UFC returns to the UK this Saturday as homegrown fighters Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards feature in the two Co-Main events on the night.
Despite the event featuring two Englishmen, the events start time has left UK fans bewildered as it appears the timings have been tailored for the US audience.
Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards is set to defend his welterweight title against former rival Belal Muhammad after the pair first met in 2021. However the bout was ruled a no-contest after Edwards committed an accidental eye poke.
The second Co-Main event of the night sees another fight reimagined as Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes meet once again for the interim heavyweight title.
The pair first encountered one another in the Octagon back in 2022 at the O2 but it was a short lived affair – with the fight only lasting 15 seconds after Aspinall suffered a near career-ending knee injury.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC 304 including venue, UK start time, how to follow and full fight card.
Leon Edwards will look to defend his welterweight title against former rival Belal Muhammad
Tom Aspinall will go up against Curtis Blaydes for the UFC interim Heavyweight Championship title just two years after he suffered a near career-ending injury against his opponent
When and where is UFC 304?
UFC 304 is scheduled for this Saturday, July 27. The event will take place in the Co-op live in Manchester.
What time is UFC 304?
Despite the event taking place in the UK, the fight won’t follow the typical time schedule as other UK fights.
The preliminary action for the event won’t get up and running until 11pm, whilst the main event isn’t expected until around 3am on Sunday morning leaving many British fans baffled.
The reason for the peculiar start time is because the event was tailored to suit an US audience since that time is 10pm Eastern Time in America.
Which is the traditional and peak PPV time in the US.
The event will take place at co-op live in Manchester but will have a traditional US start time
How you can watch/follow?
Here at Mail Sport, we will be providing live coverage of the event, providing updates throughout the night including build-up and action from each fight as well as results and reaction.
The action will also be shown live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK.
Fans looking to watch the early preliminary action can do so on UFC Fight Pass or on TNT Sports 2.
For US fans the fight will be available to stream live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Key Information – Matchup stats
Leon Edwards
Age: 32
Country: England
Height: 6ft
Weight: 170.00lbs
Reach: 74″
Leg reach: 43″
Record: 22-3-0
Belal Muhammad
Age: 36
Country: United States
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 169.50lbs
Reach: 72″
Leg reach: 40″
Record: 23-3-0
Tom Aspinall
Age: 31
Country: England
Height: 6ft 5in
Weight: 261.60lbs
Reach: 78″
Leg reach: 44″
Record: 14-3-0
Curtis Blaydes
Age: 33
Country: United States
Height: 6ft 4in
Weight: 257.00lbs
Reach: 80″
Leg reach: 46″
Record: 18-4-0
UFC 303 – Full fight card
Main card:
- CO-MAIN EVENT: Leon Edwards (c) vs Belal Muhammad – for UFC Welterweight Championship
- CO-MAIN EVENT: Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes – for UFC interim Heavyweight Championship
- Bobby Green vs Paddy Pimblett
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues
- Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze
Preliminary card:
- Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape
- Nathaniel Wood vs Daniel Pineda
- Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil
- Caolan Loughran vs Jake Hadley
- Mick Parkin vs Lukasz Brzeski
- Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons
- Sam Patterson vs Kieffer Crosbie
- Shauna Bannon vs Ravena Oliveira
- Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachino
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett also makes his return to the Octagon in Manchester as he faces Bobby Green
Odds
Edwards vs Muhammad
- Leon Edwards to win – 2/5
- Belal Muhammad to win – 2/1
Aspinall vs Blaydes
- Tom Aspinall to win – 1/4
- Curtis Blaydes to win – 3/1
All odds were got from Sky Bet and were correct at the time of publication.
