UFC 304 Main Card Revealed w/ Edwards vs Belal, Aspinall vs Blaydes
UFC 304 main card is announced along with two champions from UK defending their titles in the main event and co-main event in two different rematches.
UFC President Dana White took to social media on Thursday, May 16 to reveal the complete main card for UFC 304 PPV. Leon Edwards will defend UFC Welterweight Championship in the main event against Belal Muhammad. Tom Aspinall will defend his interim UFC Heavyweight Championship in the co-main event.
Previously reported flyweight bout between Manel Kape and Mohammed Mokaev is also confirmed now. Two lightweight stars in Paddy Pimblett and Bobby Green are also set to clash while top ranked featherweights Allen Arnold and Giga Chikadze complete the main card. UFC 304 is set to take place on July 27, 2024, in Manchester, UK.
Rematches in Main Event & Co-Main Event
Both headliner and co-headliner fights are rematch clashes. Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad previously fought in March 2021 to headline a Fight Night event. Their fight ended in the second round in a no-contest after an accidental eye poke rendered Muhammad unable to continue the fight. Tom Aspinall lost to Curtis Blaydes at UFC London Fight Night in 2022 after he suffered a knee injury 15 seconds into the fight.
Two Unbeaten Streaks Clash in Main Event
Leon Edwards heads into this fight after successful title defenses against Kamaru Usman(UFC 286) and Colby Covington(UFC 296). He is currently on a 13-fight unbeaten streak which started back in 2016. Similarly, Belal Muhammad last tasted defeat in January 2019 and has gone unbeaten in 10 fights since. Their previous clash in 2021 remain the only bout for both of them during this streak where they were not able to win.
Resurgence in Co-Main Event
Tom Aspinall’s loss to Curtis Blaydes, due to injury, remains the only loss in his UFC record so far in 8 bouts. Since returning from the injury, Aspinall has taken down Marcin Tybura and Sergei Pavlovich(for interim title), and looks unbeaten once again.
After beating Aspinall, Blaydes suffered a loss to Pavlovich in April 2023 but has since beaten surging contender Jailton Almeida at UFC 299. Who will be the one to continue their resurgence?
