MMA enthusiasts residing in the United Kingdom have eagerly awaited fight announcements since the Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed its return to English soil in March 2024.
Finally, UFC President Dana White announced two championship title fights that will headline the event, and the promotion is certainly delivering the goods for English fight fans.
On July 27, at the Co-Op Live Arena, two British fighters will defend their gold at UFC 304 when Leon “Rocky” Edwards and Tom Aspinall return to the octagon before their fellow countrymen. As we prepare to place our bets at the top UFC betting sites, let’s see what we should expect from this anticipated event.
BREAKING NEWS!!! #UFC304 pic.twitter.com/C5uCJJBUYk
— danawhite (@danawhite) May 16, 2024
Edwards vs. Muhammad II: Rocky’s Return
Leon Edwards, representing Birmingham, England, shocked the MMA community at UFC 278 when he dethroned the formidable Kamaru Usman to become the welterweight champion. His emphatic head kick win, which echoed around the world, remains strong in our memories, and the +290 UK underdog at the time left his mark on the sport like no other.
Now, behind a 12-fight win streak dating back to 2015, two successful title defenses, including another win over Usman and a dominant unanimous decision victory over Colby Covington, he returns for another championship defense against a familiar foe.
2022 – 2023 🗓️🏆
UFC 278 📍
Leon Edwards creates one of the biggest upset in history, after being dominated during a part of the fight, he knocked out Kamaru Usman in the 5th round with a brutal head kick to become the new Welterweight champion. pic.twitter.com/OZsVIjbmiG
— PΛЯIIΛ💭 (@PariiaMMA) January 3, 2024
In steps the 170-pound No.1 contender, Belal Muhammad. Following nine consecutive wins, including names such as Gilbert Burns, Vincente Luque, and Stephen Thompson, Belal has rightfully gained a title opportunity against Edwards, whom he once competed against back in 2021.
A nasty eye poke ended Edwards versus Belal in 2021, but the momentum of that contest was undeniably in the Brits’ favor.
With the rematch set, now including title ramifications, can Belal do anything different? “Remember the Name” receives a lot of harsh criticism for his “boring” style, and he’ll need super sharp kickboxing skills to match Edwards on the feet.
While we may not “Remember the Name,” we certainly remember the first two minutes of the first fight, where “Rocky” gave him a lesson in elite-level striking.
Leon Edwards peicing up Belal for 2 minutes straight pic.twitter.com/cH22w2uZ6I
— Dylan♿️ (@EdwardsSZN_) May 16, 2024
Aspinall vs. Blaydes II: Interim Heavyweight Gold
Déjà vu strikes again. Much like the main event of UFC 304, the co-main event between the interim heavyweight champ, Tom Aspinall, and the challenger, Curtis Blaydes, is a rematch that ended with an unwanted finish.
After a freak ACL tear following a leg kick that he threw, Blaydes remains Aspinall’s only defeat as a UFC competitor. While the official records mark this as a loss, we know that it’s nothing more than a technicality, and the reality is that no fighter has defeated Aspinall to date.
Tom Aspinall lands a leg kick then falls to the ground in pain, ending the #UFCLondon main event.
Curtis Blaydes wins via TKO. pic.twitter.com/GDJcOmyXHW
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 23, 2022
Undoubtedly, It’s an intriguing rematch and certainly a worthy piece of matchmaking for the Manchester co-main event. However, the ‘interim’ label on Aspinall doesn’t sit right with many fans, and there’s only one man to blame… the undisputed champ, Jon Jones.
Jones has been called out for ducking Aspinall while waiting for an aging Stipe Miocic. But let’s face the facts: those allegations could be true. What stops Jones from allowing the interim champion to challenge the undisputed crown? Aspinall’s the rightful no.1 contender, and Jones would’ve been capable of headlining UFC 304 versus Aspinall.
That said, there’s no point in crying over spilled milk, and Blaydes is a great plan B. Let’s hope “Bones Jones” will prove he’s what he claims to be, the G.O.A.T, and accept a real challenge instead of stalling the division for easily winnable fights.
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will take on Curtis Blaydes at #UFC304 in Manchester, @danawhite announced. pic.twitter.com/4PQB938ClQ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 16, 2024
British UFC History: Two English Champions & A Plethora of UK Stars
Dissimilar to the sport of boxing, where British-born fighters have commonly held championships, for the last 30 years, Manchester’s Michael Bisping was the lone English competitor to win UFC Gold.
The company has gone from one extreme to another because now Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall are simultaneously holding UFC gold, pushing the English to have three world champions overall. This is the first time in history that two UK representatives have held championship titles.
Tom Aspinall joins Michael Bisping and current welterweight champion Leon Edwards as the only fighters from England to win a UFC championship 👏🏴 #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/aSnK8erT7q
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 12, 2023
There is no better time for the UFC to hold a high-profile event on British waters, but aside from the main and co-main event draws at UFC 304, the company is also arriving with a plethora of stars who’re representing the nation.
There hasn’t been a time in UFC history when more English-based fighters were on the roster, spanning several divisions.
With little introduction needed, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett is one of the company’s fastest-rising stars; the undefeated Mohammad Mokaev is one or two fights away from title contention; Arnold Allen is a top-10 ranked featherweight, and the likes of Nathaniel Wood and Molly McCann have evolved into British stars in professional MMA.
All of the above will compete at UFC 304 alongside some fresh UK faces, like the undefeated Mick Parkin and the event opener, Christian Leroy Duncan.
As a result, British MMA has never been healthier, with fans looking forward to UFC 304, which is undeniably the biggest UK event in combat sports history!
Two big rematches top the bill at #UFC304 in Manchester 🇬🇧
Leon Edwards 🆚 Belal Muhammad
Tom Aspinall 🆚 Curtis Blaydes pic.twitter.com/KYEPedO4iY— DAZN MMA (@daznmma) May 16, 2024
UFC 304 Scheduled Bouts
The complete main card and preliminary bout schedule have yet to be finalized, but more than half of the UFC 304 fights have been announced. You can find the already scheduled UFC 304 fights below, but the bout order (besides the main and co-main events) is subject to change.
UFC 304 Main Card Bouts Thus Far:
- Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad II – UFC Welterweight Championship Main Event
- Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes II – UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event
- Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze – UFC Featherweight Bout
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape – UFC Flyweight Bout
- Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett – Light Heavyweight Bout
UFC 304 Preliminary Bouts Thus Far:
- Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda – UFC Featherweight Bout
- Shauna Bannon vs. Ravena Oliveira – UFC Bantamweight Bout
- Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil – UFC Women’s Bantamweight Bout
- Caolan Loughran vs. Ramon Taveras – UFC Bantamweight Bout
- Oban Elliot vs. Preston Parsons – UFC Welterweight Bout
- Mick Parkin vs. Lukasz Brzeski – UFC Heavyweight Bout
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Robert Bryczek – UFC Middleweight Bout
