The UFC is back in Britain this weekend (July 27) with an action-packed UFC 304 card.
Having usually opted for the English capital, the promotion have decided to move North and hold the event at the newly opened Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, the biggest indoor arena in the UK.
The blockbuster card will see two titles on the line as Tom Aspinall puts his interim Heavyweight belt on the line when faces Curtis Blaydes in a rematch in the co-main event and Leon Edwards looks to defend Welterweight strap for the third time when he takes on Belal Muhammad, once again, in the main event.
From the first preliminary bout to the main event, the card is covered in British and Ireland talent. Former Cage Warriors Light Heavyweight champion Modestas Bukauskas opens the evening’s action with a bout against Marcin Prachnio. Elsewhere on the early preliminary section of the card, Sam Patterson will face Kiefer Crosbie in a Welterweight clash that may certainly be in contention for fight of the night. Shauna Bannon, Christian Leroy Duncan and Oban Elliott all also feature.
The prelims open up with a Heavyweight bout between unbeaten British prospect Mick Parkin and ‘The Bull’ Łukasz Brzeski before ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann takes on Bruna Brazil and Nathaniel Wood meets Daniel Pineda in the featured preliminary contest.
Away from the title fights, the main card is exploding with talent. Arnold Allen opens proceedings as he looks to get back to winning ways but faces a tough challenge in the form of the number 10 ranked Giga Chikadze at 145lbs. Flyweights then collide when the surging Muhammad Mokaev looks to take another step closer to Flyweight title contention in his 125lbs clash with Manel Kape.
Then, in the last contest before the title fights, Paddy Pimblett gets his first shot at the rankings with a Lightweight bout against King Green, formally known as Bobby.
Ahead of the event, the UFC’s “Embedded” cameras are following the fighters behind the scenes as they work their way through fight week, as they arrive in Abu Dhabi and go through their pre-fight media obligations before the weigh-ins and the final faceoffs ahead of fight night.
As described on the UFC’s official YouTube channel, in Episode 2, “Belal Muhammad runs up stairs before traveling to England; Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann train together; Champ Tom Aspinall packs for the hotel; Giga Chikadze trains with Beniel Dariush; Champ Leon Edwards arrives in Manchester; King Green eats dinner."
