian got the better of Dan Ige in a same-day booking that came about following the late withdrawal of Brian Ortega due to illness.

    For Noche UFC on Sept. 14, those two will attempt for their matchup to make it to the Octagon at the second time of trying, with the promotion opting to rebook Lopes against “T-City” despite talk of the former featherweight title challenger moving up in weight.

    Joining those three fights on the main card will be two more Mexicans in Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez, who will share the cage with Esteban Ribovics and Ode’ Osbourne, respectively.

    Meanwhile, you can check out the current fights expected to take place on the preliminary card below:

    • Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
    • Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont
    • Edgar Chairez vs. Kevin Borjas
    • Yazmin Jáuregui vs. Ketlen Souza
    • Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng
  • Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere

    Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere

    Sean O’Malley’s bantamweight championship will be on the line when mixed martial arts’ leading promotion arrives at the Sphere for UFC 306 on September 14.

    The promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. While Las Vegas is once again the host destination, the Octagon will be in a much different environment this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. In the lead-up, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    And he confirmed this week that O’Malley will be tasked with closing it out in defense of his belt opposite Merab Dvalishvili. White announced the expected news in a video uploaded to the UFC’s social media accounts on Friday night.

    O’Malley Targets Second Successful Defense At The Expense Of Dvalishvili

    When the pair share the Octagon inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, O’Malley will be looking to make Dvalishvili the second victim of his title reign.

    O’Malley (18-1, 1 NC) captured the 135-pound gold in memorable fashion last August, concluding the Boston-held UFC 292 pay-per-view event with a shocking second-round knockout of longtime champ Aljamain Sterling. The result brought “Funk Master’s” record-breaking rule to an end and set up the chance for his teammate to avenge the setback.

    While he’s had to wait for “Sugar” to settle unfinished business with Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in Miami this past March, Dvalishvili (17-4) finally has his first shot at title glory in mixed martial arts booked in.

    The Georgian has had to win 10 straight fights and go unbeaten since 2018 to make it happen. He’s most recently defeated three former champs, getting the better of José Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo on the scorecards to leave no doubt about his status as the unrivaled number one bantamweight contender.

  • Anthony Smith Feels Leon Edwards More Improved Than Belal Muhammad Ahead Of Rematch: ‘He Was So Good On His Feet That Colby Didn’t Even Want To Shoot’

    Anthony Smith Feels Leon Edwards More Improved Than Belal Muhammad Ahead Of Rematch: ‘He Was So Good On His Feet That Colby Didn’t Even Want To Shoot’

    Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad last met three years ago but with the fights and accomplishments of both men since that point, it’s hard to take that meeting into consideration ahead of the rematch.

    At UFC 304 this weekend, they will meet again in the main event as Edwards looks to defend his welterweight title for the third time.

    The one aspect of their first encounter that can be used as a measuring stick is to see which man has improved the most since that point in time.

    Many would point to Edwards’ recent fights against fellow top welterweights as the difference, if they were predicting “Rocky” to come out on top.

    Anthony Smith Believes Leon Edwards Is Improved Fighter Heading Into Belal Muhammad Rematch

    Anthony Smith believes that Edwards has improved more out of the two men because we’ve seen him have success against a higher level of opposition.

    Muhammad has beaten several top contenders since his first encounter with Edwards but the Brit’s recent wins over Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington stand out.

    Not only did he get his hand raised against both men, he was successful at fending off their heavy grappling approaches, which Muhammad is sure to use as his game plan in Manchester.

    Smith spoke during an event preview for ESPN MMA about how he gives the champion the edge because of what we’ve seen him do against two of the best wrestlers to ever grace the 170-pound division.

    “I would believe it’s probably Leon. I think that he’s been in harder fights versus better guys, that’s no disrespect to the guys that Belal has beaten but they’re not at the level of a Kamaru Usman. I think the Colby fight was a big deal for Leon, not because of the way that he won or what he was trying to prove, I think that style is impossible for people to deal with including Kamaru Usman, who a lot of people think is the welterweight greatest of all time.

    “I think the way that he made Colby look where he was so uncomfortable on his feet he couldn’t even shoot, we’ve never even heard of that. He didn’t even have to defend takedowns because he was so good on his feet that Colby didn’t want to shoot. I thought that was a big deal.”

    Read also: UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

  • Tom Aspinall Speculates About Jon Jones’ Next Opponent After Stipe Miocic: ‘That’s Way More Likely That Jones Fighting Me’

    Tom Aspinall Speculates About Jon Jones’ Next Opponent After Stipe Miocic: ‘That’s Way More Likely That Jones Fighting Me’

    Tom Aspinall has made it perfectly clear that whilst fighting Jon Jones is still something he would love to do in his career, he doesn’t think it will happen.

    The UFC heavyweight champion has been teasing that he will make his return from injury later this year, where he will defend his title against Stipe Miocic.

    When the fight was removed from UFC 295 last year due to Jones’ injury, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped into the co-main event on short notice where the Brit became the interim champion.

    He’s now set to defend that title this weekend at UFC 304 in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, in a fight that many are considering to be for the real undisputed world championship.

    Aspinall believes that even if both he and Jones are victorious in their next fights, there’s more chance of “Bones” taking another route instead.

    Tom Aspinall Says Alex Pereira Has A Better Chance Of Fighting Jon Jones Than He Does

    Jones has made it perfectly clear during his absence that fighting Aspinall isn’t something that he sees as adding anything to his legacy, which is already assured in the sport.

    “Bones” has however, floated the idea of a potential fight against the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, which would be a massive contest.

    During UFC 304 fight week, Aspinall spoke in an interview with Michael Bisping where he said that in his opinion, there’s more chance of that fight happening than him unifying the titles against Jones.

    “Yeah, he might do. That’s way more likely than Jon Jones fighting me. Way more likely.”

    Aspinall added that he doesn’t believe it’s an issue of Jones not wanting to fight him specifically, as he can understand why that fight isn’t the best option for the champion right now.

    “Well, he’s going to get more money fighting Alex Pereira than he is me first of all and it’s an easier match-up. I’m not saying he doesn’t want to fight me, I’m saying that there’s more favorable match-ups. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would do the same.”

    Read also: Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

  • ‘Please Delete This, I Don’t Want To Like Him’ – MMA Fans React To Emotional Video Of Belal Muhammad Taking Care Of A Child Saved From Gaza

    ‘Please Delete This, I Don’t Want To Like Him’ – MMA Fans React To Emotional Video Of Belal Muhammad Taking Care Of A Child Saved From Gaza

    Every episode of the UFC Countdown series before a big PPV card tends to follow a similar format of following the headlining fighters during their fight camps.

    In the case of UFC 304’s video, Belal Muhammad’s segment has the usual clips of him training, with parts about his team and journey to getting a shot at the welterweight title.

    One aspect gave fans a bit more of a glimpse into Muhammad as a person and how he tries to use what he has earned to benefit those that are less fortunate.

    The #2-ranked welterweight has made his feelings very clear about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine but he isn’t just trying to spread a message.

    Muhammad took actions into his own hands to try and help where possible when he flew a young boy out of Gaza to come and stay with him after his house was destroyed in the war.

    Two-year-old Jood Ahmad Damo has been living out in Chicago for around six months now, and walks with a limp after his knee cap was broken and he needed surgery.

    The boy is shown in the Countdown episode living a happy life away from conflict as Muhammad gets emotional speaking about how there are so many others that aren’t receiving this same kind of help and support.

    MMA Fans React To Belal Muhammad Getting Emotional In UFC 304 Countdown Episode

    Ahead of his clash with Leon Edwards at UFC 304 this weekend, this video shows a side to Muhammad that some fans may have not seen in the past.

    A shortened compilation video was put out on social media and was sure to grab some attention.

    Fans reacted to the video, which is impossible to watch without feeling something.

    “Please delete I don’t want to like him”

    “I’ve seen enough now. Muhammad gets in done inside two.”

    “Belal is a good guy man.”

    https://twitter.com/Malcolm_fleX48/status/1816602211658395989

    “Belal is a very likeable guy when he’s not talking about MMA, any fighters, himself and any of his opponents”

    “W BELAL!! most people don’t see this side of him”

    https://twitter.com/EMDBassam/status/1816604808641470845

    “I apologize for ever hating this guy. who is cutting onions?”

    Read also: UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Weigh-In Live Stream & Results

  • Paddy Pimblett Signs New Contract Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Value Has Been Acknowledged & Rewarded’

    Paddy Pimblett Signs New Contract Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Value Has Been Acknowledged & Rewarded’

    Paddy Pimblett’s manager recently confirmed that “The Baddy” is staying put in the UFC, having inked an opulent new contract with the MMA promotion.

    The 29-year-old Scouser is set to battle seasoned lightweight King Green on the main card of UFC 304. The eighth numbered pay-per-view event of 2024 is slated for this Saturday at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    In the lead-up to the fight, Pimblett revealed that his sixth appearance in the Octagon would mark the conclusion of his current UFC contract. However, “The Baddy” raised eyebrows in an interview with MMA Junkie by hinting that he might step away from the MMA promotion in favor of high-profile boxing matches against YouTube influencers.

    This revelation didn’t sit well with many fans, as Pimblett is a shining star in the European MMA scene and his popularity makes him a prized gem in the UFC’s crown.

    To their relief, Pimblett’s manager and Cage Warriors promoter Graham Boylan recently confirmed on X that his client has re-signed with the MMA promotion.

    “The Baddy has signed a new deal with @ufc. He’s very happy to see his value has been acknowledged & handsomely rewarded. Congrats to all involved,” Boylan tweeted

    Pimblett Comments On New Contract With UFC

    In episode five of the UFC 304: Embedded Vlog Series, Pimblett personally confirmed that he has signed a fresh contract.

    Although the specifics of the Brit’s agreement remain undisclosed, he appeared enthusiastic while discussing the news.

    “New contract signed,” Pimblett said. “For all them ***** saying that I’m going anywhere, I’m not going nowhere, b*tch.”

    Pimblett continued his impressive run in the Octagon eight months ago, securing his fifth straight win with a dominant unanimous decision over Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 in December 2023.

  • UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC 304 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena provides a chance for UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    After recording a successful defenses at the expense of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, “Rocky” will look to settle unfinished business with Belal Muhammad after their 2021 UFC Fight Night headliner ended in a no contest.

    Title stakes also come in the co-main event, which will see Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall back in action. He defends the strap he captured with a brutal knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 304 card, Paddy Pimblett gets his first shot at the lightweight rankings opposite King Green, flyweight standouts Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape attempt to stake their claim for a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s gold, and Arnold Allen plans to get back on track in the featherweight division at the expense of Giga Chikadze.

    Ahead of the event, 27 out of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Jake Hadley’s one-pound miss of the bantamweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remained on Friday was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by all the faceoffs!

    UFC 304 Ceremonial Weigh-In Stream

    UFC 304 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs

  • Curtis Blaydes Names Lowest Moment In His Journey To The UFC Heavyweight Title: ‘That Was Like An 18-Hour Flight Home…’ 

    Curtis Blaydes Names Lowest Moment In His Journey To The UFC Heavyweight Title: ‘That Was Like An 18-Hour Flight Home…’ 

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes’ path to a first title shot this weekend has certainly had its ups and downs.

    Blaydes will finally compete with gold on the line in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view, where he’s tasked with unseating Tom Aspinall in the interim heavyweight champion’s home city of Manchester, England.

    The bout marks a rematch, with the pair previously colliding in London two years ago. While “Razor” had his hand raised on that occasion, the manner of victory — a knee injury to Aspinall after just 15 seconds — did little to advance his championship ambitions.

    And after being subsequently passed up for a shot at the then-vacant belt against Jon Jones in March 2023, a defeat to Sergei Pavlovich threatened to derail his pursuit of title glory once again.

    But Blaydes was able to bounce back from that defeat and earn his shot at the interim belt on July 27. That’s seemingly in part down to his history of bouncing back from tough moments inside the cage…

    Blaydes Looks Back On Difficult Ngannou Loss, Explains Attitude Toward Setbacks

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Blaydes looked ahead to his long-awaited first title opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage and reflected on the moments that have led up to this point.

    When asked at which point he felt the lowest regarding his title prospects, “Razor” pointed to his 45-second defeat to Francis Ngannou when they ran it back in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in China six years ago.

    “Probably after my rematch with Ngannou in 2018,” Blaydes said. “He was off of a loss against Derrick Lewis. I’m off a win against Alistair (Overeem) and Mark Hunt. I felt like I was like, heading in the right direction. Go off to Beijing, fight lasts like 15 seconds. I didn’t really get to perform any of the new skills and techniques that I had been developing over the years.

    “That was a long flight home. That was like an 18-hour flight home and just a lot of reflecting,” Blaydes continued. “When I lose, I’ve always viewed it as, as long as you’re able to take something from a loss, it’s not a total loss. I’ve been using that. When I have a loss, I take it, reflect, grow, and I do my best to not repeat the same mistakes.”

    Having bounced back from setbacks such as those opposite Ngannou, Blaydes will look to finally complete his ascent to the heavyweight mountaintop by upsetting the odds and the Manchester crowd come fight night at UFC 304.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Leon Edwards’ Trilogy Fight With Kamaru Usman Ahead Of UFC 304 Title Defense

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Leon Edwards’ Trilogy Fight With Kamaru Usman Ahead Of UFC 304 Title Defense

    UFC 304 headliner Leon Edwards got his title reign underway with a successful defense on home soil in March 2023.

    Edwards is set to main event this weekend’s pay-per-view event at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, where he’ll put the UFC’s 170-pound championship on the line against Belal Muhammad.

    Saturday’s contest marks Edwards’ second time competing in the United Kingdom since capturing the divisional crown in 2022. After unseating Kamaru Usman with a last-gasp head kick in Salt Lake City — leveling their score at one win apiece — the pair ran it back in England’s capital.

    Headlining UFC 286 in London, “Rocky” and “The Nigerian Nightmare” completed their trilogy fight, going the full five-round distance inside The O2. It was ultimately Edwards who had his hand raised on the scorecards, completing his second straight win over the welterweight legend in the process.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Edwards vs. Usman fight from UFC 286 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IESed0ndjn8

    After a successful stop-off to comfortably beat Colby Covington in Las Vegas last December, Edwards will be targeting an even more definitive result on home turf this weekend.

    He’s vowed to violently stall the championship ambitions of Muhammad in Manchester and move closer to Georges St-Pierre’s title defense record.

  • UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses

    UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses

    UFC 304 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    For the first time in almost a decade, the Octagon is in the English city of Manchester, marking the promotion’s first visit to a UK destination other than London since the COVID-19 outbreak.

    And the mixed martial arts leader has brought a lineup worthy of the occasion with it across the pond, with two title fights and a host of major undercard bouts set to go down.

    The championship bouts at the top of the card will see home favorites Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall put their pieces of gold on the line in rematches, with Belal Muhammad challenging for the welterweight strap and Curtis Blaydes vying for the interim heavyweight belt.

    Elsewhere on the card, Liverpool native Paddy Pimblett gets his first crack at the rankings opposite King Green, Arnold Allen looks to snap his losing skid at the expense of Giga Chikadze, and top flyweights Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape settle their bad blood in a potential title eliminator at 125 pounds.

    UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC 304 takes place Saturday, July 27, at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for a live stream of the UFC 304 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Championship Main Event: Leon Edwards (170lbs) vs. Belal Muhammad (169lbs)
    • Interim Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Tom Aspinall (251lbs) vs. Curtis Blaydes (256lbs)
    • Lightweight: King Green (154.5lbs) vs. Paddy Pimblett (156lbs)
    • Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan (185lbs) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (185lbs)
    • Featherweight: Arnold Allen (145lbs) vs. Giga Chikadze (146lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood (145lbs) vs. Daniel Pineda (146lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Molly McCann (116lbs) vs. Bruna Brasil (116lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Caolán Loughran (136lbs) vs. Jake Hadley (137lbs)*
    • Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas (204lbs) vs. Marcin Prachnio (205lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Oban Elliott (170lbs) vs. Preston Parsons (169lbs)
    • Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev (126lbs) vs. Manel Kape (125.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Sam Patterson (170lbs) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (171lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Mick Parkin (264lbs) vs. Łukasz Brzeski (235lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon (115lbs) vs. Alice Ardelean (116lbs)

    *Jake Hadley missed the bantamweight limit by one pound, fined 20 percent of his purse