Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently lavished accolades on Tom Aspinall, applauding his impressive exploits in the Octagon.
Aspinall is slated to defend his interim heavyweight title against divisional veteran Curtis Blaydes in a highly anticipated rematch, featured as the co-main event of UFC 304. The upcoming pay-per-view event is scheduled for July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.
Their initial bout at UFC Fight Night London in July 2022 ended disastrously after just 15 seconds when the 31-year-old Brit suffered a severe knee injury that sidelined him for an entire year.
During his time away from the Octagon, Aspinall overhauled his training regimen, a move that paid off immensely. As a result, he is now hailed as one of the premier heavyweights on the current UFC roster.
Aspinall has cemented his reputation as a versatile powerhouse in the division, with his refined striking skills consistently catching his opponents off guard. “The Reaper” is profoundly impressed by the sophistication of Aspinall’s striking game and agile footwork…
Whittaker Claims Aspinall’s Speed Unmatched In Heavyweight Division
During a recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes. While the Aussie acknowledged his admiration for “Razor’s” wrestling skills, he pointed out that Blaydes often falls prey to heavy punchers.
“I’m a big fan of Curtis Blaydes,” Whittaker said. “Big fan of his fights, and he’s one of those fighters that when I pair him against other heavyweights, I don’t know how he loses. Being such a big guy and having that level of wrestling and cardio and output, I find it amazing. He gets caught—that’s the only way he loses; he gets caught by these big dudes. But more often than not, I don’t know if it’s just fight solid that’s led to a level of predictability, and you can see those bigger guys capitalizing on that.”
“The Reaper” further heaped praises on Aspinall’s exceptional abilities. He remarked that the Englishman’s remarkable level of athleticism, despite his towering stature, is what truly sets him apart from the rest of the heavyweight division.
“I’m a fan of how Tom Aspinall moves. I think the fact that he’s so light but can hit so hard in such a generally slow division is going to give Curtis Blaydes a lot of trouble. It is so hard to take someone down when they’re light on their feet. It is so hard to take someone down, when you know they can knock you out. It’s going to be a nightmare of a fight for Curtis Blaydes to try and close that gap, and I just don’t see Curtis beating Tom in a standup fight.”
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!
According to UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards, any talk of a bitter feud heading into this weekend’s main event is entirely on the side of Belal Muhammad.
Edwards is set to defend his title on home soil for the second time and third time overall since winning it from Kamaru Usman in dramatic fashion almost two years ago in Salt Lake City.
Having gotten the better of Usman in their trilogy fight in London last year and stalled Colby Covington’s ambitions in Las Vegas nine months later, “Rocky” will now put his gold on the line in the city of Manchester.
Both men have exchanged verbal jabs in the lead-up to UFC 304, but when it comes to actual bad blood and disdain, the champ claims it is entirely a one-way street.
“I’m not overlooking him one bit. He has gone out there and put the work in. … You have to take him serious. I just truly believe I am the best fighter,” Edwards said. “I believe that I am better than him on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, (Thursday), Friday; it doesn’t matter. I am the better fighter.
“I’ll go out Saturday night and prove that. That’s all it is. There’s no bad blood between us, there’s nothing else,” Edwards continued. “For him, he’s making up some scenario in his head where he hates me and blah, blah, blah. But, for me, he’s just another guy that’s in my way of this goal I’m trying to achieve in my life…that’s it.”
While he may not be motivated by the same level of hatred as his challenger is, Edwards no doubt has plenty to fight for.
In addition to keeping the welterweight gold in his possession and moving closer to Georges St-Pierre’s record for title defenses in the division, a victory would further boost “Rocky’s” chances of securing a shot at the middleweight belt down the line.
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.
Originally, Kape and Mokaev were alongside the likes of Leon Edwards, Tom Aspinall, and Paddy Pimblett on the main card. That was to be expected given that the winner could be next in line to challenge for Alexandre Pantoja’s title.
In recent days, however, the bout has been slipping down the pecking order, first to the preliminary card and now to the early prelims.
The decision has caused debate and confusion in the MMA community. But whatever the reason, Kape doesn’t think it has anything to do with him…
Kape Happy For Early Get-Out At UFC 304
During his appearance at UFC 304 media day on Wednesday, Kape looked ahead to his first fight of 2024, which comes after a weight miss in January and injury in April caused his rematch with Matheus Nicolau to be canceled twice.
In terms of why he’ll be making the walk early in the lineup, Kape theorized that his opponent may not have earned a PPV main card placement yet.
Regardless, “Starboy” doesn’t appear fazed by the decision. In fact, he seems to be relishing the opportunity to enjoy a night out in Manchester post-fight.
“Maybe they want to push more the audience. Maybe Mokaev don’t deserve the main card, you know?” Kape said. “But for me, it’s good. For the timing, I don’t need to fight at 3, 4 AM. So I’m going to fight at 11 PM and I can go out (after).
“I’m gonna win, and after the win, get my boys, get some good food, and enjoy a little bit of town,” Kape added.
While many are favoring “The Punisher’s” grappling to get the job done, Kape has dismissed that threat and promised a violent knockout to blemish the Dagestan-born Brit’s MMA résumé for the first time.
The pair first collided back in 2021, with an accidental eye poke rendering Muhammad unable to continue. While “Rocky” went on to capture the belt the following year, “Remember the Name” has been working his way toward a shot of his own and a rematch with the Brit.
A major step on that journey came in the Middle East in October 2022 when Muhammad shared the Octagon with then-undefeated up-and-comer Sean Brady. While renowned for his grappling game, the Chicago standout showed new wrinkles to his game by piecing Brady up on the feet en route to a second-round TKO.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Muhammad vs. Brady fight from UFC 280 on its official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1j7-FaJDws
Muhammad is looking to put in a similarly impressive display this weekend to unseat Edwards, vowing to finish the reigning welterweight kingpin before reaching the championship rounds in the UFC 304 main event.
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.”
Molly McCann has a specific move in mind for her second UFC fight since dropping down to strawweight this weekend.
A year on from her submission defeat at the hands of Julija Stoliarenko in London, McCann will have her latest fight on home soil. She’s set to make the walk on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view in Manchester, England.
“Meatball” will share the cage with Bruna Brasil in a bout that marks her second since committing to a major career change, departing the flyweight division and dropping to 115 pounds.
Having made the weight this past February, McCann announced her arrival in style at the Apex by showing new wrinkles to her game en route to a gruesome armbar submission of Diana Belbiţă.
And having long had her ground game questioned, the Liverpool native is looking for a similar feat on July 27…
McCann Targeting Rear-Naked Choke Finish At UFC 304
During a fight week interview for UFC.com, McCann looked ahead to her upcoming home fight, as she looks to repeat the memorable performances she delivered in England’s capital two years ago.
In 2022, “Meatball” utilized spinning back elbows to knock out Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy. On Saturday, she’s looking to give her compatriots a dose of her ever-growing submission prowess.
“I’m experienced now. I don’t waste too much energy. … When I make the walk, just stay focused,” McCann said. “The last fight was just about making the weight for the first time. This time, we’ve managed to put a bit of size on. The weight’s the same as what it was (but) i’m a little bit leaner.
“I feel like all the fear left and it’s like I’ve started again in the UFC,” McCann continued. “As many questions as she (Brasil) asks, I answer more. How many questions I ask, I don’t let her answer. The dream would be a rear-naked choke, first round.”
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.
Following successful defenses of his gold opposite Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, “Rocky” is next tasked with getting the better of Belal Muhammad at the second time of trying.
While their first fight back in 2021 ended in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke, the champ believes he was firmly en route to a knockout at the Apex. And with that in mind, the Jamaica-born Brit expects to finish the job inside the Co-op Live this weekend.
In that regard, he has the support of one notable former two-time UFC champ…
Adesanya ‘Not Hating On Belal’, But Sees A Finish For Edwards At UFC 304
When it comes to the main event, Adesanya had little doubt backing his fellow Chosen Advisory-managed fighter to emerge with the gold still in his possession at UFC 304, even predicting that he’ll get the job done before the championship rounds.
“Belal’s got pressure, man. It just seems like he’s able to get to people and put his will on them,” Adesanya said. “But I’ll tell you one thing, this is a different version — Leon just seems like he’s on a massacre right now; he’s on a run. Leon might finish him. I think Leon finishes this fight.
“I’m trying to see how Belal can win this fight. This seems like a bad match for Belal. I’m not hating on Belal or anything, I’m just trying to see what’s his path to victory in this,” Adesanya continued. “Striking, Leon’s got it. Grappling, you wanna lean towards Belal but Leon is right up there. It’s Leon’s fight to win, Leon’s fight to lose. … Leon’s too crisp compared to Belal. He’s just too sharp. … Leon by knockout in the third round, second or third round.”
Edwards will look to make Adesanya’s prediction a reality come fight night, when he’s vowed to end Muhammad’s championship ambitions inside the distance with an emphatic performance and stoppage on home soil.
UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape and his coach believe it was Muhammad Mokaev and his team’s intention to start a brawl days out from their showdown in Manchester, England.
The pair of top 125lbers are set to do battle at UFC 304 this weekend, with their matchup marking one of the most important when it comes to direct implications to a divisional title picture.
And more than just their career ambitions, it would appear that both are being driven by some bad blood in this one.
That boiled over on Wednesday night at the fighter hotel, where the two fighters and their teams got into a brawl. Footage was posted by the @Home_of_Fight page on X and showed security personnel frantically attempting to pull the two sides apart.
Team Mokaev & Team Kape got into an altercation at the fighters hotel, possibly due to the earlier rumours of a bloody altercation at the UFC PI🫣 pic.twitter.com/473lZRB1Zl
Spur-of-the-moment brawls are nothing new in the UFC, but that’s not what one side of the scrap believes happened…
Kape & Nicksick Claim Hotel Fight Was A Set-Up
Following the incident, Kape took to social media to give his side of the story.
The former Rizin champion claimed Mokaev had respectfully asked to take a picture with him before attempting to sucker-punch him. “Starboy” berated his UFC 304 opponent for the “betrayal,” insisting his actions weren’t befitting of their shared religion and promising “carnage” from here on out.
Interestingly, Kape also made note of an altercation in Las Vegas, admitting to hitting Mokaev but doing so in a fairer way. The Angola-born Portuguese flyweight had previously denied rumors of a physical clash with “The Punisher” at the UFC’s Performance Institute.
What kind of Muslim are you? You gave me Salam asked to take a picture and then tried to punch me in the betrayal, i can see now you are not a child of the dagestao, because there are created men you are just a poor bastard raised on a low income in Manchester without honor and… pic.twitter.com/DorTl7VHkH
“What kind of Muslim are you? You gave me Salam asked to take a picture and then tried to punch me in the betrayal, i can see now you are not a child of the (Dagestan), because there are created men you are just a poor bastard raised on a low income in Manchester without honor and principles,” Kape wrote. “When I hit you in Vegas I went alone and I told you to be ready, I don’t hit men with their guard down or distracted or on the back. I thought everything was solved, but now the carnage will continue… Shaytan!”
Kape’s claim was quickly corroborated by his coach, Xtreme Couture’s Eric Nicksick. The renowned trained told MMA Junkie that Mokaev had approached Kape under the guise of taking a photo with a “Muslim brother.” Nicksick stated that Kape was then attacked by the opposition team.
The image posted by Kape showing a cut to Mokaev’s head would appear to be from the aftermath of their Vegas clash, with the Dagestan-born Brit posting a clean-faced picture to refute suggestions he emerged damaged from their hotel fight.
Since winning the UFC welterweight title in stunning fashion at UFC 278, Leon Edwards has become the face of UK MMA.
“Rocky” has become a star in this past of the world but his next title challenger doesn’t believe that his supporters are really fans of him.
Belal Muhammad will look to spoil the night at UFC 304 in Manchester by dethroning Edwards in the main event which will take place in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Belal Muhammad Doesn’t Think UK Fans Actually Care About Leon Edwards
In a fight week interview with Kaz Crossley for Title Sports Network, Muhammad doubled down on his theory that Edwards doesn’t have real ride or die fans.
He questioned why people back “Rocky” when he doesn’t go out of his way to build his profile and brand by putting himself out there more.
“Yeah I don’t think Leon has any fans if I’m being honest. Like how can you be a fan of the guy? He’s not loud, he doesn’t talk, he doesn’t tweet, he doesn’t promote himself, he just has the belt.”
The #2-ranked contender at 170-pounds made reference to Edwards’ fight with Gunnar Nelson in 2019 where he was booed in London due to his beef with one half of the main event on that night, Liverpool’s Darren Till.
“100%. Yeah, I don’t think they’re, you weren’t even riding for Leon before he got the belt. They were booing him. Like before that, they didn’t care about him, they wanted Darren Till to win the belt before him so I don’t think they really care about Leon Edwards. They’re just like, ‘Ah man, Leon got it, all right well let’s go cheer for him right now since it’s going to be at our house anyway, we’ll go watch him.’”
Muhammad Mokaev recently said that Curtis Blaydes will be no match for Tom Aspinall in their upcoming rematch, predicting an easy victory for his compatriot due to his versatile skill set.
Both Mokaev and Aspinall are set to share the spotlight this Saturday at UFC 304 in their hometown of Manchester, England. The pay-per-view event marks the MMA promotion’s return to the “Rainy City” for the first time since UFC 204 in October 2016.
Hailing from the same locale, Mokaev and Aspinall have a deep-rooted connection and share a storied history. Naturally, the undefeated 125-pounder is backing his fellow townsman and believes Aspinall’s prowess will overwhelm Blaydes…
Mokaev Confident Aspinall’s All-Around Game Will Outclass Blaydes
During a recent interview with Title Sports Network, Mokaev shared his insights on the Aspinall vs. Blaydes showdown. “The Punisher” boldly predicted that the interim champion’s diverse skill set would give him a decisive edge, emphasizing that Aspinall’s grappling abilities make him equally dangerous on the ground.
“I think Tom Aspinall is like… there’s Jon Jones, and there’s Tom Aspinall, that’s it,” Mokaev said. “I think I want to see Jon Jones against Tom Aspinall because he’s so high level. I think he’ll go past Curtis Blaydes easily. You know, Tom Aspinall showed all his striking, but he’s actually a grappler; imagine if the fight goes to the ground. He’s an all-rounded fighter. I think he will win.”
Aspinall faced his first loss in the Octagon against Blaydes two years ago during the main event of UFC Fight Night London in July 2022. The Brit suffered an unfortunate knee injury just 15 seconds into the bout, bringing the fight to an abrupt halt before any real action could unfold.
Apart from that blemish, the 31-year-old Salford native boasts an impressive UFC record, with seven victories to his name. Notably, six of these wins came via first-round finishes against formidable opponents such as Sergei Pavlovich, Marcin Tybura, and Alexander Volkov.
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.”
Robert Whittaker recently commented that, despite their remarkably parallel win streaks, Belal Muhammad’s résumé doesn’t quite measure up to that of Leon Edwards.
“Rocky” is scheduled to defend his welterweight title against Muhammad in a rematch set as the main event of UFC 304. The upcoming showdown will take place this weekend at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
After their first encounter, “Rocky” secured a title shot by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 263 and went on to knock out Kamaru Usman to claim the welterweight championship at UFC 278 in August 2022. Currently, Edwards is riding high on a 13-fight unbeaten streak, marked by victories over notable names such as Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos, and Colby Covington.
Meanwhile, Muhammad had to work his way up the rankings, putting together a five-fight win streak (part of a broader 10-fight unbeaten streak) to finally earn a title opportunity. During his journey, the 36-year-old has triumphed over formidable opponents like Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, and Stephen Thompson.
During his recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker weighed in on the clash between Edwards and Muhammad. “The Reaper” noted that the Jamaican-born Englishman has exhibited remarkable evolution in his fighting style compared to his opponent since their no-contest meeting.
“I can see like two possibilities,” Whittaker said. “The first one, Leon Edwards, just being too good. I think the caliber of fights Leon Edwards has had is different from Belal Muhammad’s. Fighting Usman twice is huge, especially when he fought him the first time; that was good. Fighting Colby, like Colby, is a nightmare for everyone, and he was just able to shut him down so well with spectacular spacing. It’s very hard to find a hole, especially, you know, if we compare it to when he fought Nate Diaz, right? And we saw that hole get exposed in the later round or fights before that.”
“I feel like he’s tightened up to a whole new degree, further than he was then, and especially in that last fight, I was so super impressed with just how clean he was. There wasn’t really anything to pick apart; there weren’t any holes or glaring weaknesses to exploit for Colby.”
Whittaker further acknowledged “Remember the Name’s” impressive credentials but remarked that Muhammad would struggle to match Edwards’ relentless pace.
“I find that sort of fight going to be hard for Belal Muhammad, who, you know, is not spectacular in any one field. He’s kind of just really high level at all of them, in my opinion. He’s amazing at everything, but I feel like his greatest strength is that he’s well-rounded. He can take the fight in any direction to get the win. But I think he’s going to have trouble trying to push that sort of game plan on Leon Edwards.”
Despite wanting to get his own back after the way their first fight ended, Tom Aspinall has not had an enjoyable training camp to prepare for his rematch with Curtis Blaydes.
The interim UFC heavyweight champion has called this contest his dream fight because he gets the opportunity to get revenge in front of his home fans in Manchester at UFC 304.
But, with the wrestling heavy style that Blaydes brings to the table, this has been a training camp which Aspinall won’t be wanting to relive quite so soon.
Aspinall has been leaving no stone unturned and that means putting himself through the ringer each day in training, to make sure that he is ready for what could be a very physically exhausting and draining fight.
Tom Aspinall Has Put In The Tough Grappling Rounds To Prepare For Curtis Blaydes Rematch
Aspinall reflected on his training camp just a few days out from fight night during a recent interview with New York Post Sports.
Training in the north of England, the Brit has surrounded himself with other big fighters and athletes to ensure that they all get the best and most suitable training possible.
That being said, whilst he’s excited to step back inside the Octagon on July 27, this camp has been gruelling to say the least.
He spoke about how in preparing for Blaydes’ wrestling, he has been constantly putting himself in bad positions against big bodies which will be incredibly valuable for him once the cage door closes but it hasn’t been a fun cycle at the same time.
“That’s probably where I spent the most of this camp is on my back with guys on top of me. It’s not been a very, Curtis Blaydes is not a very comfortable guy to train for. Do you know what I mean, you’re getting up off your back. See the way I work it is I work it with multiple training partners so I’ll be starting on bottom, I get them off, the energy that it takes to get a big guy off is, you know, you expend a lot of energy. Then I restart on my back with a fresh partner, like it’s exhausting man, it’s just exhausting training for this guy and I’ve done everything I can so we’ll see on Saturday how it goes.”
UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape has heard some things regarding past training sessions between his upcoming opponent Muhammad Mokaev and champion Alexandre Pantoja.
To stake his claim for a first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage and rematch with Pantoja, “Starboy” is tasked with blemishing the perfect UFC and professional record of Britain’s Mokaev.
While yet to taste defeat in the cage, Mokaev’s latest victories have seemingly left plenty to be desired in the eyes of some fans and peers. That includes in the mind of Pantoja, who has requested to see more from the former IMMAF champion if he’s to challenge for the belt.
And when it comes to Mokaev’s chances against “The Cannibal,” Kape recently explained why he expects “The Punisher” to be exposed against the division’s elite…
Kape: Mokaev ‘Tapped A Lot’ To Pantoja At ATT
During his appearance at UFC 304 media day on Wednesday, Kape looked ahead to his battle with Mokaev on Saturday night.
When discussing the champ’s comments about his opponent, “Starboy” referenced their history training together at American Top Team. Kape claimed that Mokaev no longer heads to the Coconut Creek-based facility to train due to the struggles he had on the ground against Pantoja.
“Pantoja can say a lot of things of him because they trained before together, and I know Pantoja had been submitting him a lot, a lot,” Kape said. “He (Mokaev) tapped a lot. It’s the reason that Mokaev don’t go train more at ATT.”
“There is a lot of mistakes. He’s been struggling a lot. A lot, a lot of mistakes. If he faces somebody in the top three of the UFC (flyweight) rankings, he’s gonna get finished. So it’s gonna be fun.”
Kape will hope that also applies to some further down the pecking order, with the Angola-born Portuguese flyweight currently occupying the #8 position on the 125-pound ladder.
He’ll be looking to climb further toward contention and perhaps secure a top five spot by putting on a standout performance on UK soil this weekend.
UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad believes the masses aren’t giving some aspects of his game the attention they deserve.
Muhammad is in Manchester, England, this week in pursuit of the 170-pound title, which he’ll have his first career shot at in the main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view on Saturday night.
To return back across the Atlantic with a sizable piece of gold added to his luggage, “Remember the Name” must bring the reign of Leon Edwards to an end in enemy territory.
Muhammad has long awaited his opening opportunity to win the belt, having won five straight since a no contest against Edwards in their 2021 fight and remained on the sidelines for the 14 months since his most recent triumph over Gilbert Burns.
But having seen the waves of criticism that arrive at his feet, Muhammad is confident that his doubters — including the champion and his team — aren’t aware of just how good he really is in certain areas…
Muhammad Claims To Be ‘One Of The Most Complete Fighters’ In The UFC
During a recent interview with Zac Pacleb for UFC.com, Muhammad looked ahead to his title opportunity across the pond this weekend.
“Remember the Name” has frequently acknowledged the dismissive attitude toward his chances held by some fans and those in Edwards’ camp, outlining the areas they are all underestimating him in.
“I think that my IQ is underrated,” Muhammad said. “My style is underrated. The way that I go into fights, people don’t understand the strategy. I beat these guys where they’re weakest. I take them to the weakest point. That’s where I beat them at. I could do it all.
“I think that people are starting to realize I am truly one of the best complete fighters in the UFC,” Muhammad added.
Muhammad will look to prove as much come fight night in Manchester by achieving what both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington failed to in 2023.
And more than just having his hand raised and the belt wrapped around his waist on Saturday night, “Remember the Name” has vowed to dominate the welterweight kingpin and finish him before the championship rounds.
Coming into #UFC304 on a 10 fight unbeaten streak 🔥@BullyB170 gets his long awaited shot at the welterweight throne Saturday night!
But having returned successfully in Singapore last August and defended his spot in the top 10 at 145 pounds against Alex Caceres, “Ninja” has his sights back on those above him in the pecking order in pursuit of a title clash with Ilia Topuria.
And when it comes to the July 27 matchup and any other bout for him in the division, Dariush sees Chikadze at his best as a step above the competition…
Dariush Speaks Highly Of Fellow Kings MMA Standout Chikadze, Including His Grappling
During episode two of the UFC 304 Embedded: Vlog Series, Chikadze can be seen putting in the work alongside lightweight contender Beneil Dariush over at Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California.
Speaking to the camera, Dariush praised not just Chikadze’s well-known striking, but also his ever-improving grappling game. And with those developments in mind, the veteran 155lber sees the Georgian as featherweight’s top fighter when he’s firing on all cylinders.
“It’s obvious to see how great his striking is, right? But I think the place he’s improved the most is his grappling. I think there’s been a shift in Giga’s mindset,” Dariush said. “His game is just, it’s changed so much since his days in kickboxing. When Giga’s on, he’s the best in the world. We’re gonna show up (at UFC 304) and we’re make sure he’s on.”
With that in mind, perhaps Allen — who is coming off a wrestling-heavy defeat to Movsar Evloev — isn’t in for the preferred striking battle he’s after and has preached about in the lead-up to UFC 304.
Having slipped from title contention with consecutive losses, Allen will no doubt be hoping to deliver a similar statement display on home soil this weekend.
The last time @ArnoldBFA fought in the UK, THIS HAPPENED 😱
To earn that opportunity, which marks his first shot at UFC gold, “Razor” stalled the charge of the highly touted Jailton Almeida in violent fashion at UFC 299 in Miami this past April.
Off the back of a grappling-heavy decision win over Derrick Lewis in Brazil last November, “Malhadinho” picked up where he left off by attempting early takedowns on Blaydes. But after a round of control, Almeida’s grappling entry seconds into the second round was met with hammerfist after hammerfist from the American for the TKO stoppage.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Blaydes vs. Almeida fight from UFC 299 on its official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xdh-kxt5N8
Blaydes will hope to deliver a similarly emphatic finish at the expense of Aspinall this weekend.
Should he accomplish that feat, “Razor” will not only head back to the United States with gold in his possession for the very first time, but he will also add a more definitive victory over the Brit to his record following the unfortunate ending to their 2022 bout.
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.”
Riding a 10-fight unbeaten streak, “Remember the Name” has been firm in stating that a crowning is inevitable. He’s made claims of superiority over Edwards, whose skillset he’s frequently downplayed. He even recently placed the champ down at fourth in his welterweight rankings.
Despite that, though, Muhammad stated during a fight week interview with MMA Fighting that a victory over “Rocky” at UFC 304 will put him directly below the great Georges St-Pierre in the division’s GOAT discussion.
“That belt doesn’t belong on his shoulder, it belongs on my shoulder,” Muhammad said. “My goal isn’t just to be the champion; my goal is to be the best welterweight to ever do it. For me to go out there and beat Leon, who beat Usman twice who everybody thought was the best welterweight to do it, then I’m ahead of him and right underneath GSP.
“When you look at both of our lineups, it’s like, I beat ‘Wonderboy,’ I beat this guy, I beat that guy, then I get these next young killers,” Muhammad continued. “You give me the Shavkats, you give me the JDMs, the Ian Garrys, and (if) I walk through all of them, there’s nothing else, right? I’m just going to be cemented as the best to ever do it.”
Fans React To Muhammad’s Claim To Second In Welterweight GOAT Debate: ‘Complete Insanity’
Unsurprisingly, those remarks from a polarizing figure in Muhammad led to plenty of pushback from his detractors on social media, with many branding the top welterweight contender “delusional.”
Belal Muhammad is comically, flagrantly, cartoonishly wrong. People who believe the moon is made of cheese are less wrong than Belal is. https://t.co/QmBC9jAAUp
The pair previously shared the cage in the country’s capital two years ago, headlining a UFC Fight Night at The O2. On that night, Aspinall had his previously perfect UFC record blemished courtesy of a freak injury just 15 seconds into the very first round.
In that regard, Blaydes is hoping that lightening doesn’t strike twice…
Blaydes Doesn’t Want Help From An Injury At UFC 304: ‘That Stains The Win’
While many would perhaps be inclined to put additional focus on the limb that gave way 15 seconds into their first fight, Blaydes dismissed any suggestion that he’ll employ such a strategy in Manchester.
“I mean, not unless it’s something I can immediate target or there’s a read, I see him with a limp,” Blaydes said. “But that’s not like, the gameplan, ‘Oh, attack his lead leg.’ I’ll be honest, I can’t even tell you which one (leg) it is, off the dome. No, that’s not part of the gameplan.
“I don’t want to win by an injury. That stains the win. You can’t really brag about a win when the guy got injured,” Blaydes continued. “if it happens, it happens. I’ll take the belt. But it’s not the plan.”
While that’s conventionally been his smothering wrestling game, the likes of Chris Daukaus and most recently Jailton Almeida have felt the full force of “Razor’s” striking power.
UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad doesn’t believe he’s fighting for the title against the division’s best this weekend.
Muhammad’s long-awaited chance to reach the mountaintop on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage is now just days away, with the 36-year-old set to challenge for Leon Edwards’ gold in the main event of UFC 304.
“Remember the Name” will make the walk through a hostile crowd as the underdog on July 27, tasked with achieving a feat that both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington have failed to since “Rocky’s” 2022 crowning.
But Muhammad has unwavering confidence when it comes to upsetting the odds. And to do so, the challenger doesn’t think he even needs to beat a top-three welterweight in the UFC…
Muhammad Puts Himself, Usman, Rakhmonov Above UFC 304 Opponent Edwards
When asked to rank his current top five in the welterweight division, Muhammad put Edwards all the way down at fourth, below a man the champ has beaten consecutively in recent years, ex-titleholder Usman.
“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).”
Muhammad will look to prove his claim to superiority over Edwards come fight night in Manchester this weekend and secure the division’s top spot in the process.
Should he accomplish that feat, all signs point toward a first defense against the undefeated Rakhmonov. And given Muhammad’s rankings, he’d no doubt be confident of a successful title retention.
