MMA News

Tag: 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

    ‘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.

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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.

  • 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. 

    https://twitter.com/LongGoneLawson/status/1817218466992062629
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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.

  • 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.

  • MMA News Today: Tom Aspinall Comes Clean On Fake Pre-Fight Routine, Aljamain Sterling Wins Karate Combat Debut In The Final Seconds, & More

    MMA News Today: Tom Aspinall Comes Clean On Fake Pre-Fight Routine, Aljamain Sterling Wins Karate Combat Debut In The Final Seconds, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 26, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Aspinall finally puts the petrol rumors to rest
    • Sterling got his hand raised after clutching the match in the final seconds
    • Holloway gives massive praise to UFC 304 fighter

    Tom Aspinall Finally Admits That Strange Pre-Fight Preparations Was A Joke

    Ahead of his interim heavyweight title defense at UFC 304, Tom Aspinall revealed a unique pre-fight process that he was putting himself through in preparation.

    The Brit told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he was following the methods of classic bare knuckle boxers by shadow boxing around haybales and dipping his hands in petrol each night.

    Some instantly called it out that Aspinall was in fact trying to trick Helwani but after he didn’t crack a smile at any point, others thought the champion might be telling the truth.

    A video posted on fight week shows one half of this weekend’s co-main event calling Helwani in the middle of the night to provide evidence of his preparations.

    After leading him on for a bit longer, Aspinall confessed that it was all a joke and that he’s having to tell the truth after people thought he was being serious about it.

    Aljamain Sterling Pulls Off A Clutch Win In Karate Combat Grappling Debut

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling made his Karate Combat debut on July 25, where he got his hand raised in the final seconds of the contest.

    Competing in the Pit Submission Series, he secured the win over Jay Jay Wilson at Karate Combat 48 in Nashville.

    The contest was nearly about to end in a points draw but with the clock ticking down to the final seconds, Sterling was able to pass guard and take his opponent’s back to score the winning point in the dying moments.

    After the match, a fired-up Sterling said that his full focus is now on handing Movsar Evloev his first loss in a crucial featherweight match-up at UFC 307 in October.

    Also of note for this grappling match is that Sterling weighed in at a staggering 171-pounds.

    Sterling even received praise from his former opponent and the current UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley who phoned in during the match.

    Max Holloway Praises The Fight IQ Of UFC 304 Fighter: ‘Super High, Super Smart’

    Max Holloway believes that the main event of UFC 304 will be a battle between two tacticians that rarely stray from their gameplans.

    Both the welterweight champion Leon Edwards and his challenger Belal Muhammad aren’t known for going out there and being involved in wars.

    With a fight like this, it will come down to which man is able to implement their approach the best and with that in mind, Holloway is backing the champ to retain in Manchester.

    He broke down the card during a recent YouTube video where “Blessed” spoke extremely high of Edwards’s ability to read and control a fight.

    “Belal is a tactician. he’s a gameplanner. He does not stray away from his gameplan,” Holloway said. “But so does Leon, bro. Leon is a tactician. He’s a gameplanner. He sticks to his gameplan no matter what. … A lot of people were counting Leon out (ahead of the Covington fight) like he was gonna get grappled.

    “Leon is one of the very few IQs in this game that I respect, man,” Holloway continued. “His fight IQ is super high, super smart. It’s just hard to go against the champ here, bro. I think Belal puts on a fight. Early in the fight, I think it’s a tough fight. But then when we get to the third and then the championship rounds, I think Leon is gonna take over.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • 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

  • King Green Explains His Issues With UFC 304 Opponent Paddy Pimblett: ‘Ariel Doesn’t Even Pay Conor, Why Would He Pay You?!’ 

    King Green Explains His Issues With UFC 304 Opponent Paddy Pimblett: ‘Ariel Doesn’t Even Pay Conor, Why Would He Pay You?!’ 

    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.

    The American specifically highlighted his opponent’s back and forth with renowned reporter Ariel Helwani, who claimed Pimblett had requested payment for an interview in late 2022.

    “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 Baddy,” on the other hand, has promised to deliver an emphatic and violent performance that will reverse the apparent change of heart many fans have had about him owing to the Tony Ferguson and Jared Gordon bouts.

  • Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304

    Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304

    According to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Tom Aspinall can’t beat Curtis Blaydes on the scorecards this weekend.

    The pair will collide in Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view co-main event for the interim UFC heavyweight championship, which has been held by Aspinall ever since his first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November.

    That win came in just the second fight back for Aspinall after returning from the serious knee injury he sustained against Blaydes in 2022, which saw that UFC Fight Night headliner end in just 15 seconds.

    After dispatching Marcin Tybura in 73 seconds last July, Aspinall required just 69 to send Pavlovich to the canvas inside Madison Square Garden, maintaining his 100 percent finish rate in the process.

    With Aspinall having yet to go the distance in his professional career, “Razor” will no doubt look to drag him to deep waters in their five-round affair tomorrow night. And if he does, one ex-fighter has little doubt about who will have their hand raised…

    Sonnen: Finish Is Essential For Aspinall At UFC 304

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his assessment on the first of two title fights set to play out in Manchester this weekend.

    Sonnen pointed to the little cage time Aspinall has had since being struck by a severe injury against Blaydes two years ago.

    And with questions remaining about how the Brit will fare in the later rounds, “The American Gangster” stated Aspinall must close the show early if he’s to maintain his grip on the title on home soil.

    “Tom Aspinall’s on one heck of a roll. People wanna talk about this fight with Curtis Blaydes (being) over two years ago. Well, that’s true…but it was only two fights ago,” Sonnen said. “That’s not much experience. You’re talking about being on the shelf for close to three years with the exception of a total of three minutes.

    “The odds of Tom winning are good. In fact, they’re -360. The chances that Tom can win a decision are very small,” Sonnen continued. “He’s gotta finish him. Oh, and by the way, not only does he gotta finish him, I think he’s gotta finish him in the first three rounds. … I think that Curtis is in a better spot than Tom based on those (15) seconds they shared the Octagon.”

    Given his penchant for finishes and the aggressive start he made to their 2022 bout, it stands to reason that Aspinall will absolutely be looking for another early night this weekend.

    Should he reach uncharted territory in the form of a fourth round, however, Sonnen is seemingly expecting the interim gold to change hands at UFC 304.

  • Max Holloway Lays Heavy Praise On UFC 304 Fighter: ‘One Of The Very Few IQ’s In This Game That I Respect…’ 

    Max Holloway Lays Heavy Praise On UFC 304 Fighter: ‘One Of The Very Few IQ’s In This Game That I Respect…’ 

    It takes a mighty fight IQ to impress Max Holloway, but the UFC’s BMF champion thinks one athlete set to make the walk this weekend has exactly that.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back across the pond this week, staging an event in a UK city other than London for the first time since pre-pandemic. The host venue falls in Manchester, with two titles fights and a host of intriguing bouts set to go down inside the Co-op Live arena.

    Topping the lineup will be a pair of English titleholders in welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. While the former targets his third successful defense at the expense of Belal Muhammad, the latter will be putting his strap on the line for the first time opposite Curtis Blaydes.

    Like most, Holloway has his eyes firmly locked on those two championship collisions. And one of them will see a fighter who boasts a particular talent lauded by “Blessed” enter the Octagon…

    Holloway Commends Edwards’ Fight IQ Ahead Of UFC 304

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Holloway provided his breakdowns and predictions for the major matchups set to play out in Manchester on Saturday night.

    In terms of the main event, “Blessed” acknowledged that both Edwards and his challenger are “tacticians.” But when it comes to overall fight IQ, the BMF champ suggested that very few can match what “Rocky” brings to the table.

    “Belal is a tactician. he’s a gameplanner. He does not stray away from his gameplan,” Holloway said. “But so does Leon, bro. Leon is a tactician. He’s a gameplanner. He sticks to his gameplan no matter what. … A lot of people were counting Leon out (ahead of the Covington fight) like he was gonna get grappled.

    “Leon is one of the very few IQs in this game that I respect, man,” Holloway continued. “His fight IQ is super high, super smart. It’s just hard to go against the champ here, bro. I think Belal puts on a fight. Early in the fight, I think it’s a tough fight. But then when we get to the third and then the championship rounds, I think Leon is gonna take over.”

    Interestingly, Muhammad has branded his fight IQ as one of the aspects of his game that is being most underrated in the lead-up to UFC 304.

    He’ll look to prove that’s the case by using his intelligence and strategical approach to upset the odds and get the better of Edwards on fight night, achieving his long-held goal of UFC title glory in the process.

  • Belal Muhammad Ponders Reason For Fan Hate Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘I’m Not A Black Belt…I’m Just A Normal Guy’ 

    Belal Muhammad Ponders Reason For Fan Hate Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘I’m Not A Black Belt…I’m Just A Normal Guy’ 

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad believes he knows why a sizable portion of the MMA community is against him.

    Muhammad is set to make the walk in the main event of this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, where he’ll challenge for Leon Edwards’ 170-pound title in enemy territory.

    Getting to the first shot of his UFC career hasn’t been an easy ride for “Remember the Name,” who has had to go unbeaten through 10 fights and win five straight since a no contest opposite “Rocky” to earn the chance.

    Despite that arduous journey, however, it would appear that Muhammad still boasts a bigger group of detractors than most in the sport.

    While some have put that down to his style of fighting, the UFC 304 title challenger has other theories…

    Muhammad Explains Why Fans Don’t Want Him To Succeed

    During a recent fight week interview with Daniel Cormier, Muhammad looked ahead to his first opportunity at winning gold on MMA’s biggest stage and assessed the continued doubt many are throwing his way.

    In addition to his victories over widely adored fighters like Stephen Thompson and Gilbert Burns, Muhammad suggested the fanbase doesn’t respect a “blue-collar guy” making it in the sport without the kind of combat credentials others boast.

    “I just feel like I’ve beaten their favorite fighters. I’ve beaten the fan favorites,” Muhammad said. “And when you look at me, I’m not a black belt in anything, I didn’t wrestle in college, I didn’t have the crazy accolades, Olympian or anything like that. I’m just a normal guy that outworks everybody. I’m a normal guy that started late in my career and did it the hard route. People just don’t respect that. But I’m the blue-collar guy.

    “We’re in a new day and age. You’ve gotta be outlandish, you’ve gotta say stupid stuff, you’ve gotta be flashy, you’ve gotta smoke weed to get that hype,” Muhammad continued. “The fans nowadays, that’s what they’re looking at. … I’ve been telling people, if GSP was in this era, I don’t think anybody would like him. People would be like, ‘This guy’s boring, he’s too nice, he’s Canadian.’ … In his era, I would have been a superstar.”

    Following Thursday’s press conference, there’s little doubt over the kind of reception Muhammad will receive from those in attendance at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday night.

    But he expects to upset the home crowd and the odds at UFC 304, completing a title crowning that he’s long branded inevitable in the process.

  • UFC Commentator Feels The Delayed Start Time Of UFC 304 Will Not Affect Fighters Or Fans

    UFC Commentator Feels The Delayed Start Time Of UFC 304 Will Not Affect Fighters Or Fans

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko recently assured that the postponed start time for UFC 304 would have minimal impact on both the fighters and the fans in the United Kingdom.

    The eighth numbered UFC pay-per-view event of 2024 is just around the corner, set to unfold this Saturday at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. The card will feature two headline title fights, both of which are eagerly anticipated rematches.

    In the main event, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will defend his title against Belal Muhammad. Meanwhile, the co-main event will see interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall clash with Curtis Blaydes.

    Since the announcement of the UFC 304 schedule, a storm of controversy and fan uproar has erupted over the decision to start the fight card at typical United States times, even though the event is taking place in the United Kingdom.

    The event broadcast is set to begin at 11 PM BST on Saturday, July 27. Consequently, the headlining fighters are expected to make their Octagon walkouts between 5:00 and 5:15 AM the following morning. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the fight card will kick off at approximately 6 PM ET / 3 PM PT on Saturday afternoon, with the main card slated to start around 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT.

    However, UFC’s first female color commentator believes that the late-night and early-morning schedule will neither hinder the fighters nor deter the viewers…

    Sanko Believes UFC 304 Excitement Will Keep Fans Hooked

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Sanko, who will be fulfilling her role as a desk analyst for UFC 304, offered her insights on the pay-per-view broadcast schedule. She acknowledged that while the schedule is less than ideal for the fans, it ultimately won’t matter much on fight night, given the high anticipation surrounding the card.

    “It’s unfortunate for the fans, but I think when that day comes, it’s not gonna matter for the fans or for the athletes,” Sanko said. “I think the energy is going to be so off-the-charts it’s not going to matter if you’re a fan and trust me; you’re going to be able to soldier through because the action from these fights is going to be enough to keep you going, hopefully.”

    The UFC broadcaster further noted that the last PPV event in Manchester, UFC 204 in October 2016, also followed a similar schedule. She emphasized that the real challenge for fighters lies in preparing for the late-night bouts rather than the timing of the event itself.

    “Here’s my one tip: just don’t start drinking too early. That’s going to be the downfall of at least a certain proportion of this fan base. But I think for the fighters, you know, Leon Edwards actually had this exact same situation when he fought on Michael Bisping’s card, where he had his huge win over Dan Henderson in Manchester. So he’s familiar with it, and he said the same thing.

    He said, ‘Listen, it didn’t matter. The moment I walked out to that arena, it could have been 2 o’clock in the afternoon, it could have been 2 o’clock in the morning, I wouldn’t have known the difference. I was headed into a fight.’ So I think it sucks probably more in the lead-up, the preparation, stressing about it, stressing about how it might affect you. But I think when the time comes, these guys are just going to do their job.”

    Both Aspinall and Blaydes have voiced their grievances about the absurd fight timings, but the MMA promotion remains steadfast in its decision. Meanwhile, “Rocky” has reportedly gone so far as to hire a sleep specialist to help him adjust to the unconventional schedule.

  • ‘This Is The Whole Anthony Smith Thing Again’ – MMA Fans Split After Curtis Blaydes Promises To Eviscerate Alex Pereira At Heavyweight

    ‘This Is The Whole Anthony Smith Thing Again’ – MMA Fans Split After Curtis Blaydes Promises To Eviscerate Alex Pereira At Heavyweight

    Alex Pereira carries an aura unlike any other fighter we have seen in the UFC, during his campaigns at both middleweight and light heavyweight.

    As the current champion at 205 pounds, “Poatan” has spoken about the potential of him moving up to heavyweight at some stage to try and become a champion in a third weight class before retiring.

    The prospect of seeing this has got the fans excited with a striker as dangerous and powerful, going up against the biggest men in the UFC.

    Curtis Blaydes said that should he win the interim title this weekend in a rematch with Tom Aspinall, he would more than welcome Pereira up to the division.

    He spoke at the UFC 304 media day about how he believes it would not end well for the light heavyweight champion if he did make the jump.

    “Bad idea. I’ll give you my premediated plan, I’m going to shoot. Immediately. Why would I give him any chance to knock me out on the feet when I know I can take him down at will and I’m sure, he has to know that. I think he’s looking for a specific heavyweight, not any heavyweight. He has match-ups against, I can see him beating guys like Tai, we watched him sparring Tai Tuivasa. Maybe some other guys like the bottom of the top 15 but you give him a top five guy with some real weight, he’s not winning.”

    Blaydes once again confirmed that if Pereira still wants to come up should “Razor” get the win in Manchester, he’d be happy to oblige.

    “Yes, I know that’s what everyone wants to hear. Yes, I would f****** love Alex Pereira. It’s not cause he’s not good, I’m heavier than he is. Just at heavyweight, gravity, weight matters. It’s not as skill-based, that’s just how it is.”

    MMA Fans React To Curtis Blaydes Labelling An Alex Pereira Heavyweight Move As A ‘Bad Idea’

    Pereira is always going to have an army of fans that back him but it’s probably fair to say that Blaydes would be the toughest match-up for him at heavyweight.

    Not only is he a natural heavyweight, as Blaydes said himself, he has no interest in wanting to strike with “Poatan” and would look to take him down as soon as possible.

    That being said, taking Pereira down is the best route to victory for nearly every opponent that he has faced inside the Octagon and no one has been able to keep him there.

    Fight fans responded to Blaydes’ comments on social media by questioning whether his assessment is correct.

    “I mean that’s a fair assessment, but you never know until the fight plays out. We are still yet to see Pereira’s ground game in full display, so no questions can be answered. I’m a fan of both but wouldn’t be surprised if Pereira got it done”

    “I disagree, let Alex put on 15 pounds and the whole division gets wiped out.”

    “Blaydes isn’t wrong here, but he also thought he’d take down Derrick Lewis”

    “Curtis has been one of my favorites for a long long while but he’ll make a bad decision and get in a situation I think”

    https://twitter.com/Chris_Topher_/status/1816225787546390977

    “This is the whole Anthony Smith thing again”

    “Fair and realistic take from Blaydes”

    “Honestly, if he puts on the weight well, I think it’s a pick’em. Would be a good but quick fight either way imo.”

    Read also: Former Opponent Of Jon Jones’ Believes Tom Aspinall Would Be ‘Too Much’ For Him: ‘He Has All The Weapons To Beat Jon’