UFC 304 LIVE results: Leon Edwards loses title after Tom Aspinall ...

Tom Aspinall retained his interim heavyweight title with a rapid knockout of Curtis Blaydes on Saturday, before Leon Edwards lost the welterweight belt to Belal Muhammad in the UFC 304 main event.

Wigan’s Aspinall needed just one minute to floor Blaydes with a one-two, before flattening out the American and forcing a finish on the canvas. With that, Aspinall avenged a 2022 loss to Blaydes, a defeat that occurred when the Briton sustained a knee injury just 15 seconds into their fight in London.

In Manchester on Saturday, Aspinall was able to prove his superiority over Blaydes, 33, retaining the interim belt that he won in November. And in doing so, the 31-year-old moved a step closer to a dream fight with Jon Jones. Jones, 37, holds the regular belt but is out injured, with the American expected to return later this year in a title defence against former champion Stipe Miocic, 41.

In the main event of UFC 304, Edwards’s welterweight title reign was ended in comprehensive fashion by Muhammad. The Palestinian-American beat the Jamaican-born Briton on all three scorecards – 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 – in a rematch of their 2021 meeting.

Their first clash ended as a No Contest, after Edwards accidentally landed an eye poke on Muhammad, while each man had otherwise been faultless in recent years. Only Muhammad, 36, was able to retain that form on Saturday, however. With his unanimous-decision victory over Edwards, he ended a title reign that began in 2022 – when Edwards knocked out Kamaru Usman in stunning fashion.

Edwards, 32, retained the belt against Usman and Colby Covington with decision wins in 2023, but the Birmingham fighter could go no further on Saturday. Re-live the action and see all results from UFC 304, below.

The UFC returned to the UK for a pay-per-view event, at Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena

Main event: Britain’s Leon Edwards lost his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad via decision

The fight was a rematch of their 2021 bout, which ended as No Contest after an eye poke from Edwards

Co-main event: Wigan’s Tom Aspinall retained the interim heavyweight title with a KO of Curtis Blaydes

Aspinall dropped and finished Blaydes in one minute exactly to move a step closer to a dream fight with Jon Jones

That bout was also a rematch; in 2022, Aspinall suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into their first clash

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett won after friend Molly McCann lost

Arnold Allen and Muhammad Mokaev were among the other British fighters to win

UFC 304 LIVE: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards

06:27 , Alex Pattle

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

UFC 304 LIVE: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards

06:14 , Alex Pattle

Muhammad: “It sounds like a lot of the people booing have a lot of tears in their eyes right now.”

Edwards: “I’m not surprised, my body just felt tired from round one. All week I felt tired. But good job to Belal.

“Not too long [before I’m back], one more this year. November or December, I’m ready to go.”

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

06:09 , Alex Pattle

Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

And new! Edwards applauds, while Muhammad breaks down in tears.

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

06:06 , Alex Pattle

Round five

Edwards has one round to save his title reign. He lands some straight shots, while Mugammad paws with hooks. Edwards digs to the body.

Muhammad with a takedown attempt in the open this time, but Edwards defends it. He’s driven back to the fence, however, and he hangs around for too long: In comes the double-leg from Muhammad.

Edwards is dragged to the mat, where Muhammad has a body triangle. Time is running out, and Edwards’s title is slipping away.

Edwards manages to get on top and fire off punches – and seemingly an elbow – slicing open Muhammad badly!! But it’s too late, surely!

And there’s the final horn. Belal Muhammad will be your new UFC welterweight champion.

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

06:00 , Alex Pattle

Round four

Into the championship rounds. A crucial one here. Muhammad presses forward, and Edwards looks to fend him off with a grazing head kick.

Now the pair trade punches at close range. Muhammad is having more success in this realm than most fans and pundits expected.

And there’s the inevitable takedown attempt from Muhammad. He’s got one hook in, as Edwards kneels by the cage wall.

Punches and elbows from Muhammad, who is now working on a rear naked choke. There’s another “Rocky” chant, but the champion can’t get out.

Eventually the pair roll across the canvas, though, and Edwards ends up on top and in Muhammad’s guard.

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

05:54 , Alex Pattle

Round three

There’s a genuine possibility that Muhammad is two rounds up already, with Edwards needing the final three – or a finish – to retain his title...

Muhammad repeats his strategy, backing up Edwards and dumping him to the mat, but the champion shows his ring craft to stand again and reverse the position – and take Muhammad’s back!

He’s got his hooks in, seated against the cage, and the crowd roars in support... Edwards is working on a rear naked choke...

Muhammad is fighting Edwards’s hands. Edwards briefly has his arm across Muhammad’s chin, but not under the neck. Edwards gets closer to the choke, but again he can’t finish it.

Now Edwards drills punches into the body of Muhammad, now the head. One minute left in this round.

The buzzer sounds. Edwards is 2-1 down, as Indy Sport sees it.

Muhammad dumps Edwards to the mat (REUTERS)

Edwards lands a hard body kick on Muhammad (REUTERS)

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

05:48 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Muhammad backs up Edwards to the fence and peppers him with shots. His jab is landing. Now Muhammad goes for another double-leg takedown, to the sound of boos...

He completes it after some decent defence by Edwards, who quickly stands against the fence – with Muhammad on his back.

Now Muhammad slams down Edwards again and throws a few hammer fists. The challenger is working on a rear naked choke, while Edwards stands again.

Edwards can’t get out, though. Muhammad is just wearing down on him. Boos in the Co-op Live...

But Edwards finally stands and reverses the position again. He needs to back away... or does he?!

He trips Muhammad instead and briefly has the back! Muhammad twists towards the champion, but Edwards is in control now.

A good end to a bad round for the champion.

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

05:41 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Muhammad quickly backs Edwards up to the fence and secures a takedown. Edwards is trying to keep a tight body lock and not offer spaces between joints for Muhammad to exploit.

And now Edwards stands! Brilliant work. He also reverses the position against the fence, holding Muhammad there and landing knees to the body.

Former women’s champion Julianna Pena, a teammate of Muhammad, is shouting advice from the crowd. “Headshot, dead,” chants the crowd, referencing Edwards’s post-fight speech when he won the title in 2022 with a knockout of Kamaru Usman.

Edwards and Muhammad move into space, where Edwards lands a couple of straights from his southpaw stance. Another knee to the body now. Muhammad switches stances.

“Rocky” is the chant this time. Hard body kick from Edwards – the sound on that, wow... Nice jab by Muhammad. Cross by Edwards.

Uppercut to the body by Muhammad. And one upstairs! He digs to the body again, then dumps Edwards to the mat.

A hard round to score. Muhammad with those two takedowns and some control time, but Edwards with the better work on the feet.

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

05:36 , Alex Pattle

Muhammad, representing the US and Palestine, is out first. Now Edwards joins him in the ring.

Bruce Buffer has the introductions... The main event is seconds away...

Round one is here!

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

05:23 , Alex Pattle

Main-event time! In another rematch – this one three years in the making – Leon Edwards defends the welterweight title against Belal Muhammad.

In their first fight, Edwards – Jamaican-born and representing Birmingham – accidentally landed an eye poke, causing a No Contest.

Can he right that wrong and record a third successful title defence on the bounce here?

Let’s find out...

Leon Edwards (left) before his title defence against Belal Muhammad (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC 304 LIVE: Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes

05:14 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Nervy inside the Co-op Live. Both men stand orthodox. We’re already past the 15 seconds that the first fight lasted.

Aspinall closes range and eats a straight shot on the way to getting a body lock. He briefly holds Blaydes against the fence.

They then move into space, and Blaydes lands another straight shot, before Aspinall tags him hard with a one-two and drops the American!!

Aspinall chases Blaydes to the mat, flattening him out and pouring on punches as Blaydes lies facedown...

Blaydes isn’t defending... and it’s waved off! Aspinall is STILL the interim champion!

Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes via first-round knockout (punches, 1:00)

Tom Aspinall (left) drops Curtis Blaydes before sealing the knockout (REUTERS)

Tom Aspinall celebrates with his coach and father Andy (REUTERS)

UFC 304 LIVE: Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes

05:06 , Alex Pattle

Blaydes, 33, is out first, followed by Aspinall, 31, as the Manchester crowd sings along to “Supersonic” by Oasis, which morphs (poorly) into Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” – Aspinall’s usual walkout track.

UFC 304 LIVE: Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes

05:01 , Alex Pattle

Time for the co-main event...

Two years after suffering an injury just 15 seconds into a fight with Curtis Blaydes, Wigan’s Tom Aspinall faces the American again.

And this time, Aspinall enters as interim heavyweight champion, putting his title on the line for the first time...

Tom Aspinall (left) will defend the interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC 304 LIVE: Paddy Pimblett vs Bobby King Green

04:46 , Alex Pattle

Round one

Green walks forward early. Both lightweights stand orthodox, now Green goes southpaw and back.

Stiff jab by Pimblett. Side kick to the body by Green. Hard low kick by Pimblett. Green is talking to the Liverpudlian.

Low kick by Green, now an oblique kick and another side kick to the body. Hard low kick by Pimblett, and Green shoots for a takedown! Surprising...

Pimblett defends with a guillotine, and as the exchange continues, who shifts to a triangle... Green is just about hanging on...

But Pimblett extends the arm, and Green passes out!

Paddy Pimblett def. Bobby King Green via first-round submission (triangle choke, 3:23)

UFC 304 LIVE: Paddy Pimblett vs Bobby King Green

04:41 , Alex Pattle

A great video package just aired in the Co-op Live. Now here comes Pimblett...

A good reaction for him, though not touching the heights of the London card in March 2022 – or even July of that year – it must be said.

Still, this feels big. Here we go...

UFC 304 LIVE: Paddy Pimblett vs Bobby King Green

04:28 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Liverpudlian lightweight Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett faces Bobby King Green.

This is the toughest test yet for the controversial Pimblett, but he should have the crowd behind him here.

Paddy Pimblett (right) facing off with Bobby King Green (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC 304 LIVE: Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues

04:21 , Alex Pattle

Round three

The sound of some of these strikes... Rodrigues is getting the better of the exchanges, and now he lifts and dumps Duncan.

Credit to Duncan, he’s quickly back on his feet, but only for a short while.

Now Rodrigues’s face is covered in blood, but I think it’s Duncan’s...

The Brazilian will control the Briton until the final buzzer.

Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC 304 LIVE: Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues

04:15 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Front kick to the body by Duncan. Rodrigues comes back with an overhand right, then a one-two. Now he burrows a right uppercut into the mid-section of Duncan.

Duncan tries a spinning back elbow but gets tagged by a right hand. Now Rodrigues tries to drag down the Briton against the cage, but Duncan defends well.

A messy exchange follows, before Rodrigues takes down Duncan – whose head is smeared with blood, seemingly from a goose egg on his forehead.

UFC 304 LIVE: Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues

04:09 , Alex Pattle

The main card continues with middleweight action, as England’s Christian Leroy Duncan faces Gregory Rodrigues of Brazil.

Round one

Hard jab by Duncan at once. Powerful left hook by Rodrigues, as the Briton retreats along the fence. Now Rodrigues catches Duncan on the end of a cross.

Now Rodrigues finishes a single-leg takedown and moves into half-guard. The Brazilian gets off a few elbows, but he’s struggling to advance the position. That said, he’s still in full control of the round.

Duncan is able to scramble, but Rodrigues is containing him well.

UFC 304 LIVE: Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze

03:51 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Allen might well need a finish. He continues to pressure Chikadze but without landing much of note.

Now a harsh left hook to the body, though, and a lancing jab. Hard left hook upstairs! Chikadze’s blood has spread from his nose to his mouth and cheeks.

Allen with a jab and an uppercut as Chikadze throws a body kick. Allen lands a body kick of his own.

A “Giga” chant starts, but it’s drowned out by boos. Nice jumping knee by Allen.

He surely took round three, but did he snatch either of the first two rounds?

Arnold Allen def. via Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Slightly surprising, as this writer sees it!

Arnold Allen (left) an action against Giga Chikadze (REUTERS)

UFC 304 LIVE: Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze

03:44 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Allen is pressing forward. He eats a pair of stern jabs then wings a hook to the body.

Allen’s nose is very red. A frenzied exchange plays out after a spell in which Chikadze is the more accurate striker.

Now Chikadze’s nose looks somewhat bloody. Grazing one-two by Allen. He drops to a knee, but it looks like a trip rather than a flash knockdown.

The crowd keeps singing Arnold Allen’s name to the sound of the Max Verstappen song.

UFC 304 LIVE: Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze

03:38 , Alex Pattle

The main card begins with a featherweight bout between Ipswich’s Arnold Allen and Georgia’s Giga Chikadze.

Round one

Allen blocks an early high kick. And another. He stands southpaw, while Chikadze is orthodox. Allen blocks ANOTHER head kick then lands a body kick after catching Chikadze’s leg.

More kicks from Chikadze, who is targeting the body of Allen now. The Georgian misses with a spinning back kick upstairs.

Both men partially land with left hooks. Nice jab by Chikadze now as he moves backwards.

Wow! Allen is dropped to a knee just before the buzzer, but he bounces back up and lands a front kick to the face!

UFC 304 LIVE: Nathaniel Wood vs Daniel Pineda

03:07 , Alex Pattle

Round three

A doctor is checking Pineda’s right eye, but the American is deemed okay to continue. He appeals to the crowd, who show some love to the tourist.

Pineda shoots for a takedown from some distance, and Wood defends with a guillotine before moving into side control after a scramble.

He stands and lets Pineda up. Front kick to the body by Wood, before another scramble ensues. The pair are seated, with Wood on Pineda’s back. And from there, Pineda lands a nasty back elbow!

He turns and ends up on top, where he tries a straight armbar, but to no avail. Now he goes for a guillotine. Wood is likely two rounds up but is losing this frame.

Some decent elbows from Pineda, as Wood tries to maintain half-guard and limit the American’s options.

The final buzzer sounds.

Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)

UFC 304 LIVE: Nathaniel Wood vs Daniel Pineda

03:01 , Alex Pattle

Round two

The featherweights trade low kicks, before Wood lights up Pineda with a four-punch combination!

Pineda is pawing at his right eye, which is swelling quickly. Again, it’s impressive that he’s still in this fight. He even lands a couple of grazing overhand rights now.

Pineda complains of a low blow, and the action is paused for now. Replays suggest the kick by Wood was not low...

Back under way. Hard low kick by Pineda, then a harder one by Wood which has Pineda stumbling! And another, same effect!

Now the American suffers a flash knockdown after a right hand from Wood! Pineda is back up, but he’s soon put back down... He just won’t go away, though!

UFC 304 LIVE: Nathaniel Wood vs Daniel Pineda

02:44 , Alex Pattle

Onto the final prelim bout of the night: London’s Nathaniel Wood takes on American Daniel Pineda at featherweight.

Round one

Wood with a hard low kick early on, before a grappling exchange ensues. Each man takes a turn to hold the other against the fence, before Wood circles away.

A right overhand grazes Wood. Oh! Speaking of grazing, Wood skims a cross off Pineda’s head, and the American hits the canvas!

Wood with follow-up shots, but Pineda is able to regain his senses and hold Wood in closed guard. Decent elbow by Pineda from the bottom, and another.

Great sweep by the American, too! A lovely hip bump. He’s working on a guillotine now, but Wood defends well.

It’s amazing that Pineda survived that early scare.

UFC 304 LIVE: Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil

02:39 , Alex Pattle

Round three

McCann presses forward but walks onto a jab. Both women land now. McCann forces Brasil to the cage and lands a front kick to the body.

Brasil misses with a spinning back elbow and gets taken down, Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva style, but she scrambles well to land on top! She soon takes the back, too.

Brasil flattens out McCann and works on an arm-triangle choke, but McCann defends well. Still, Brasil is in control.

The Brazilian stands and lets McCann back to her feet, then lands a hard knee! But McCann comes back with a one-two!

The crowd is so invested now! McCann just about lands a spinning back elbow – which she’s scored KOs with before... but Brasil stays calm, and she lands a wonderful double-leg takedown.

Brasil has McCann’s back and is almost sat against the cage wall. McCann rallies nicely and goes for a rear naked choke, which has the crowd hoping, but the submission isn’t there.

To the scorecards we go.

Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Bruna Brasil (left) outpointed Molly McCann (REUTERS)

UFC 304 LIVE: Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil

02:27 , Alex Pattle

Round one

A tough first round for Liverpool’s Molly McCann. She walks onto a number of counter shots, including two body kicks that nearly fold her.

To her credit, she fights on and gets the better of a prolonged grappling exchange. The crowd loves that.

But it’s Brasil who ends the round on top.

Round two

McCann closes range and holds Brasil against the fence, but the Brazilian’s defence is holding up for now...

But there’s the takedown at last! Lots of cheers in Manchester as “Meatball Molly” dumps Brasil to the canvas. She soon backs off and allows Brasil to stand, mind.

There’s a chant in support of McCann, who is now forced to defend against the fence. She reverses the position, but Brasil lands a takedown.

The pair stand, and Brasil scores a knockdown in the final seconds of the round!

UFC 304 LIVE: Caolan Loughran vs Jake Hadley

02:10 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Good counter cross from Hadley. Loughran targets the body again. Sharp jab by Hadley. Loughran throws a knee up the middle. Hadley with his own body shots.

Loughran dives for another double-leg, but to no avail. We’ll go to the scorecards...

Jake Hadley def. Caolan Loughran via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

UFC 304 LIVE: Caolan Loughran vs Jake Hadley

02:04 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Loughran shoots for a single-leg then switches to a double, as Hadley defends with a guillotine. But Loughran slips his head out, before the bantamweights move into space.

Loughran with a couple of decent right hands. And again. He’s finding his range while backing up Hadley.

But Hadley fires back, and Loughran’s left eye is starting to swell. The Irishman then lands a clean low blow, and we’ll have a brief pause in the action.

Back under way, and Loughran lands a few uppercuts to the body before shooting for a double-leg against the fence.

He then switches to a single while trying to lift and dump Hadley, who retains balance very well. Great defence from the Englishman.

But Loughran ends the round on top.

UFC 304 LIVE: Caolan Loughran vs Jake Hadley

01:56 , Alex Pattle

Next, it’s bantamweight action between Ireland’s Caolan Loughran and England’s Jake Hadley.

Hadley, stepping in on short notice but moving up a division, missed weight by one pound. As a result, he was fined 20 per cent of his purse.

Round one

Hadley stands southpaw. Loughran is orthodox. Hadley kicks low. Clean cross by the Englishman now.

That left hand is working nicely for Hadley so far. He’s kicking low frequently, too. Hadley blocks a body kick. Loughran is pressing forward but not throwing much – and when he is throwing, he’s not really landing.

Another southpaw cross is on target for Hadley. Body kick by Loughran lands. Hadley with a straight to the body. A cross connects for Loughran.

UFC 304 LIVE: Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape

01:39 , Alex Pattle

Round three

A doctor checks Kape’s toe, and the flyweight is deemed okay to continue.

We could be looking at one round apiece heading into the final frame. A slapping question-mark kick lands for Mokaev! Kape backs up the 23-year-old and lands a few punches off each side.

Mokaev catches Kape on the end of a switch high kick. Kape continues to apply pressure, though.

Mokaev lands a takedown, and Kape tries to defend with a guillotine... but Mokaev eventually slips his head free. Lots of elbows from Kape from underneath the Briton, who is in Kape’s open guard.

They scramble and stand, and Mokaev points to the centre of the canvas, as if to say: “Let’s trade.” That does not happen. Mokaev with a takedown in the final seconds, as boos ring out.

Kape and Mokaev actually embrace, remarkably!

Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Mokaev stays unbeaten! He’s in tears. Kape seems devastated.

Muhammad Mokaev (top) ground out a win over Manel Kape (Getty Images)

UFC 304 LIVE: Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape

01:32 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Both men stand southpaw for a while. They’re switching back and forth frequently. Not much action so far in this round.

Kape bends down to grab his toe, he’s visibly pointing it upwards to avoid putting weight on it... He’s injured it somehow. Mokaev goes after him as the Angolan reaches down for the toe.

Soon thereafter, the Briton secures a takedown, but he’s warned for grabbing Kape’s shorts. A brief pause here as the referee speaks to Mokaev. This is an odd fight...

Back under way, and Mokaev shoots for a single-leg takedown from way out. No joy.

Neither fighter is landing much of significance.

UFC 304 LIVE: Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape

01:25 , Alex Pattle

Round one

The crowd is already loud for this one, singing “Ole” as the fight begins.

Mokaev runs right at Kape, swings and misses. Now the Briton kicks low and just about lands. Front kick to the body connects. Now Kape presses forward, but neither man is throwing. The crowd gets a bit restless.

Mokaev hammers a low kick then switches stances. He’s standing southpaw, now back to orthodox. Kape with a counter hook that has Mokaev stumbling somewhat.

Lots of feints from both men over a long stretch, and more boos. It’s remarkable that the one time they’re supposed to fight, they’re barely fighting!

Now a spinning back kick from Mokaev, but it doesn’t land clean. Kape with a few clean lands late in the round, and Mokaev dives at his legs! No takedown, though.

UFC 304 LIVE: Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape

01:17 , Alex Pattle

The regular prelims begin with a flyweight grudge match between Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape!

Russian-born Mokaev, who represents the UK, is looking to book a title fight with a win here, but the same applies to Angola’s Kape.

The pair almost came to blows at yesterday’s weigh-in, and they reportedly almost clashed at the fighter hotel this week, too.

And they have to be separated before the fight even begins! As Mokaev is circling the cage, he and Kape almost get into it! This is wild...

NOW the action begins for real...

UFC 304 LIVE: Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons

Sunday 28 July 2024 00:57 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Parsons tries a single-leg this time, but again Elliott sprawls nicely. The pair stand, and both men land straight shots.

Elliott gets a body lock and drives Parsons to the fence, where the American throws hammer fists to the body. The welterweights separate and move back to the centre of the ring.

Parsons with a left hand, then a takedown attempt, which he completes after some resistance from Elliott.

The Welshman is trying to defend with an armbar, but Parsons slips free. He lands an uppercut on Elliott as they stand against the fence – and it’s there that the fight will end.

Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC 304 LIVE: Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons

Sunday 28 July 2024 00:51 , Alex Pattle

Round two

More grappling against the fence, and Parsons lands an elbow at close range, before Elliott returns the favour.

Elliott goes southpaw and lands a cross, then a snabbing jab after returning to an orthodox stance. Good counter hook by Elliott now.

Parsons shoots for a double-leg takedown, but Elliott sprawls really well! He then takes the back, and Parsons stands against the fence.

Parsons gets free, and the welterweights move back into the open. Elliott slips a punch and gets a takedown, which the crowd enjoys! He works on taking the back again, as “Ole!” chants ring around the Co-op Live.

A scramble ensues, and Elliott ends the round holding Parsons against the fence.

UFC 304 LIVE: Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons

Sunday 28 July 2024 00:45 , Alex Pattle

Next up, it’s a welterweight bout between Wales’s Oban Elliott and American Preston Parsons.

Round one

Both men stand orthodox. Elliott with a spinning back kick early, but he misses the target. A grappling exchange ensues, as Elliott holds Parsons against the fence, before the pair trade positions back and forth – and again.

The welterweights move into space, where Elliott lands a side kick. Now Parsons misses with a spinning back kick.

Elliott trips while stepping backwards but stays on his feet, and Parsons looks to capitalise with a standing guillotine. But the Welshman pops his head out.

Nice counter cross by Elliott as Parsons kicks low. Parsons with a cross to the body.

UFC 304 LIVE: Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachnio

Sunday 28 July 2024 00:27 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Prachnio with a fast start to this round, chasing Bukauskas and seemingly buzzing the British-Lithuanian!

But as the fight hits the mat, Bukauskas takes back control. He’s working on an arm-triangle choke. No luck so far, but he lands a few elbows before re-attempting the choke – and this time he gets it!

A celebratory backflip, and Bukauskas just about sticks the landing!

Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio via third-round submission (arm-triangle choke, 3:30)

UFC 304 LIVE: Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachnio

Sunday 28 July 2024 00:22 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Side kick to the body by Prachnio, then both men land punches upstairs in a frenzied back and forth.

Prachnio throws himself off balance by overcommitting to an overhand, then he’s dropped by a well-timed right hook! But he springs up and hurts Bukauskas with a head kick out of nowhere! This one could go either way at any moment!

The pace slows for now, as the light-heavyweights grapple against the fence. Bukauskas with a nice trip, and he tries to move into mount, while Prachnio aims to retain half-guard.

Bukauskas tries an Americana, but he’s unable to wrench Prachnio’s arm. The Pole defends well then stands to end the round.

UFC 304 LIVE: Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachnio

Sunday 28 July 2024 00:10 , Alex Pattle

Next up, it’s light-heavyweight action, as British-Lithuanian Modestas Bukauskas faces Poland’s Marcin Prachnio.

Round one

Bukauskas stands southpaw. He eats a couple of leg kicks from the orthodox Prachnio. Now Bukauskas switches stances back and forth. He lands a big left cross from southpaw!

Prachnio connects with a right hook in a scrappy exchange, but he almost leans into a high kick shortly thereafter. Prachnio wings an overhand left and just about lands – that could have been much worse for Bukauskas.

Now Bukauskas backs up the Pole and lands several good punches – a couple of rights, a couple of lefts. A spinning back elbow appears to just miss the mark!

But Prachnio seems hurt by a left hook, and he’s retreating as Bukauskas looks to build! The finish won’t come here, so Bukauskas eases off for now.

Prachnio comes forward and lands a low kick, but he ends the round retreating after an uppercut from his opponent.

UFC 304 LIVE: Sam Patterson vs Kiefer Crosbie

Saturday 27 July 2024 23:45 , Alex Pattle

Now it’s England vs Ireland, as Sam Patterson faces Kiefer Crosbie at welterweight. The pair’s face-off at yesterday’s weigh-in got a little feisty...

Round one

A lot of tension before this one starts. Patterson hasn’t taken his eyes off Crosbie since joining the Irishman in the cage.

Both men stand orthodox. Hard low kick by Crosbie, who presses forward early. A couple of misses by Crosbie, and Patterson fires off a one-two. Front kick to the body by Patterson now.

Both men land jabs, and Crosbie adds a wide left hook. There’s a brief pause in the action after an apparent low blow by Crosbie. When the action resumes, the welterweights trade hands in a frenzied exchange!

They grapple and move to the fence, where Patterson gets a takedown. He flattens out Crosbie and gets to work on an arm-triangle choke... He adjusts a couple of times...

And he gets the tap! It’s all over in round one!

Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie via first-round submission (arm-triangle choke) 2:50

UFC 304 LIVE: Mick Parkin vs Lukasz Brzeski

Saturday 27 July 2024 23:28 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Tom Aspinall’s teammate Mick Parkin faces Poland’s Lukasz Brzeski at heavyweight.

Round one

Body kick by Brzeski early on. Parkin checks a leg kick. Decent check left hook by the Briton now. Brzeski lands his own left hook.

Both men are trading clean shots in the pocket! Parkin with a good counter right hook now. Parkin leans back and looks for the left hook, and just about lands it. A decent one-two by him now.

Parkin blocks a head kick. but Brzeski’s follow-up jab is on point. Both men land in a messy exchange.

OH! Parkin hurts Brzeski with a right hook, then pours on a combination of hooks and uppercuts, and Brzeski goes down against the fence! A couple more shots, and it’s all over!

The Manchester crowd loves that!

Mick Parkin def. Lukasz Brzeski via first-round KO (punches, 3:23)

UFC 304 LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean

Saturday 27 July 2024 23:23 , Alex Pattle

Round three

Good cross from Bannon. Ardelean just blocks a head kick, but then eats another cross. She comes back with a jab. Side kick to the body by Bannon. Another cross by Ardelean.

Now Bannon with a firm cross, and another! She lands the side kick to the body again. And again. Ardelean is landing the harder strikes, but Bannon is managing some encouraging blitzes.

There’s a brief pause in the action, as some tape has come loose on Ardelean’s glove. Back under way, 45 seconds left.

Bannon has the crowd behind her as she looks to finish strong, landing with greater volume than Ardelean.

We’ll go to the scorecards, where Ardelean might have taken the first two rounds – though the first was close; Bannon definitely earned the third.

Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean via split decision 28-29, 29-28, 30-27.

The third card is too wide for Bannon, but she won’t care!

UFC 304 LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean

Saturday 27 July 2024 23:16 , Alex Pattle

Round two

Another stiff jab by Ardelean to start the round. Now a low kick. A few scrappy exchanges follow, with both women throwing simultaneously as they close range. Bannon switches to southpaw and back.

Bannon looks for a trip, but Ardelean uses a whizzer to negate the underhook. The Romanian then gets a body lock and forces Bannon to the cage – as she did in round one.

Bannon with a decent knee, but she needs to get back into space. She’s unable to, and Ardelean secures another takedown.

Decent strikes from Ardelean while she holds Bannon in a headlock. Bannon is able to stand just in time for the buzzer.

UFC 304 LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean

Saturday 27 July 2024 23:02 , Alex Pattle

Right then, UFC 304 is under way! We start with a women’s strawweight fight, between Ireland’s Shauna Bannon and Romania’s Alice Ardelean.

Round one

Hard outside low kick from Ardelean early on. Side kick to the body by Bannon, who then kicks high. She just misses with a one-two. Both women then land punches in close.

Hard jab by Ardelean. Strong inside low kick by Bannon. The Irishwoman is already sporting blood around her nose. She eats another jab. She’s trying the high kick intermittently. A cross tags her right on the nose now.

Into a grappling exchange as Ardelean gets a body lock and drives the Irishwoman to the fence, before dragging her to the mat. Bannon tries a triangle but to no avail.

Now she attempts an armbar. No luck there either, and Ardelean ends up in Bannon’s closed guard. Another unsuccessful armbar effort by Bannon before the buzzer.

UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad open up on elevator confrontation

Saturday 27 July 2024 22:30 , Alex Pattle

On Wednesday, Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad opened up on their confrontation in an elevator this week.

That same day, the UFC posted the latest episode of its usual pre-fight docu-series, Embedded, on YouTube. The episode ended with Edwards entering an elevator and engaging in a tense staredown with his Palestinian-American opponent.

“Remember The Name!” Edwards said, referencing Muhammad’s nickname. “Come on, boys. Slide in, boys,” he added, seemingly speaking to members of his own team.

Here’s what happened next, and what each fighter had to say about it:

Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad open up on elevator confrontation before UFC 304

UFC 304 LIVE: Aspinall and Edwards aim to right the strangest of wrongs – preview

Saturday 27 July 2024 21:50 , Alex Pattle

For Tom Aspinall, it was in the knee: the sharp, sudden cruelty of ligaments tearing. For Leon Edwards, it was under the eyelid – but not his own: instead it was under Belal Muhammad’s, as Edwards’s outstretched finger snuck between the banks of flesh and jabbed at the eyeball.

For Aspinall, it meant a TKO loss to Curtis Blaydes in London. It was an injury that took just 15 seconds to sustain, but which would keep him out of the cage for a year. A whole different sort of caged for the Wigan heavyweight. For Edwards, it meant a No Contest against Muhammad. It was an indiscretion that would cost the Jamaican-born Birmingham fighter a win, and a shot at the welterweight title. Like Aspinall, it would also cost him the best part of a year of his career.

UFC 304 preview:

Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall aim to right the strangest of wrongs at UFC 304

UFC 304 LIVE: Fight card in full, featuring Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann

Saturday 27 July 2024 21:30 , Alex Pattle

Main card

Leon Edwards (C) vs Belal Muhammad 2 (welterweight title)

Tom Aspinall (C) vs Curtis Blaydes 2 (interim heavyweight title)

Bobby King Green vs Paddy Pimblett (lightweight)

Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)

Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze (featherweight)

Prelims

Nathaniel Wood vs Daniel Pineda (featherweight)

Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight)

Caolan Loughran vs Jake Hadley (bantamweight)

Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape (flyweight)

Early prelims

Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons (welterweight)

Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachnio (light-heavyweight)

Sam Patterson vs Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight)

Mick Parkin vs Lukasz Brzeski (heavyweight)

Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean (women’s strawweight)

UFC 304 card: Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall defend titles tonight

UFC 304 LIVE: How to watch fights tonight

Saturday 27 July 2024 21:10 , Alex Pattle

The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live on pay-per-view, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider.

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

How to watch UFC 304 online and on TV tonight

UFC 304 LIVE

Saturday 27 July 2024 20:30 , Alex Pattle

UFC 304 will take place in Manchester tonight, as British champions Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall defend their titles in intriguing rematches.

In the main event, welterweight king Edwards defends his belt against Belal Muhammad, three years after fighting the Palestinian-American to a No Contest. In their first meeting, Edwards accidentally landed an eye poke, leading the bout to be halted.

Edwards – Jamaican-born and representing Birmingham – regained momentum and won the 170lb title with a stunning knockout of Kamaru Usman in 2022, before retaining the gold against Usman and Colby Covington last year. The 32-year-old is unbeaten in 13 fights across nine years.

In tonight’s co-main event, Aspinall puts the interim heavyweight title on the line against Curtis Blaydes, two years after suffering a knee injury against the American – just 15 seconds into that clash in London. Wigan’s Aspinall, 31, has otherwise been perfect in the UFC and claimed the interim strap with a knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in November.

Typically an interim champion would challenge the regular title holder next, but Jon Jones is injured and the UFC is refusing to strip him of his belt – instead insisting that “Bones” will defend his title against Stipe Miocic next, as was planned last year.

Elsewhere at UFC 304, Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Muhammad Mokaev and Arnold Allen are among the many British names in action.