UFC 304, Issues to Watch: Enjoyable Storylines, Should-See Fights And … Dangerous Blood?

Final Combating Championship (UFC) travels to Manchester, England, for its eighth pay-per-view (PPV) occasion of the yr, UFC 304. In the primary 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 led to catastrophe.

UFC 304 is a strong card with a number of enjoyable fights. The ambiance must be unbelievable 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 % of all world cotton?

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

Bonus truth: Edwards competed on UFC 204’s “Prelims” undercard towards Albert Tumenov, profitable by way of third spherical submission.

Night time Hawks

The principle card fighters on UFC 304 can be combating at an odd time … at the very least by way of 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 led to accidents the primary time — Aspinall destroyed his knee, whereas Muhammad obtained his eye poked severely (watch it occur) … extra on these in a bit of.

Win Streaks On The Line

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

Gotta Go!

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

Three Years

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

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

One Probability

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

That’s as a result of it looks like UFC tried to keep away from this title struggle for so long as attainable, 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 previous.

Licensed Major Eventer

UFC 304 can be Edwards’ fourth straight primary occasion (UFC 228, UFC 286 and UFC 296) and seventh primary occasion total. This weekend can be Muhammad’s third primary 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.

Operating It Again

As talked about earlier than, Aspinall vs. Blaydes is a rematch. The primary struggle passed off in 2022 at UFC London. Aspinall blew out his knee solely 15 seconds into the primary spherical, and Blaydes received by way of technical knockout. Since that struggle, “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 advised the media that Blaydes is his “hardest struggle” so far. Stylistically, Blaydes could possibly be a nightmare matchup for Aspinall, particularly if the British fighter can’t knock him out.

Title Struggle Noob

Blaydes can be combating 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 identify to King Inexperienced —one thing he has talked about for greater than two years.

Shot At High 15

Paddy Pimblett, who’s combating 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 using a seven-fight win streak.

Frequent Opponents

Inexperienced and Pimblett have fought the identical opponents with completely different outcomes inside 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 by way of tremendous controversial unanimous resolution.

Pimblett defeated Tony Ferguson in his final outing by way of unanimous resolution; nevertheless, at UFC 291, Inexperienced tapped Ferguson out.

Powerful Camp

Pimblett revealed throughout UFC 304 media day that his coaches requested him to withdraw from the struggle 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 can be sporting customized Venom orange shorts. He got here up within the regional promotion Cage Warriors sporting orange shorts, however when he obtained to UFC, they have been gone.

Properly, they’re again!

Middleweight Automotive Crash

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

Rodrigues has an 87 % end charge with 9 knockouts, whereas Duncan boasts a 90 % end charge with eight knockouts. This struggle goes to finish violently … in all probability 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 totally complicated as a result of the winner might problem Alexandre Pantoja for the Flyweight championship. Mokaev is ranked No. 6 within the division, and Kape is No. 8.

Kape is using 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 purported to compete on this yr’s Contender Sequence, however now she is a UFC fighter. She holds an 88 % end charge with 4 knockouts and 4 submissions.

Ardelean isn’t actually an excellent fighter; nevertheless, she boasts a huge 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 combating up a division at Bantamweight. Loughran was scheduled to struggle Ramon Taveras, however an harm scrapped that struggle.

Hadley is coming off two losses.

Strawweight Meatball

Molly McCann competes in her second strawweight struggle this weekend towards Bruna Brasil. McCann was victorious in her first strawweight struggle 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 probably 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 probably the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 304 is Blaydes (13).

UFC 304 Submission Savant

The fighter with probably 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 below are the divisions that can be on show this Saturday:

• Two Heavyweight fights
• One Gentle Heavyweight fights
• One Middleweight
• Three Welterweight fights
• One Light-weight struggle
• One Featherweight struggle
• One Bantamweight struggle
• Two Ladies’s Strawweight fights

Beta Canine

In response to DraftKings, the “greatest” underdog at UFC 304 is Kiefer Crosbie at +330.

For full UFC 304 outcomes and 360-degree protection click on right here.