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UFC 304 heads to Manchester, England, on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV). It then continues in Manchester, England, well into Sunday morning, thanks to an unconventional start time that may have fighters rubbing their eyes before stepping into the cage.
Local fans may not like the idea of attending an event that starts when the regulars finish, but one look at this card is enough to see why it’s worth it. There will be plenty to cheer for British fans with local talents such as Leon Edwards, Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett and Arnold Allen. There’s also the added attraction of really high stakes on thrilling clashes.
Take the co-main event between Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes, for example. Technically, the UFC’s interim heavyweight title is on the line. And when asked if the winner of this fight would face the winner of the actual UFC heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic, UFC president Dana White had a one-word answer: “absolutely.”
Of course, White doesn’t have to guarantee that. Jones could win and retire immediately. In fact, he has hinted several times that that is exactly what he plans to do. If all goes as planned, the winner of this rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes would become the overall champion.
I mean, can you really imagine someone like Jones staying at home and letting Blaydes or Aspinall take all the glory? Can you imagine him doing it for more than six to nine months? It’s hard to believe, is what I’m saying. Especially if this weekend’s winner comes out with all the energy and a screaming crowd of supporters, which is very likely to happen if Aspinall continues his streak of fast and violent finishes.
Here’s what’s happening on the UFC 304 main card from Co-op Live in Manchester:
Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze
Who are they: Both men have taken turns as the new featherweight star in recent years. Both also saw their careers slowed by losses at inopportune times. Allen is the local boy, giving up some height and reach to Chikadze, but at least this time the UFC has given him a striking specialist who will likely grant his wish to stand up and change fights.
Because it is important: Both fighters have shown flashes of brilliance, enough that there may well be a future title contender in this matchup. Obviously, neither wants to lose here, but it’s Allen who is in a must-win situation. He’s coming off two losses. Both were to quality opponents, but three in a row looks like a potential career-ending blow. Especially with all those British fans watching.
Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Who are they: “CLD” is a local boy with an extensive history in MMA on British soil, first as an amateur and then as a rapidly rising pro. Rodrigues is a Brazilian knockout artist who seems to lose just as he is on the cusp of putting together an impressive run.
Because it is important: This fight feels like Duncan is going to step up a level. If he beats Rodrigues, he’ll move up to a more serious fight in the UFC’s middleweight division. If he makes a good impression, he might even slide up the rankings. Rodrigues, on the other hand, is trying to put together his first three-fight winning streak since joining the UFC. He’d love to break his previous pattern and prove that he’s capable of some consistency.
King Green vs Paddy Pimblett
Who are they: Green recently changed his name from Bobby to King because, as he told Yahoo Sports, he likes to “keep things interesting.” That’s also a good description of his fighting style, as you’ll usually find him with his hands on his hips, talking to his opponents and their trainers, before throwing out quick punch combos and deftly dodging counters. Pimblett isn’t as well-known for his striking. He’s relied on his grappling and personality to get to this point, but we’ve seen major flaws in his stand-up game.
Because it is important: Pimblett has said that this is the last fight of his UFC contract and that he would like to see if there is YouTuber boxing money waiting for him on the other side. Green is a stylistically difficult opponent for him, which could be why the UFC made this fight at this time, as it could send Pimblett to free agency with a loss that would show how much he still has to learn about the striking game.
Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes
Who are they: Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion, a big, athletic man with a great ability to knock out. Blaydes is a heavyweight fighter who has made a living by being a problem without ever being a star. However, if you don’t know how to fight, he’s the guy who’s likely to figure it out.
Because it is important: The winner of this fight will either fight the winner of Jones vs. Miocic (likely Jones) or be crowned champion by default at some point. The betting odds lean heavily toward Aspinall, and the UFC likely expects him to be the one left standing when the dust clears. Fight fans love heavyweights with one-punch power. If he wins, expect him to immediately begin his campaign to convince Jones to stay.
Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad
Who are they: Edwards is the UFC welterweight champion, a title he won with a dramatic comeback knockout of Kamaru Usman that looked like something out of a movie. Muhammad is the guy who has been clamoring for a title shot as he racks up wins, though his lack of star power made him an unconvincing proposition for the UFC.
Because it is important: Not only is the belt at stake, but there’s also a lot at stake for two guys who have a history and don’t like each other. Their fight in 2021 ended in a no-contest after Edwards accidentally poked Muhammad in the eye. The bitterness between them has reached a boiling point here, as Muhammad vowed to defeat Edwards without issue. As much as each would like to win, both would hate to lose to the other. That might be a stronger motivation even than the title.
