As a result, Pimblett has found himself debuting in the top 15, meaning a whole new set of possible opponents lie in wait for the Liverpool native. One in particular has caught the former Cage Warriors champion’s eye, with Renato Moicano on the receiving end of his Octagon callout at UFC 304.
Moicano is currently set to headline the UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, this September opposite Benoît Saint Denis.
Should the result of that matchup leave a battle with the Brazilian off the table, Pimblett wouldn’t mind throwing down with one of Moicano’s fellow countrymen instead…
Pimblett Open To ‘Punching In’ Dos Anjos For Past Tweets
During a backstage interview with Full Send MMA, Pimblett reflected on his performance at UFC 304 and assessed what could be next in his journey up the lightweight ladder.
While he reiterated his desire to share the Octagon with Renato Moicano, Pimblett did entertain another name, former champion Rafael dos Anjos, who sits one place above him in the 155-pound rankings.
“There are some names. Renato beat Jalin though,” Pimblett said to shut down Turner as an option. “I’ve seen dos Anjos say himself that he’s moving up to welterweight; he’s not fighting at lightweight anymore. So you never know, I could end up moving up higher than 15 in the rankings if ‘RDA’s’ moving up.
“I also have seen ‘RDA’ tweet about me in the past, though. So if he wants his head punching in, I’ll punch his head in,” Pimblett continued. “But as I say, I’m thinking Moicano more than likely.”
Despite suggesting his lightweight stint was over following a knockout loss to Rafael Fiziev in 2022, “RDA” returned to the division unsuccessfully against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.
Following that setback, the Brazilian once again suggested he’ll only consider welterweight contests moving forward. But perhaps his past comments on Pimblett and the high-profile nature of that matchup could draw him back to 155 pounds.
In the aftermath of “The Baddy’s” win over Tony Ferguson last December, “RDA” branded Pimblett “terrible” and insisted he wouldn’t even need a fight camp to defeat him in the cage.
You guys didn’t get the joke. Pimblett is terrible. I would beat this kid without a fight camp
And in the aftermath of UFC 304, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.
Men’s Pound-For-Pound: In addition to reaching the mountaintop at 170 pounds, Belal Muhammad’s title-winning triumph over Leon Edwards this past weekend has seen him join the P4P rankings. The newly crowned welterweight champion has debuted at #6, with his defeated opponent dropping three spots to #7. Muhammad’s arrival has resulted in the removal of former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.
Also on a climb is the other man who left the Co-op Live with gold in his possession, Tom Aspinall. The interim heavyweight kingpin’s rapid knockout of Curtis Blaydes has seen him rise by two places to #9, jumping above Max Holloway (#10), Dricus Du Plessis (#11), and Alexandre Pantoja (#12).
The new welterweight king extended his unbeaten streak at #UFC304👑
He now has the 4th longest active unbeaten streak in the UFC 😤
Flyweight: After some controversial antics and a lackluster victory at UFC 304, Muhammad Mokaev evidently didn’t do enough to convince the promotion he was worth re-signing. As a result of his departure, “The Punisher” has been quickly removed from the 125-pound rankings. That’s paved the way for Cody Durden to return at #15.
The man he beat at UFC 304, Manel Kape, has fallen by one position to #9, with both Steve Erceg (#7) and Matheus Nicolau (#8) receiving two-spot boosts to jump above “Starboy.”
Bantamweight: No changes.
Featherweight: Arnold Allen’s decision win over Giga Chikadze in the early hours of Sunday morning was enough to secure his return to the top five at 145 pounds. “Almighty” has moved up by one spot to share the #5 place with former opponent Movsar Evloev.
Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett was among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 304, putting King Green to sleep with a triangle choke to record his first success over ranked opposition. As expected, the result has pushed “The Baddy” into contention, with the Liverpool native replacing Green at #15.
Welterweight: With Muhammad surging to the throne in Manchester, Edwards has slipped back to the #1 position as the leader in the chasing pack. That’s also left former champ Kamaru Usman one place worse off at #2.
Middleweight: No changes.
Light Heavyweight: No changes.
Heavyweight: After falling short in his first UFC title shot, Blaydes has been relegated to #5 in the heavyweight pecking order, with Sergei Pavlovich replacing him at #4 a month on from his defeat to Alexander Volkov in Saudi Arabia.
The energy from his walk out carried into the fight itself, where after Green shot for a takedown and “The Baddy” was able to showcase his submission skills off his back.
Green is no stranger to being on both sides of highlight reel finishes so this isn’t a new experience for him and as he said himself, it’s kill or be killed at his level.
“What a day. Thank you guys for checking in on me, I’m okay I guess. You know, s*** happens. Felt like I slipped into some s*** and it just all went the perfect way, I had a bad night. No excuses, s*** happens. I live by a code, kill or be killed. Today I got killed. Let the ridicule begin, you know, I know what comes with this. You guys can talk your s***, I know what comes with this. Let’s go.”
Watch Green’s Instagram story via MMA Crazy on YouTube below:
UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley looks to be extremely high on Paddy Pimblett’s lightweight title chances following this past weekend.
Pimblett was among the most prominent names in action at the UFC 304 pay-per-view, which took place in front of his home crowd at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.
Off the back of decision wins over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson, and amid plenty of doubt regarding his ability to compete with the best at 155 pounds, “The Baddy” had his first shot at cracking the rankings opposite King Green.
The result impressed most and has left Pimblett closer to his goal of touching gold on MMA’s biggest stage. And while that target remains a considerable distance and plenty of major victories away, O’Malley isn’t writing the Liverpool native off…
“Sugar” appeared impressed when Pimblett choked Green out cold, and he proved as much by suggesting that the Brit’s improvements could pave the way for a possible title crowning down the line.
“Paddy is f*cking focused, ready to go. Got two kids now. He does have skills, he does have f*cking good skills,” O’Malley said. “He’s out! He put him to sleep! Paddy just put Bobby to sleep! … That was f*cking beautiful. Damn, he’s still sleeping.
“That was sick, bro. Good for him. He answered a lot of questions,” O’Malley continued. “I guess I don’t know how good Bobby’s jiu-jitsu is. I’ve always thought of him as a f*cking brawler, but for Paddy to do that to a guy like Bobby Green is huge. It’s a massive win. … Paddy called out Renato Moicano. … Paddy could definitely be — I mean, if he wins the right fights, he could be champ.”
For now, Pimblett will be keeping a close eye on Tuesday’s rankings update before turning his attention to the upcoming Paris showdown between Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis on September 28.
Paddy Pimblett, who proudly calls himself a Scouser, has finally entered the top-15 rankings in the UFC lightweight division. His first-round submission win over King Green was one of the three finishes on the UFC 304 main card and prelims, helping him bag $200,000 in post-fight bonuses.
“The Baddy” has popularized the term Scouser by frequently mentioning it in post-fight interviews and other media interactions. Here’s everything to know about Pimblett’s accent and why he calls himself a scouser.
Why Does Paddy Pimblett Call Himself A Scouser?
Paddy Pimblett calls himself a scouser because he’s from Liverpool, England. The term was originally used for Liverpudlians because the Scandinavian lobscouse was prevalent in the region.
Scouse is the shortened form of lobscouse, a stew prepared in Scandinavian countries. Because Liverpool was a small fishing village, the Scandinavian lobscouse was an accessible dish for many struggling sailors.
Paddy Pimblett Reveals Where His Accent Is From
In October 2022, Pimblett revealed that he has a scouse accent which is native to Liverpool. He’s often confused with being Irish because the scouse accent is quite different from the usual English accent.
“A lot of people comment on my YouTube and think I’m Irish. A lot of people don’t realize I’m English. It’s just Scouse. It’s the way we talk. A lot of our own country, can’t really understand us.”
The uniqueness of the scouse accent can again be traced back to the sailing culture in Liverpool. By the 1890s, it had become prominent in the region due to the influence of sailors from Scandinavia, Dublin, and Northern Wales.
The scouse accent is another trait for which Liverpudlians are called Scousers. In MMA circles, the slang became quite famous as Pimblett used it after winning his UFC debut via first-round KO in September 2021.
When asked about getting caught with a left hook that could’ve knocked him out, here’s how “The Baddy” responded in the famous interview:
“You know me saying, lad. I’m a scouser, we don’t get knocked out. Hey, I take that s**t all day.”
Pimblett is now riding an impressive six-fight win streak in the UFC lightweight division. The undefeated prospect will most likely fight a ranked opponent next, and fans are excited to witness whether he can reach the title.
Paddy Pimblett made a huge statement at UFC 304, scoring an easy first-round submission of King Green in under four minutes and likely clinching a spot in the UFC’s lightweight rankings.
After Pimblett nailed Green with several low kicks early in the fight, the veteran American made a questionable decision by trying to take down “The Baddy,” who is a grappling expert. Pimblett countered with a guillotine before transitioning into a triangle choke, which Pimblett told ESPN MMA’s Megan Olivi after the fight is his favorite kind of submission.
As Pimblett looked for an armbar, Green could be seen unconscious, giving him a submission win.
When Pimblett reflected on how the fight played out, he expressed concern that others might move the goal posts and say that Green, who was ranked No. 15, is not the kind of quality opponent to get him into the rankings.
The Liverpool native, however, had a counterargument in mind.
“First person in the UFC to submit Bobby Green, and that’s like his 25th UFC fight or something like that,” Pimblett said. “Even Islam [Makhachev] couldn’t do that. But people are going to keep underestimating me. People are going to move the goal posts now and say, ‘Oh Bobby is finished, Bobby this, Bobby that,’ when last week it was, ‘Bobby’s going to beat Paddy up. Bobby’s going to do this to him, he’s going to do that, he’s going to dog-walk him.’ What happened?”
Paddy Pimblett May Be Cageside For Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis In Paris After UFC 304 Win
In the Octagon at UFC 304, Pimblett called out Renato Moicano for his next fight. Though the two have had exchanges on social media, the Brazilian s currently booked to face Benoît Saint Denis in Paris on September 28.
While Pimblett hopes to be placed at No. 10 in the rankings, he will take being at No. 15, as he looks up toward other contenders to continue his momentum and rise up the 155 ranks.
“Before this Bobby Green fight got made, me and Renato were speaking about each other on Twitter,” Pimblett said. “A lot of people up front of me in the rankings can’t really say no. The only thing about Renato now is that he’s got a fight. He’s fighting BSD in Paris. You never know, might end up going out there. Might end up being cageside for that.”
Moicano and Saint Denis are set to headline the upcoming UFC Fight Night in the French capital, with the former looking to build on his momentum from a knockout of Jalin Turner at UFC 300 and “God of War” hoping to bounce back from his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299.
On Saturday night, the mixed martial arts leader returned for its latest pay-per-view event, UFC 304.
For the past week, the promotion has been back in the United Kingdom. Why, then, was I still stating up until 7 AM, UFC? Dana White? Anybody? Pre-warning, I planned to do my best not to selfishly write that as a negative for my fellow Brits and I. Was I successful? No comment.
Regardless of the disappointing timings, nothing was disappointing about the lineup the UFC brought with it across the pond, topped by title defenses for welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards and interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall.
Before Belal Muhammad and Curtis Blaydes looked to bring shouts of ‘and new’ to the Octagon, Paddy Pimblett had his first opportunity at cracking the lightweight rankings against King Green, Arnold Allen attempted to snap his losing skid at the expense of Giga Chikadze, and Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape vied for potential number one contender status at 125 pounds.
Elsewhere, notable British names like Christian Leroy Duncan, Molly McCann, Nathaniel Wood, and Mick Parkin all looked to leave Manchester’s Co-op Live arena with victories. But did they come together to form an entertaining night of fights?
Let’s find out with all the positives and negatives from UFC 304.
I can’t remember the last time a fight at a UFC PPV event pitted two opponents against one another who quite clearly aren’t up to the standard that should be required for someone to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Excuse me, I should have said “couldn’t remember,” past tense. I now can remember: Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean.
The Irishwoman arrived in the UFC as a promising prospect last year off the back of a win under the Invicta FC banner. But she flopped on debut, struggling to land any meaningful offense in a decision defeat to Bruna Brasil. Saturday’s opening bout gave her the opportunity to erase the memory of that result with a strong sophomore performance. In that sense, she didn’t exactly succeed.
“Mama B” was tasked with facing a late-notice replacement opponent in Ardelean. The Romanian’s signing raised eyebrows, with most acknowledging her fairly underwhelming record and skillset while suggesting a social media following was the leading cause of her UFC arrival.
The fight was ultimately a close one with about as much quality as the kind of food the fans inside the Co-op Live would have picked up from Manchester kebab shops in the early hours.
Ardelean is certainly not at the level the UFC should require. And given her struggles en route to a lackluster decision win, it’s hard to say that Bannon is.
With an 11 PM start time, the last thing the UK fans needed was a dud to start.
When these two entered the cage, it was perhaps still too early for an in-cage alarm to be required. But Parkin, in particular, sent one ringing around Manchester with a thunderous…forearm?!
Regular readers will know my feeling on the heavyweight division (and the UFC’s habit of placing the likes of Shamil Gaziev in main event spots this year). With that, it’s always a relief to see them early on a card. The home favorite on Saturday night, however, brought feelings of relief for a different reason.
Rather than the feared three-round heavyweight slog, Parkin needed less than four minutes to dispatch Łukasz Brzeski for UFC 304’s first finish. The damage was initially done by a clean overhand right that had “The Bull” on skates. While he survived the onslaught that followed for a time, his panicky evasive manoeuvers ultimately saw his head meet the forearm of Parkin, who had thrown a left hook.
Patterson subsequently gave us the triad of fight results, following Bannon’s decision and Parkin’s knockout with a submission victory over Kiefer Crosbie. Like his compatriot’s work beforehand, “The Future” needed just one round to have his hand raised, locking his Irish opponent in an arm-triangle choke for the quick tap.
The Englishman was highly touted prior to a disappointing debut in London last year. But having now won consecutive fights via first-round submissions, Patterson is well and truly back on the radar as one of the welterweight division’s most promising up-and-comers.
Negative – Wolf Tickets
To those who bought into Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape’s “bitter feud” and expected them to do away with their habit of putting on dull affairs at UFC 304, I’m afraid to say you were conned.
It took just a minute into the fight to see what was happening. After a hotel “brawl,” some “hold me back” energy at the ceremonial weigh-ins, and the apparent attempt to get at each other in the cage pre-fight, Mokaev and Kape stayed at range feinting.
The rest of the fight was predictable from there. And while some have turned their nose up at the scorecards, the rounds were so lackluster and absent of effective offense that I’m not sure there could be any logical fury over whatever the judges were to come out with.
But, we did have a real reason for fury in round two: Mike Beltran.
After getting Kape to the mat for the first time in round two, Mokaev displayed some of the most egregious cheating in recent memory by yanking “Starboy’s” shorts down and giving the cageside guests a view of his backside.
To not take a point is frankly diabolical. Congratulations, Mike, you can shout loud. Would you like a certificate? Why not do something actual consequential and take a point for such a blatant foul?
Not only was no point taken, Beltran wasn’t even going to pause the fight and take the position away from Mokaev until Kape practically spelled it out to him.
Whether it’s eye pokes, fence grabs, or de-clothing your foe, rules do not exist in mixed martial arts. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, why wouldn’t you cheat when such incompetence comes out of the third men inside the Octagon?
Positive – Bruna’s Brutal Body Blows
It was always going to take something special to write a Molly McCann loss in the positive section, but Bruna Brasil gave it to us on Saturday night. In fact, she gave it to us multiple times.
So, what was special, I hear you ask? Bruna’s body shots, that’s what.
The focus pre-fight was all on McCann and how she appeared to have reinvented herself as a strawweight when she submitted Diana Belbiță in her divisional debut this past February. Because of that, an accomplished striker in Brasil was a ridiculously big underdog given the holes we’ve seen in “Meatball’s” game.
But the Brazilian made a mockery of the betting lines in a round one that verged on a 10-8. “The Special One” delivered a relentless attack to the home fighter’s body, drawing out major reactions with a few vicious knees and kicks to the midsection.
While she found less success in rounds two and three en route to a comfortable decision, Brasil’s violent assault of McCann’s body early was enough to leave a lasting impression. And with two wins on UK soil under the UFC banner, perhaps England is her good luck charm.
Just as the early hours began to take their toll and the crowd inside the Co-op Live faded, Paddy Pimblett arrived to wake them up.
It’s been a difficult period for “The Baddy,” who has had his momentum stalled by injuries and a controversial win over Jared Gordon back in late 2022. His subsequent performance against Tony Ferguson did little to stifle his detractors given “El Cucuy’s” age and losing skid.
With that, Pimblett vowed to get the fans back on his side by running through King (still feels odd to write) Green at UFC 304 — a claim not many took seriously. While a win was never going to be a massive shock, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone predicting one-way traffic and a quick finish.
But that is exactly what we got in Manchester, with a composed Pimblett picking Green apart on the feet in the opening exchanges before punishing the American’s bizarre decision to shoot for a takedown.
After Green slipped out of a guillotine, Pimblett locked in a tight triangle choke, adding in an armbar to the equation just as the ranked contender lost consciousness, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
If Pimblett’s three UFC fights in the UK have taught us anything, it’s that he can always be counted on to create an atmosphere. And his latest triumph has certainly taught his doubters that they were wrong to dismiss his chances of earning a number next to his name on MMA’s biggest stage.
If it wasn’t already clear after he starched Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds last November to win the “interim” gold, it sure is now after he stopped Curtis Blaydes in just 60. Aspinall’s first clean shot sat “Razor” down, and the American wasn’t unable to show enough defense on the floor to avoid Marc Goddard’s intervention.
With the win, Aspinall not only defended his title but also made the most of his chance to right the wrong from 2022 when a freak knee injury opposite Blaydes handed him his only Octagon setback to date.
So, what’s next for Aspinall? Well, if it’s not a unification fight with Jones, both the former two-time light heavyweight kingpin and the UFC should get significant backlash from the community.
And if Jones does indeed fight Stipe Miocic in a “legacy fight” that will do nothing for his legacy before retiring, his deliberate avoidance of Aspinall will mark a sizable stain on the back end of his career.
Fight the man, Jones.
Negative – Silly
I hate to conclude things with a complaint, but seriously, what was the UFC thinking?
At my desk, I was struggling to stay awake for a hefty chunk of the UFC 304 main card. I can’t even imagine feeling like that while in attendance at the Co-op Live, and it’s no wonder the atmosphere was absent for much of it.
Of course, Paddy Pimblett’s entrance and the memorable wins for him and Tom Aspinall brought out the kind of cheers and reaction expected of a UK crowd. But just before that, Christian Leroy Duncan and Gregory Rodrigues fought out an entertaining and bloody battle amid complete silence.
Post-event, Dana White had the nerve to criticize fighters for not being motivated by the $100,000 bonuses, stating he’ll never raise them under pressure at press conferences ever again. How about never making athletes compete at 3, 4, and 5 AM again? Maybe that had something to do with it?
The likes of Edwards had to compete in the early hours because the idea of American fans watching an event at 4 PM instead of 10 PM was apparently too crazy to entertain. Do better, UFC.
What this guy said 👇
Whose dumb idea was it to have a UFC card at 4 AM in England? Why couldn't they have just pushed this main card up to 7 PM EST United States time? No wonder the crowd is exhausted #UFC304
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
Damn. That was impressive! One mistake is all it takes. #UFC304
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.
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.
Muhammad beating Edwards tonight in an all-time snooze fest decision.
— Silva and Gold Sports Talk (@silvagoldsports) July 27, 2024
Notice how Dana White hasn't been asked any questions about him fucking over UFC fans in the UK by putting on a UK card and having the main event at 5 am. He has the media on strings. #UFC304
For Blaydes and Tom, I like Tom but I like Blaydes more. I think he’s been overlooked & disrespected in general in his career, & being the older man I want him to capitalize on this chance. Tom WILL have his spotlight. Rooting for the veteran fighter/American, slightly.#UFC304
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)
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.
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
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. 👊🏼
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.
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!
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.
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
UFC lightweight veteran King Green hasn’t liked a number of things he’s seen from upcoming opponent Paddy Pimblett in recent years.
Green and Pimblett are tasked with setting the stage for the two title fights that will top the lineup at this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event, which goes down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.
While the 37-year-old Californian remained in the rankings courtesy of his victory over Jim Miller at UFC 300 this past April, Saturday’s clash marks “The Baddy’s” first opportunity to crack the divisional top 15.
The matchup itself has been a while in the making, with Green first addressing a possible showdown with the Liverpool native while recording him on Instagram Live while both were in attendance at a UFC event back in 2022.
And when it comes to his desire to throw down with Pimblett, Green has his reasons…
Green: ‘Spoiled’ Pimblett Has Gotten ‘Drunk Off Of Winning’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBfV63dFVkU
During a fight week interview with Adam Catterall for TNT Sports, Green looked ahead to his latest Octagon appearance, which marks his 50th fight as a professional mixed martial artist.
Explaining why he set his sights on sharing the cage with Pimblett a number of years ago, King took aim at “The Baddy’s” attitude and how he’s handled winning on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I said his name first. I just felt like Paddy was the brash, mouthy, spoiled kid,” Green said. “There’s a lot of guys that want the same opportunities as he’s gotten. He’s got his own podcast, I heard (he got) a million dollars for his own podcast, and to do this, and then he’s asking Ariel to pay him (for interviews)! Ariel doesn’t even pay Conor (McGregor), so why would he pay you?!
“It’s like, certain guys don’t realize you’re the kid. Now that you’re in that position, you’re mistreating it,” Green continued. “All you have to do is be happy, smile, and then the whole world is yours kid. They’ll give you all the right fights; they’re taking care of you. Man, he’s just acting spoiled. He thinks he’s the sh*t. He’s gotten drunk off of winning.”
With those beliefs in mind, Green will be looking to hand Pimblett a reality check come fight night in Manchester this weekend.
The main event will see UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards run it back with Belal Muhammad in defense of his title on home soil. The rematch comes over three years on from their UFC Fight Night headliner in 2021 ending in a no contest.
Also competing with gold on the line will be Manchester’s own Tom Aspinall, who makes a rare defense of an interim title. After capturing the heavyweight belt at the expense of Sergei Pavlovich last November, the Brit will share the cage again with Curtis Blaydes, against whom a serious knee injury saw him suffer his first UFC loss back in 2022.
Elsewhere on the main card, Paddy Pimblett will be back in action for the first time since outpointing Tony Ferguson last December and English featherweight Arnold Allen meets the striking challenge of Georgia’s Giga Chikadze. And earlier in the night, top flyweights Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape are set to battle for a potential title shot.
UFC 304: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 304 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, and Tyriece Simon have provided their picks for the five major matchups set for Saturday night.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through three cards.
Thomas Albano (12-2)
Tyriece Simon (11-3)
Ryan Jarrell (9-5)
Kyle Dimond (8-6)
Andrew Starc (5-4)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 304.
Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: Chikadze is an incredibly dangerous striker but I’m not overly sold yet on his ability to compete with the best in this weight class. Allen, on the other hand, has been tested at that same level, and while he didn’t get his hand raised against Max Holloway or Movsar Evloev, he showed that he’s not far off.
The Brit has more weapons at his disposal and this will likely be key for him in this fight. Allen is a well-polished jack of all trades, but striking with Chikadze is never going to be his best route to victory. “Almighty” is disciplined enough on the feet to avoid getting caught with something massive, and through mixing in his takedowns across 15 minutes, he’ll return to the win column on home soil. (Prediction: Arnold Allen)
Ryan Jarrell: I love watching Chikadze fight. He has a fan-friendly style and can end the fight at any moment with his precise striking. But stylistically, this is a bad matchup for him. Allen is five years younger and much closer to his prime years than the Georgian is. I expect “Almighty” to dictate where the fights takes place and win a decision. (Prediction: Arnold Allen)
Thomas Albano: It’s sad that this fight is not getting the attention that it should, because it is a solid opener for a UK pay-per-view. Allen may be coming off back-to-back losses, but those were his first two defeats in the UFC, and they weren’t bad considering the guys who beat him were Holloway and Evolev. Chikadze, meanwhile, has won all but one of his fights in the Octagon, with three of his last four victories coming from highlight finishes. And his one loss? Calvin Kattar – a solid name at 145 pounds.
Considering both of these guys like to strike and bring powerful pressure, this one should be a fun way to get some early heat going for the main show. Overall, I think Allen is slightly better all-around, and I feel the younger fighter, a TriStar product, will use all of the skills in his toolbox to score a solid decision win. (Prediction: Arnold Allen)
Tyriece Simon: This matchup is my prediction to be the Fight of the Night. Both like to keep the fight on their feet and put on entertaining performances for the fans. Allen comes into the fight on a losing streak, but it was against top competition in Holloway and Evloev. I think “Almighty” will rebound against Chikadze and get back on track in the featherweight division.
The Georgian kickboxer has been out of action for nearly a year and could experience ring rust earlier in the fight. Allen also has notable grappling ability with a 50 percent takedown accuracy. The Brit could give Chikadze issues if he mixes the threat of a takedown and striking to keep his opponent guessing, which Calvin Kattar was able to do. I think Allen will use this game plan to outpace his opponent to win a decision in his home country. (Prediction: Arnold Allen)
Consensus: 4-0 Arnold Allen
Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: The fight to potentially decide who the next flyweight title challenger should never be this low on any card. The fight is quite simple in my mind: if Mokaev takes him down and keeps him there, he wins. At the same time, I don’t see a world in which Kape loses the striking battle. I’m not confident that “Starboy” will be able to sharpshoot his way to a win here and can see Mokaev doing everything he can to grab ahold of him. Similar to the Alex Perez fight, I think “The Punisher” stays undefeated in a bit of a cagey contest (apologies for the pun) that goes the distance. (Prediction: Muhammad Mokaev)
Ryan Jarrell: We are going to find out just how good Mokaev is in this fight. One worry I do have when it comes to Kape is his inactivity. He hasn’t been as active as his undefeated opponent has been, and I wonder if that will play a factor in the fight. Mokaev is 6-0 in the UFC and 11-0 overall. He is a very dangerous fighter on the ground, and if the fight hits the mat, I think Kape is in big trouble.
Ultimately, I expect “The Punisher” to avoid the big shots from the dangerous striker and get this fight to the ground in each and every round while cruising to a somewhat boring decision victory. (Prediction: Muhammad Mokaev)
Thomas Albano: It’s awful to see how far this fight has fallen, and it makes you question what is going on behind the scenes. These two are amazing flyweight competitors, and recent events have seen the two of them get into it at the fighter hotel. My prayer at this point is that this is just a random UFC decision to boost prelims and not a weight or contractual concern.
This feels like a traditional grappler vs. striker matchup. Some people on social media have been laying it in on Mokaev, saying he’ll just sit on Kape for 15 minutes and then complain about not being next in line for a title shot. But when you have the wrestling and submission grappling background like he does, and with him knowing that he needs a big performance to convince UFC brass to give him Alexandre Pantoja next, you bet he’s going to look to take Kape down, do damage and find the tap-out as often as possible.
It’s sad various issues have prevented us from seeing all that we could of Kape in the Octagon. His punches helped lead him to a title in RIZIN, and he has the ability to test Mokaev’s chin in this one. But it feels like “The Punisher” will be ready for what Kape is going to bring from his hands – or that “Starboy” may be underestimating the grappling abilities of Mokaev, likely leading to a submission for the Brit. (Prediction: Muhammad Mokaev)
Tyriece Simon: I’m really excited about this fight, as the winner could be next in line for a title opportunity. Mokaev has leaned on his grappling ability to dominate his opponents for most of his UFC career. I believe he will have the same game plan against Kape. “Starboy” has good takedown defense, but I think he’ll have difficulty dealing with Mokaev’s grappling. Another problem can be how the weight cut will affect the former Rizin bantamweight champion. He has missed weight in the past, including a recent issue that led to his rematch against Matheus Nicolau being canceled earlier this year.
If he successfully makes weight for his fight against Mokaev, I believe Kape’s cardio might be affected by the multiple takedowns he’ll have to defend. I have “The Punisher” dominating the Angola-born Portuguese flyweight en route to either a finish or a decision victory. (Prediction: Muhammad Mokaev)
Consensus: 4-0 Muhammad Mokaev
Lightweight: King Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This, along with the co-main event, is the toughest one to call for me. Pimblett has the size, power, and finishing ability to bully Green early on and overwhelm him. The issue with this is that Green is an excellent matador, and we’ve seen him time and time again just dance his way around the Octagon and light opponents up with his fast hands. “The Baddy” can be caught, but for me, it’s whether he’s able to smother Green quick enough to avoid getting tagged repeatedly. Pimblett has to make this ugly. I can see him getting his hand raised via submission in round two, but not without blood coming out of his nose first. (Prediction: Paddy Pimblett)
Ryan Jarrell: The trash talk leading into this fight will be so much fun. I expect the fight to deliver as well. We are going to find out a lot about Pimblett in the contest. Green is a tough matchup and his unusual striking could be problematic for “The Baddy.” The last person to submit Green was David Mitchell in 2009. It would be a huge feather in Pimblett’s cap to do it at UFC 304.
I don’t expect the Liverpool native to get the submission, but his best chance to win this fight is to take it to the ground and keep Green on his back. I think Pimblett will do it enough to win a close decision over the American. (Prediction: Paddy Pimblett)
Thomas Albano: After turning away a former UFC lightweight champion who is a shell of his former self in Ferguson, Pimblett now gets another step up in competition when he takes on Green. The veteran may be past his prime, but the fact he is still winning fights and staying competitive with notable contenders at 155 pounds should give him nothing short of praise. And after a controversial win over Jared Gordon in December 2022, and not seeing him again until a win (by decision, not finish, mind you) against Ferguson in December 2023, Pimblett is going to need a big performance on the British stage.
The keys to victory for this one should bring us a typical striker vs. grappler battle. Green should look to be himself, landing powerful shots – mixing them up between distance and the pocket – and defending any of Pimblett’s takedown attempts. “The Baddy,” meanwhile, should look to do some damage to make it easier to get the fight to the ground, where he has the best chance of winning. As Pimblett is the younger fighter with better movement and more upward trajectory, I’m going to side with him. But this is going to be a tall order. He needs to be locked in on fight night to put on the kind of showing that can get him back on track toward a spot in the lightweight rankings. (Prediction: Paddy Pimblett)
Tyriece Simon: Pimblett enters the fight confident that he’ll get past Green and join the lightweight rankings. He had an impressive performance over Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 last year, but most agree that “El Cucuy” isn’t the same fighter he once was. Regardless, he showed improvement in his striking and was able to outland the former interim champ. Green presents a different challenge as he has demonstrated that he is still there or thereabouts in his fighting prime and will have an overwhelming advantage on the feet.
Pimblett has had issues absorbing too many strikes and has been stunned in past fights. Green’s speed, punching power, and accuracy will be brutal for the Liverpudlian. The veteran does also boast 74 percent takedown defense accuracy, making the matchup more difficult for Pimblett. I’m unsure if Green will finish “The Baddy,” but he can outwork the fan favorite to a decision. (Prediction: King Green)
Consensus: 3-1 Paddy Pimblett
Interim UFC Heavyweight Title: Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: I agree with the “interim” heavyweight champion that Blaydes is the toughest stylistic match-up for him in the heavyweight division. Aspinall will be too quick for him on the feet but the issue with that is the Brit is not a distance striker. He tends to stun heavyweights by reaching them with strikes by exploding into range when they think they’re outside it. To do that against “Razor” puts him in constant danger of running into a big shot or a takedown.
I think this fight will test Aspinall. He will have difficult moments, but he’s a very smart grappler who should be able to keep himself safe if the fight hits the floor. As Blaydes’ gas tank begins to wear, I think Aspinall might build into it and get stronger. Every round starts standing, and as we’ve seen many times, the interim champion only needs a minute to find the winning punch. I expect him to find it in round three. (Prediction: Tom Aspinall)
Ryan Jarrell: Unlike the main event, this is a rematch that I am very excited about. The first fight ended the way that none of us wanted it to. Luckily enough for us, we get a rematch when both fighters are still smack in the middle of their primes. I am a huge fan of Blaydes, but unfortunately for him, he has to face the best heavyweight (in my opinion) of today’s generation. Aspinall is as well rounded as it gets, and I would be extremely surprised if he doesn’t dominate this fight and end it by way of knockout early, if not in the very first round. (Prediction: Tom Aspinall)
Thomas Albano: Like the headliners for this pay-per-view, Aspinall and Blaydes have their own form of unfinished business. We barely got to see any of their first contest, with Aspinall tearing his MCL mere seconds into the fight. Prior to his injury, the Englishman was one of the best prospects rising the ranks the UFC had, and his momentum has not stopped since returning a year ago. Aspinall used his explosive power and finishing ability, turning it into an interim title win at UFC 295. In fact, considering the ongoings of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, some might consider Aspinall the true champion of the UFC’s heavyweight division. But before Aspinall can look toward bigger aspirations of being undisputed champion, he has to get through the only man, injury or not, that holds a win over him in the Octagon.
Just like his fellow Chicago-born UFC title challenger at UFC 304 in Belal Muhammad, Blaydes’ wrestling is his key to victory. Though “Razor” holds devastating power like Aspinall, he also has a wrestling pedigree, holding the UFC heavyweight record for most takedowns in a fight. Like some of his previous performances, the finish of Aspinall would best come on the ground. That said, it’s going to be easier said than done against the interim champ, who will look to keep distance and land his powerful punching from there. The power may be just too much for Blaydes in this one, as Aspinall continues to be the face of the UFC’s heavyweight division – whether or not Jones is the undisputed king. (Prediction: Tom Aspinall)
Tyriece Simon: Fans should expect Aspinall to come into this matchup extra motivated to avenge his defeat to Blaydes. Their first fight lasted 15 seconds, with the interim champion injuring his knee after stepping back from landing a leg kick. I believe the fight will give fans more of a decisive winner without any doubt about who the better fighter is. That is why I lean toward Aspinall being victorious in his home country.
I think the Brit has the advantage if the fight stays standing with good head movement and hand speed. Blaydes has not relied on his grappling lately, showing his striking has improved. He also shared that he doesn’t intend to change his gameplan for the rematch, so I expect him to want to stand in front of Aspinall for a knockout. I think Blaydes’ strategy benefits Aspinall for counters that could put the challenger in trouble. If “Razor” utilizes his grappling, it could swing the momentum in his favor. But I think Blaydes will feel confident standing with the interim champion, and I believe Aspinall will catch him for a knockout. (Prediction: Tom Aspinall)
Consensus: 4-0 Tom Aspinall
UFC Welterweight Title: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: Muhammad has been on a great run, but having seen Edwards deal with wrestling specialists in the past, it’s hard to see how he wins this fight. If he is able to land takedowns, I’m not sure he’ll be able to keep “Rocky” down, land damage, and do that for enough rounds to win a decision. The champion has shown that he’s excellent at chipping away at opponents without leaving himself open for being taken down, and when the likes of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington have closed the gap on him, he’s been more than happy to test his grappling against theirs.
Like many, I’m not expecting a particularly exhilarating fight, but the welterweight title is staying in England by way of a decision. (Prediction: Leon Edwards)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a rematch a lot of people are eagerly anticipating. I am not one of those people. I thoroughly expect Edwards to stuff takedowns and keep this fight where he wants it (on the feet) and cruise to a decision victory. The reigning welterweight champion is the better fighter, and as long as his takedown defense holds up, there is no way he loses this fight. (Prediction: Leon Edwards)
Thomas Albano: For as much as some people may not be a fan of this matchup, it always proves to be interesting when thinking about two guys who come into a bout on the kinds of win streaks like Edwards and Muhammad. “Rocky” hasn’t lost since 2015, winning the welterweight title in the spectacular fashion as he did and turning away Kamaru Usman (in a trilogy fight) and Colby Covington last year. Muhammad, meanwhile, is unbeaten since 2019. The only time neither guy hasn’t come out on top in those spans was when they fought each other to a no contest in 2021. Now, it’s time for unfinished business to be settled.
Though Muhammad’s wrestling hasn’t won him the most fans, it’s won him most of his fights. It’s the key to his success. He should look for the takedown, keep the fight on the ground, and look to overwhelm Edwards with a variety of attacks and keep him pinned to the floor. That, however, will be easier said than done when the champ has made strides in his own grappling abilities over the years. Combine that with Edwards’ kickboxing and he is just the overall more well-rounded fighter. Edwards won the sole round scored when they faced off in 2021, and perhaps that’s how this fight plays out. (Prediction: Leon Edwards)
Tyriece Simon: Edwards and Muhammad are coming into the matchup in phenomenal shape for their long-awaited rematch. In their first fight from 2021, “Rocky” overwhelmed his rival in the first round. I think Edwards has gotten better and has the skillset to give Muhammad a formidable challenge to overcome. Both like to outwork their opponents by mixing up their striking and grappling for dominant decision wins.
The Brit does have the reach advantage to utilize his jab to keep Muhammad on the outside. UFC analytics also shows that Muhammad absorbs more significant strikes than Edwards, which could be a factor as he tries to get on the inside for a takedown attempt. If the challenger gets on the inside, Edwards has good takedown defense, making putting him on the ground difficult. Fans should also expect sharp elbows from the champion if they engage in the clinch position. This fight can lean either way, but I believe Edwards will outpoint Muhammad to retain his title. (Prediction: Leon Edwards)
Consensus: 4-0 Leon Edwards
That’ll do it for our UFC 304 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 304 card below.
Main Card:
Welterweight Championship Main Event: Leon Edwards (C) vs. Belal Muhammad
Interim Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Tom Aspinall (IC) vs. Curtis Blaydes
Lightweight: King Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Featherweight: Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda
Women’s Strawweight: Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil
Bantamweight: Caolán Loughran vs. Jake Hadley
Light Heavyweight: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons
Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape
Welterweight: Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie
Heavyweight: Mick Parkin vs. Łukasz Brzeski
Women’s Strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Alice Ardelean
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 304!
We’re deep into UFC 304 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the top fighters set to be in action on July 27 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the headliners will be another championship rematch, with interim heavyweight kingpin Tom Aspinall looking to continue the momentum from his title-winning knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. To do so, he must achieve redemption against Curtis Blaydes two years on from a serious knee injury on the side of the Brit bringing their London-held main event to a close in just 15 seconds.
Also of note on the main card is the first shot at earning a ranking for lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett as he looks to take King Green’s number. Opening proceedings on pay-per-view will be #6-ranked featherweight Arnold Allen. He has the chance to bounce back from two defeats to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev by defending his spot on the ladder and stalling the ambitions of Giga Chikadze.
And earlier in the night, there’s an opportunity for another home fighter in Muhammad Mokaev to secure a first shot at the flyweight title at the expense of Manel Kape.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 304 edition saw the four title fight athletes, as well as Pimblett and Green, with mic in hand.
Check out a full replay of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 25, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Gordon believes Muhammad can catch Edwards off guard
Video shows Ferguson’s boxing success against Pimblett
Former Jones rival backs Aspinall to beat him
Jared Gordon Says Belal Muhammad Can Surprise Leon Edwards On The Feet
His winning streak has been very impressive but in the champion Leon Edwards, he faces a very tough test at UFC 304 this weekend.
It doesn’t take an expert analyst to break down why the challenger’s wrestling will be crucial in this fight if he is able to take Edwards’ striking game away from him.
During a fight week interview with InsideFighting, his teammate Jared Gordon broke down how he sees the fight playing out.
“I see Belal surprising him on the feet and I think his pressure and the later rounds is what’s going to separate them and Belal always does better in the later rounds where Leon tends to fade, you know. So I think Belal’s going to have to get through that first round, second round, and then he’s going to cook him.”
Social Media Video Shows Tony Ferguson Repeatedly Landing Straight Punches Against Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett will face the toughest test of his UFC run to date this weekend when he takes on King Green in Manchester.
This is something he’s been working on extensively in recent times and against the boxing skills of Green, it’s sure to be a major factor at UFC 304.
A recent highlights compilation posted on X showed how Tony Ferguson was able to have success against Pimblett at UFC 296 by utilizing his straight punches.
“El Cucuy” didn’t deal a whole lot of damage in the fight but he was able to consistently land these shots.
With Green being known for his speed and combinations, not taking too many jabs or straights may have been a significant part of the Brit’s training camp for this next outing.
Alexander Gustafsson Says He Can See Tom Aspinall Beating Jon Jones If They Ever Fight
There aren’t many fighters that know Jon Jones better than his former light heavyweight rival, Alexander Gustaffson.
“The Mauler” fought tooth and nail with “Bones” 11 years ago in one of the best title fights we’ve ever seen and met him for a second time in a rematch.
Despite interim champion Tom Aspinall returning to defend his title this weekend against Curtis Blaydes, the match-up that many have been speaking about is the Brit taking on Jones at some stage.
Gustaffson spoke in a recent interview with Crypto Sports Betting (h/t FightBook MMA) where he said that if the fight happens, he believes England’s Aspinall has what it takes to be the first man to beat the consensus greatest of all time.
“Yes, I think Tom will be too much for Jon. He has all the weapons to beat Jon. Jon hasn’t been that active, but he’s still the GOAT. You can never count this guy out, he’s so freaking good at what he does. He’s handled every opponent and everybody knows how good he is, but Aspinall right now, I see him as very dangerous for Jon,” Gustafsson continued. “He’s dangerous on his feet, he’s fast, he has great footwork, and he’s a smart fighter. He has the tools to do good against Jon and even beat him. If they will fight, now is the time for Aspinall. He could go down as one of the best heavyweights ever.”
There appears to be no bad blood between UFC lightweights Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon following their high-profile 2022 fight.
The pair are both in the English city of Manchester for different assignments this week, While Pimblett is gearing up for his first fight of 2024, Gordon has crossed the pond to train with and support Belal Muhammad in the lead-up to his title shot in the UFC 304 main event.
Before the two title fights set to play out inside the Co-op Live arena, Pimblett will stake his claim for a spot in the lightweight top 15 against King Green. And with a dominant performance on Saturday night, “The Baddy” has vowed to get the fanbase back on his side.
The hype surrounding Pimblett has appeared to fade in recent years, making way for frequent waves of criticism. The catalyst for that was seemingly the controversial result of his first appearance on pay-per-view.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t created any tension between the Liverpool native and the man he narrowly outpointed at the Las Vegas-held UFC 282 in December 2022.
Pimblett, Gordon Reunite In Manchester Ahead Of UFC 304
On that night, Pimblett received his toughest test to date against Gordon. The veteran was competitive throughout and had plenty of fighters, fans, and pundits backing him to get the nod on the scorecards.
Funnily enough, during a recent friendly interaction at the fighter hotel in Manchester ahead of UFC 304, Pimblett told Gordon that he believes the American was actually robbed last time out against Nasrat Haqparast in Saudi Arabia.
Before parting ways, Gordon wished Pimblett well for his clash this weekend with Green, who marks a shared opponent for the pair.
“Flash,” who was knocked out in April 2023 after an accidental clash of heads that resulted in a no contest, told “The Baddy” he foresees a stoppage victory for him come fight night at UFC 304.
A former member of the roster recently jokingly remarked that this name change could be the secret weapon for Green as he looks to pull off the win in enemy territory.
Tyson Pedro Jokes That King Green’s Name Change Will Give Him Even More Confidence Than Before
Fox Sports previewed all the action that is set to take place on July 27 via mainevent where they were joined by several of the stars of UFC 304.
Before Pimblett joined the show, the panel gave their thoughts on the fight with featherweight contender Josh Culibao and former UFC light heavyweight Tyson Pedro breaking down the match-up.
Pedro, who fought 11 times in the UFC before retiring in March, believes that Pimblett’s ground game will be crucial to him winning this fight.
During his analysis on where “The Baddy” poses the biggest challenge to his opponent, Pedro mixed up Green’s names for a split second before correcting himself.
He joked how the #15-ranked lightweight is going to come into this fight with even more confidence than normal after changing his name to King.
“I would say that’s where he would be leaning towards beating Bobby, King I should say. King Green. That’s probably the biggest thing that he needs to worry about, the name change. The confidence that he’s going to have from the name change is going to be big. But yeah, I would say that that’s where he’s going to try and beat him right, on the ground, but it’s a hard fight.”
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 24, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Ngannou bravely opens up following a tough year
Pimblett jokes with Gordon during shared elevator ride
Muhammad ranks welterweights, puts Edwards fourth
Francis Ngannou Shares Heartbreak Following Family Tragedy
The combat sports world rallied around the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou after he suffered a family tragedy.
His 15-month-old son, Kobe, sadly passed away in April and after taking time to have privacy, Ngannou spoke about this recently.
He bravely spoke on the JRE MMA Show about what this was like to go through and how he now sees things differently.
Despite always being grateful for what he has right now, Ngannou said that he looks forward to being reunited with his son in another life.
“You have a lot of things to be grateful about but in your heart, you feel like you’re broke, you have nothing. I mean, I always love life and know that I have everything but at least for once, I’m like at least whenever I die, I’m going to go see my kid. I’m going to see him. I’m not afraid of it. I still want to live but at least whenever, you get to that point, to think like that. So someway you’re looking for what, for whenever that happen.”
Paddy Pimblett And Jared Gordon Cross Paths And Exchange Pleasantries During UFC 304 Fight Week
Ahead of his UFC 304 encounter with King Green this weekend in Manchester, Paddy Pimblett crossed paths with a former opponent of his when stepping into the fighter hotel lift.
After coming across one another, the two men embraced and Pimblett told him that he thought Gordon should have won his last fight which went the way of Nasrat Haqparast via another split decision.
Gordon jokingly remarked, “I f****** did, again”, which both the lightweight contenders had a laugh about.
“Flash” gave his prediction for the fight before they parted ways, stating that he thinks Pimblett will stay undefeated in the UFC this weekend by finishing Green who he faced in March last year.
In a recent interview with Kaz Crossley for Title Sports Network, the challenger was asked to give his own version of the top five rankings at 170-pounds.
He, of course, put himself at the top spot with Edwards sitting below both Kamaru Usman (who Edwards beat twice) and Shavkat Rakhmonov with Jack Della Maddalena rounding out the top five.
Muhammad will look to back up his claims on July 27 when he faces the man that, in his opinion, isn’t the top dog in the division.
“I would be one. Then I would put Kamaru two, Shavkat (Rakhmonov) three. I would put Leon four. And then number five, I would put Jack Della (Maddalena),” Muhammad said. “Man, you’re gonna lose the last couple fans you have left once I take the belt away from you. sorry bro. … I don’t like Leon. My other opponents, I didn’t wanna fake it (trash talk) with like, a ‘Wonderboy’ or a Maia. … It’s easier to bully him (Edwards).”
UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett is confident of Molly McCann starting the night off in strong fashion for their team this weekend.
Both Pimblett and McCann will be in action at UFC 304, set for the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27. The pair will look to recreate their double does of success at two London-held UFC Fight Nights back in 2022.
First to the cage will be “Meatball,” who is slated to throw down with Bruna Brasil on the preliminary portion of the event. The bout marks her sophomore strawweight outing, having moved down following consecutive defeats at 125 pounds.
In her divisional debut, McCann impressed by showing new wrinkles to her game in a gruesome armbar submission victory over Diana Belbiţă this past February.
And having seen her preparation pre-UFC 304, Pimblett is expecting a similarly emphatic performance in a few days’ time…
Pimblett: McCann In ‘Best Shape Of Her Life’ Ahead Of UFC 304
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett broke down and predicted the matchups set to play out in Manchester this weekend.
When it came to his teammate and friend’s second fight since dropping to strawweight, the Liverpudlian unsurprisingly backed McCann to get the job done in convincing fashion.
More than just a Next Generation MMA bias, “The Baddy” touted McCann’s work behind closed doors as justification for his one-sided pick.
“Next fight, my big sister, Molly the ‘Meatball’ McCann. … Yous know I don’t need to give a prediction for this,” Pimblett said. “Molly is in the best shape of her life. I’ve never seen her look so good in sparring and in strength and conditioning and everything.
“She’s coming to take Bruna’s soul. I’m predicting a TKO for Molly in this fight,” Pimblett continued. “You never know though. Just like last time, she could get a submission. People are sleeping on her jiu-jitsu game.”
UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett believes fans are focusing more on his controversial decision victory over Jared Gordon than some actual “robberies.”
Pimblett is set to return to action for his first assignment of 2024 at this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event, where the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, will play host to his first opportunity to crack the rankings at 155 pounds.
To do so, “The Baddy” must extend his perfect Octagon record at the expense of King Green. The Liverpudlian will enter the contest as an underdog and with significant portions of the MMA community doubting his chances.
That trend has been evident ever since a narrow victory over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in December 2022. Having boosted his stock to an all-time high with back-to-back highlight reel submission in London that year, a controversial decision going in his favor appeared to turn a strong chunk of the fanbase against Pimblett.
And the fact that his win over Gordon is still used as a way to detract from his UFC career thus far remains a point of frustration for the ex-Cage Warriors champion…
Pimblett: Gordon Fight Was ‘Close’, Not A ‘Robbery’
While he’s another fight on from the widely debated decision against Gordon, Pimblett noted that he still gets plenty of comments about it. “The Baddy” bemoaned that fact, pointing to what sees as legitimate robberies that don’t get the level of scrutiny as his “close” bout with Gordon does 19 months later.
“It was a close decision. I do regret saying in the cage after, ‘No way, that wasn’t close!’ But lad, I just fought for 15 minutes,” Pimblett said. “I still get comments on my YouTube to this day, ‘It seems like Paddy’s got more humble now since he fought Jared Gordon.’ Like, what? I’m still the same person. … The fact I said, ‘I think I won that fight,’ people turned on me. I found that absolutely crazy.
“I ended up watching the fight back and was like, ‘Yeah, that was a close fight.’ … But I think if you watch it with commentary, that sways you a lot more towards Jared,” Pimblett continued. “It was a close fight, but I don’t get to this day why it still gets brought up and people still say that it’s a robbery. If that’s a robbery, people need to go watch Khabib vs. Gleison Tibau! Even Jared’s last fight, that’s more of a robbery.”
The pair are tasked with setting the stage for two championship headliners, as Pimblett’s fellow countrymen Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall put their titles on the line.
Manchester, are you ready??#UFC304 fight week is HERE 👊
Two very different styles will clash during the main card of UFC 304 this weekend as Paddy Pimblett takes on Bobby Green in a huge lightweight contest.
“The Baddy” has gone to the scorecards in his last two fights after finishing his first three opponents inside the Octagon but he’s always dangerous.
With this fight being the big number 50 on his pro record, the veteran lightweight contender is a slick boxer who often tricks opponents into overcommitting.
A former UFC champion believes that this could be the story of the fight come Saturday night in Manchester.
Alexander Volkanovski Expects King Green To Play The Matador Against Paddy Pimblett
During his breakdown of the card on his YouTube channel, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski spoke about the difficulties of fighting someone like Green.
Green often carries his hands by his side and will rely on his reaction time to get opponents to throw at him so that he can slip and counter with his fast hands and combinations.
Pimblett has been working extensively on his striking in recent times and there have been questions in the past about how solid his technique is, when fists start flying.
Volkanovski sided with Green when giving his picks for the card and he believes that a crucial aspect of this fight will be the 155-pound stalwart playing his usual game.
“I’m going to have to go with Bobby Green, I think he’s the safer bet here. It’s going to be a three-round fight. Paddy Pimblett, yeah I find it, it’s going to be hard for him to take him down and get a finish. Can he go and upset, you know, hometown crowd. I don’t think that’s going to faze Bobby Green.
“Again, Bobby Green’s going to put himself in positions where Paddy Pimblett’s going to feel he can fire and going to lull him into shots. I guarantee we’re going to see that pretty much straight away. I feel Bobby Green’s going to hit him, hurt him, maybe Paddy Pimblett would start trying to look for the shots straight after that. Does he get them? Or does he get hurt straight away? I’m not sure.”
UFC commentator John Gooden recently voiced his astonishment after Paddy Pimblett revealed he is contemplating a move to influencer boxing as he approaches the final fight of his UFC contract.
“The Baddy” is poised to go head-to-head against King Green on the main card of UFC 304. The pay-per-view will take place on July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, giving Pimblett the opportunity to shine in front of his home crowd.
Pimblett is gearing up for his sixth UFC bout, which will also mark the end of his initial contract with the MMA promotion. A victory against “King” could launch him into the lightweight rankings.
Pimblett’s remarks have left Gooden utterly perplexed, prompting him to question what could drive one of the UFC’s most promising prospects to even consider boxing YouTubers…
Gooden Trusts Pimblett’s Hard-Earned UFC Spot Will Keep Him Grounded
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Gooden reacted to Pimblett’s notion of leaving the UFC for a boxing career. The British UFC commentator stressed that “The Baddy” needs to secure a win in his upcoming fight to gain leverage in negotiations for his second contract with the promotion.
He believes a victory would significantly strengthen Pimblett’s bargaining power when discussing his future with the UFC.
“It would just hurt the numbers right if he doesn’t come away with a win against King Green,” Gooden said. “Then you know that you’re negotiating; you’re going to the table with a quite different approach. I would imagine I was surprised to hear him talk about boxing.”
“I don’t know if it was just something that had been across his socials like 30 minutes before he jumped on whatever it was and then spoke about it.”
Gooden further elaborated, praising Pimblett as a high-caliber MMA fighter who has made a tremendous effort to reach the UFC. He mentioned that Pimblett shouldn’t squander this hard-earned opportunity so easily.
“Paddy, for me, is one of the most dynamic grapplers that we’ve seen come out of the UK. His ability to take the back is phenomenal, and his finishing ability with submissions is his top draw, so seeing him go into boxing is like, really, are you sure? I’m a little confused about that, and deep down, you know Paddy had a.” “I think he turned down the UFC in the past in order to really make a good, conscientious run with enough kinds of veteran-ship to make a run in the UFC, so I know it means something for him to be in the organization.”
Pimblett is riding high after securing a unanimous decision victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 last December. Since joining the UFC in September 2021, the Englishman has racked up an impressive five-fight win streak.
Given his strong fan base in Europe and his status as a rising star, it wouldn’t make sense for the promotion to let him go easily. Pimblett’s popularity and potential make him a valuable asset for the UFC.
