The UFC is returning to the UK with UFC 304 in Manchester, England. Dana White announced on social media that the main card will include two championship fights, though the full card hasn’t been confirmed yet.
BREAKING NEWS!!! #UFC304 pic.twitter.com/C5uCJJBUYk
— danawhite (@danawhite) May 16, 2024
The main event at UFC 304 in Manchester will feature UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards defending his title against Belal Muhammad, marking their second encounter since March 2021.
In the highly anticipated rematch, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will defend his title against Belal Muhammad, who has been campaigning for this fight for over a year.
Edwards, with strong fan support in England, aims to defend his title for the third time.
Meanwhile, Muhammad, riding a nine-fight win streak, is known for his effective, albeit less flashy, fighting style.
In the co-main event, UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will face Curtis Blaydes in another rematch, adding to the excitement for UK fans.
Tom Aspinall faced his only UFC defeat against Curtis Blaydes due to a serious knee injury in the first 15 seconds of their July 2022 bout.
Since then, Aspinall has rebounded with two consecutive first-round finishes over Marcin Tybura and Sergei Pavlovich, earning him the interim heavyweight title.
He had hoped for a showdown with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but Jones is still recovering from injury and focused on a future bout with Stipe Miocic.
Curtis Blaydes earned his shot at the interim title with a second-round TKO win over Jailton Almeida, who had dominated him in the first round with superior wrestling.
Blaydes seized the opportunity when Almeida attempted a lazy takedown in the second round, allowing Blaydes to capitalize with hammerfists and secure the victory.
Here is the confirmed main card for the promotion’s return to Manchester:
- (c) Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad – UFC Welterweight Championship
- (c) Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes – UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship
- Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett – Lightweight
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape – Men’s Flyweight
- Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze – Featherweight
The event will be held at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, known for its state-of-the-art facilities suitable for sporting events and concerts.
With a seating capacity of around 23,500, it stands as one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe, promising an electrifying atmosphere for UFC 304.
It’s exciting that the Co-Op Live arena kicked off its opening with an Elbow concert! Looking forward to hearing more about the rest of the UFC 304 card and seeing more UK fighters in action.
The event sounds like it’s shaping up to be a fantastic showcase of talent.
