UFC 304: Fun storylines, must-see fights and ... bad blood?

Final Combating Championship (UFC) travels to Manchester, England, for its eighth pay-per-view (PPV) occasion of the 12 months, UFC 304. In the principle occasion, welterweight champion Leon Edwards defends his 170-pound title for the third time as he takes on second-ranked contender Belal Muhammad. In UFC 304’s co-main occasion, interim Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall runs it again towards Curtis Blaydes after their first encounter resulted in catastrophe.

UFC 304 is a strong card with a number of enjoyable fights. The environment needs to be unimaginable regardless that the native followers will watch combined martial arts (MMA) fights in the course of the evening (particulars right here). However, earlier than all of it goes down later this night (Sat., July 27, 2024) — begin time slated for six:15 p.m. ET on ESPN+ — let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime.

‘Cottonopolis’

Do you know Manchester as soon as produced 32 p.c of all international cotton?

After staging untold occasions in London, UFC returns to Manchester for the primary time since 2016, by which Michael Bisping headlined towards fierce rival, Dan Henderson, at UFC 204. Bisping gained the battle through unanimous determination.

Bonus reality: Edwards competed on UFC 204’s “Prelims” undercard towards Albert Tumenov, profitable through third spherical submission.

Night time Hawks

The primary card fighters on UFC 304 shall be preventing at a wierd time … no less than when it comes to skilled sports activities. Certainly, UFC 304’s PPV begins at 10 p.m. ET, which is 3 a.m. native time in England, which has angered a number of combatants.

So for Edwards, he’ll defend his welterweight championship at 5 a.m. native time.

Damage Title Rematches

Each title fights this weekend are rematches, and weirdly sufficient, they each resulted in accidents the primary time — Aspinall destroyed his knee, whereas Muhammad obtained his eye poked severely (watch it occur) … extra on these in just a little.

Win Streaks On The Line

“Edwards vs. Belal 2” shall be solely the fourth time that fighters with 10+ unbeaten streaks will battle. Edwards is driving a 12-fight win streak, whereas Muhammad is on a 10-fight win streak (technically 9 due to the “no-contest” after they fought the primary time).

Gotta Go!

Somebody’s three should go this weekend in the principle occasion — Edwards’ report is 22-3 and Muhammad’s report is 23-3.

Three Years

Three years in the past at UFC Vegas 21 (March 21, 2021), Muhammad stepped up on quick discover to battle Edwards after Khamzat Chimaev pulled out two instances. The battle solely lasted just a little a couple of spherical as Edwards poked Muhammad within the eye 18 seconds into the second spherical, ending the match through “no-contest.”

The rematch was by no means booked, and 1,221 days later, they run it again later tonight.

One Likelihood

“Keep in mind the Title” has scratched and clawed his technique to a long-awaited welterweight title shot … and it’ll most likely be his solely alternative ever.

That’s as a result of it looks like UFC tried to keep away from this title battle for so long as potential, however at this level, it was unavoidable. Muhammad has to win the title, or he would be the Welterweight gatekeeper for the remainder of his profession. He isn’t a spring rooster, both, at 36 years outdated.

Licensed Foremost Eventer

UFC 304 shall be Edwards’ fourth straight principal occasion (UFC 228, UFC 286 and UFC 296) and seventh principal occasion general. This weekend shall be Muhammad’s third principal occasion.

The Uncommon Interim

Aspinall defends UFC’s interim Heavyweight championship this weekend, which is definitely a uncommon prevalence. Renan Barao, Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira have been a couple of different fighters who needed to defend interim titles.

Working It Again

As talked about earlier than, Aspinall vs. Blaydes is a rematch. The primary battle came about in 2022 at UFC London. Aspinall blew out his knee solely 15 seconds into the primary spherical, and Blaydes gained through technical knockout. Since that battle, “Razor” has gone 1-1, dropping to Sergei Pavlovich and Jailton Almeida, whereas Aspinall has been excellent (2-0), defeating Marcin Tybura and Pavlovich.

Hardest Struggle

Throughout UFC 304 media day, Aspinall informed the media that Blaydes is his “hardest battle” so far. Stylistically, Blaydes may very well be a nightmare matchup for Aspinall, particularly if the British fighter can’t knock him out.

Title Struggle Noob

Blaydes shall be preventing for a UFC title for the primary time in his 18-fight UFC profession.

Stand Up Chicago!

Each title challengers are from Chicago. Whereas Blaydes now lives and trains out of Colorado, Muhammad nonetheless trains within the “Windy Metropolis.”

So Lengthy, Bobby

Bobby Inexperienced has legally modified his title to King Inexperienced —one thing he has talked about for greater than two years.

Shot At High 15

Paddy Pimblett, who’s preventing Inexperienced, will get his shot on the Light-weight High 15 rankings. Inexperienced is presently ranked No. 15

Pimblett is undefeated in UFC and is driving a seven-fight win streak.

Widespread Opponents

Inexperienced and Pimblett have fought the identical opponents with totally different outcomes throughout the final two years. First, Jared Gordon — Inexperienced fought him to a “No Contest” after an unintended head conflict (watch it), and Pimblett beat Gordon through tremendous controversial unanimous determination.

Pimblett defeated Tony Ferguson in his final outing through unanimous determination; nonetheless, at UFC 291, Inexperienced tapped Ferguson out.

Robust Camp

Pimblett revealed throughout UFC 304 media day that his coaches requested him to withdraw from the battle due to his psychological well being. “Baddy” clearly determined towards that call and is able to go this weekend.

Iconic Orange

Pimblett obtained his want and shall be carrying customized Venom orange shorts. He got here up within the regional promotion Cage Warriors carrying orange shorts, however when he obtained to UFC, they have been gone.

Effectively, they’re again!

Middleweight Automobile Crash

Christian Leeroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues was moved from the “prelims” to UFC 304’s PPV principal card, and the matchmakers know precisely why. Each Middleweight fighters come to bang and have a ton of finishes.

Rodrigues has an 87 p.c end charge with 9 knockouts, whereas Duncan boasts a 90 p.c end charge with eight knockouts. This battle goes to finish violently … most likely within the first spherical — don’t blink!

High 10 Featherweights Conflict

Opening up the PPV is a High 10 Featherweight matchup between Arnold Allen (No. 6) vs. Giga Chikadze (No. 10). Allen is coming off a two-fight dropping streak — the primary of his profession — whereas Chikadze is coming off a win over Alex Caceres.

A win is essential for each fighters.

No. 1 Contender Struggle On The Prelims??????

For some cause, Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape obtained moved from UFC 304’s PPV to the early “Prelims,” which is simply completely complicated as a result of the winner may problem Alexandre Pantoja for the Flyweight championship. Mokaev is ranked No. 6 within the division, and Kape is No. 8.

Kape is driving a four-fight win streak, and Mokaev is undefeated.

Welcome To UFC!

Just one fighter is making their UFC debut this weekend at UFC 304.

Alice Ardelean (9-5) takes on Shauna Bannon. Ardelean was presupposed to compete on this 12 months’s Contender Collection, however now she is a UFC fighter. She holds an 88 p.c end charge with 4 knockouts and 4 submissions.

Ardelean will not be actually a very good fighter; nonetheless, she boasts a big social media following … particularly on TikTok. The Romanian-turned-English fighter has greater than three million followers on TikTok, a half-million subscribers on Instagram, and over 100,000 likes on OnlyFans.

Eight Days Discover

Jake Hadley is stepping in on eight days’ discover towards Caolan Loughran. He may even be preventing up a division at Bantamweight. Loughran was scheduled to battle Ramon Taveras, however an harm scrapped that battle.

Hadley is coming off two losses.

Strawweight Meatball

Molly McCann competes in her second strawweight battle this weekend towards Bruna Brasil. McCann was victorious in her first strawweight battle when she made mild work of Diana Belbita within the first spherical.

Whereas it’s too early to inform if McCann can shake up the Strawweight division, a dominant win at UFC 304 will preserve her momentum going.

UFC 304 Struggle Chief

The fighter with essentially the most profession fights competing at UFC 304 is Inexperienced (48).

UFC 304 Struggle Rookie

The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC 304 is Bannon (6).

UFC 304 Knockout King

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 304 is Blaydes (13).

UFC 304 Submission Savant

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession submissions competing at UFC 304 is Daniel Pineda (19).

Winners And Losers

Nineteen fighters are coming off wins, 9 are coming off losses

Multi-Divisions

Listed here are the divisions that shall be on show this Saturday:

Two Heavyweight fights
One Gentle Heavyweight fights
One Middleweight
Three Welterweight fights
One Light-weight battle
One Featherweight battle
One Bantamweight battle
Two Girls’s Strawweight fights