The UFC circuit is in Manchester, England for the first time since 2016. The main fight on the card is the highly anticipated second match, and UFC welterweight championship bout, between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. The first one in 2021 didn’t finish and was declared a no contest due to an accidental eye poke. Muhammad and Edwards can’t wait to enter the octagon in Manchester and start the fight. The stakes are high.
The co-op Live arena is pretty much brand new expected to be sold out for the UFC 304 event. The Co-op live has the largest capacity for any indoor arena in Europe and it houses 23.500 seats. The Co-op Live opened up as recently as May, 2024.
The rest of the fight card is headlined by the very interesting interim UFC heavyweight championship bout between Tom Aspinall (the title holder) and Curtis Blaydes. These two fought in July 2022 and Blaydes won that one. Aspinall got injured early in the fight. Aspinall is, of course, out to get his revenge. Aspinall is from Salford near Manchester and he will be as hungry as never before to win this important fight. Some other noteworthy fights on the main card are the prolific, Paddy Pimblett, will square off with Bobby Green in the lightweight category. Arnold Allen will fight Giga Chikadze in the featherweight category. In the middleweight category the Brazilian Gregory Rodrigues will take on Chris Duncan.
Leon Edwards has been a pro since 2011 and this fight is one of his biggest so far in his career. His fight vs Usman in 2022 is considered one of the great UFC classics all time. This fight will be Edwards third title defence in the UFC Welterweight category and such a treat for him that the fight is in his home country. The American Belal Muhammad has 23 wins out of the 27 he has fought. Five of them by knockout. The 36 year old from Chacago has the experience but not the talent that the 32 year old Edwards has.
