UFC 304 is set to go down at Co-op Live in Manchester, England this Saturday. The main card pay-per-view begins streaming on ESPN+ at 10:00 EST.
This blockbuster card features two title fights at the top of the bill centered around rematches. Both the main and co-main event fights will feature familiar faces in the octagon.
The featured fight on UFC 304 features UFC Welterweight champion Leon Edwards looking to defend his title against Belal Muhammad.
The second most important fight on UFC 304 features UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall as he looks to even the score against top contender Curtis Blaydes.
Click here to watch the UFC 304 press conference. Coverage via ‘TheMacLife’ on YouTube.
UFC 304 Main Event: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2
UFC 304’s star matchup will showcase the best welterweights in the world as welterweight champion Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards (22-3-0, 1NC) will look to continue his reign as he takes on a familiar foe in No. 2-ranked Belal ‘Remember The Name’ Muhammad (23-3-0, 1NC).
These two initially fought back in March 2021. In this fight, Edwards looked to be one step ahead in the striking exchanges. However, there was no true conclusion as to who the better fighter was given the gruesome eye poke that Muhammad suffered at the hands of Edwards during the second round.
This eye poke left Muhammad reeling in pain both visibly and audibly as the Chicago native was forced to sit down on the canvas and address his damaged eye.
After a few minutes and further discussion between the fighter, referee, and ringside physician, the fight was called off, resulting in a no-contest.
That said, Edwards and Muhammad have improved exponentially and will enter this rematch as completely different fighters.
In this UFC 304 matchup, Edwards will look to land his sharp leg kicks on the outside while maintaining a safe striking distance, whereas Muhammad will look to close the distance on the taller and longer man and mix up grappling entries.
I see Edwards being able to switch up the levels in his shot selection on the feet, slowly but surely picking Muhammad apart. The fight will take place on the feet for the majority of the duration, and in that facet of MMA, I simply find it hard to see Edwards getting bested by a striker like Muhammad.
As for the challenger, his best route to victory in this tough matchup is to push an unfathomable pace on the champion. If Muhammad can interrupt Edwards’ distance control and make the champion potentially exert energy in grappling exchanges, the odds will shift in favor of the challenger.
Ultimately, the advantages in physical tools like length, size, and speed all favor the champion and will be the deciding factor in this title fight rematch.
Overall, I predict that Edwards will display an all-around game of mixed martial arts and cruise to a dominant decision victory at UFC 304.
Prediction: Edwards via Decision
UFC 304 Co-main Event: Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (14-3-0) will look to get his revenge in this title defense as he takes on No. 4-ranked Curtis Blaydes (18-4-0, 1NC) in a rematch.
These two heavyweight juggernauts initially clashed back in July 2022. In this fight, Aspinall suffered an unfortunate knee injury just fifteen seconds into the bout. This injury forced the referee to step in and call a stop to the action, crowning Blaydes the winner via TKO.
Now slated to rematch at UFC 304, I see Aspinall making easy work of the challenging Blaydes. As it currently stands, no other heavyweight on the UFC roster possesses the Englishman’s all-around skillset.
His fast hands and impressive jiujitsu, combined with his elite footwork at such an enormous size, make him a unicorn amongst the other fighters in the division, including the reigning champion Jon Jones.
I expect Aspinall to show up and show out in front of his home crowd by delivering a spectacular knockout over Blaydes within the first two rounds of the fight.
Aspinall will be able to land a devastating finishing punch on Blaydes’s chin sometime in the first half of the fight.
Prediction: Aspinall via TKO/KO R2
Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
UFC 304 features England’s golden boy of MMA as Paddy Pimblett (21-3-0) makes his return to the cage, taking on the toughest test of his career in the battle-tested veteran No. 15-ranked lightweight Bobby ‘King’ Green (32-15-1, 1NC).
Long-time MMA veteran Bobby Green will finally have his wish granted this Saturday as he clashes with the rising superstar Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett on the main card of UFC 304.
There is clarity about where these two fighters stand in their respective skills that they bring inside the octagon. Fans know Green for his slick and entertaining striking style and cage theatrics that have earned him such a career. Conversely, Pimblett is known for his goofy antics and crafty grappling skills, making him a pillar in European MMA.
It’s no secret that the UFC is fully behind ‘The Baddy’ as he takes on a legitimate threat in Green. However, if he is able to pass this test with flying colors, who’s to say what limits can be placed on the rising Pimblett?
That said, Pimblett is the much larger man between the two and holds a reasonably decent advantage in overall athleticism. Regarding the striking department, I, like many others, hold Green’s skills over Pimblett’s.
However, I do think Pimblett is more than capable of hurting Green, who is 37 years old and has been knocked out a few times in the past.
Green will likely land more than a few good punches that land flush on Pimblett’s chin throughout this fight; however, I do not think he is capable of fighting the perfect fight needed to beat the Englishman in this particular matchup.
Picture Pimblett exploding into wild shots, potentially rattling or even knocking down the veteran. This could lead to a dramatic sequence of takedowns or backtakes, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to the fight.
Ultimately, I predict that Paddy Pimblett will be able to limit the good moments of Bobby Green on the feet, therefore leading to a potential upset victory at UFC 304. This possibility should give hope to Pimblett’s fans and keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Prediction: Pimblett via Decision
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape
This early-prelim fight on UFC 304 is guaranteed to bring an action packed showcase of mixed martial arts as rival flyweights No. 6-ranked Muhammad Mokaev (12-0-0) and No. 8-ranked Manel Kape (19-6-0) look to finally settle their personal beef inside the cage.
This long-awaited flyweight matchup was initially slated on the main card of UFC 304. However, the fight was recently shifted down to the early prelims for reasons unknown.
During the early stages of fight week, Mokaev and Kape recently got into an apparent scuffle inside the fighter hotel.
This skirmish is the latest incident related to their documented beef outside the cage. According to UFC featherweight Jean Silva, there had been a reported incident between the two at the UFC’s Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada, a few weeks ago.
That said, Mokaev will come into this heated UFC 304 matchup looking to make a big statement for numerous reasons. The first is the long-built beef between him and Kape, and many naysayers have voiced their opinions about his recent performance against Alex Perez.
Mokaev fought Perez back in March and did not perform best, constantly getting sprawled on by the veteran flyweight. Mokaev came out on social media after the fight, expressing that he had been severely ill during fight week and had been puking leading up to the battle.
Considering that Mokaev still won the decision and kept his perfect record intact.
Kape last fought in September 2023 against Felipe Dos Santos, who stepped in on short notice. Kape handily won this fight, securing a unanimous decision victory over the Brazilian.
Back to the UFC 304 fight, Mokaev will be able to weather Kape’s early barrage in the opening round. He will likely be put on his back foot for most of the first round.
Both men will exchange chopping low kicks and jabs to establish striking range until one of them decides to initiate a grappling sequence. In these sequences, Mokaev will be provided with his best lanes to victory as he is the better grappler of the two.
Whereas Kape is easily the more dangerous striker between the pair, he will be looking to land thudding left hands and hard low-kicks on the opportunistic grappler.
Over three rounds, I predict Mokaev will be able to make Kape work hard and exert unnecessary energy, allowing the younger man to take control of the fight’s pacing and ultimately secure a hard-fought decision victory.
Prediction: Mokaev via Decision
Other Fights on UFC 304
Main Card:
- (185 lbs.) Christian Leroy Duncan (10-1-0) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (15-5-0): Duncan via TKO/KO R2
- (145 lbs.) Arnold Allen (19-3-0) vs. Giga Chikadze (15-3-0): Allen via Decision
Prelims:
- (145 lbs.) Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (28-15-0, 3NC): Wood via Decision
- (W 115 lbs.) Molly McCann (14-6-0) vs. Bruna Brasil (9-4-1): McCann via TKO/KO R2
- (135 lbs.) Jake Hadley (10-3-0) vs. Caolan Loughran (9-1-0): Loughran via Decision
- (205 lbs.) Modestas Bukauskas (15-6-0) vs. Marcin Prachnio (17-7-0): Bukauskas via Decision
Early Prelims:
- (170 lbs.) Oban Elliott (10-2-0) vs. Preston Parsons (11-4-0): Parsons via Decision
- (170 lbs.) Sam Patterson (11-2-1) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (10-4-0): Patterson via Submission R2
- (265 lbs.) Mick Parkin (9-0-0) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (9-4-1, 1NC): Parkin via Decision
- (W 115 lbs.) Shauna Bannon (5-1-0) vs. Alice Ardelean (9-5-0): Bannon via Decision
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