UFC 304 primer: High-stakes battles, local heroes ready for an unconventional night in Manchester

UFC 304 heads to Manchester, England, on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN + PPV). It then continues in Manchester, England, until Sunday morning, thanks to an unconventional start time that may have fighters rubbing their eyes before entering the cage.

Local fans might not love the idea of ​​attending an event that starts when normal ones would be finishing, but one look at this fight card shows why it’s worth it. There will be plenty for British fans to celebrate with homegrown talent such as Leon Edwards, Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett and Arnold Allen. There’s also the added appeal of legitimately high stakes on compelling matchups.

Take the co-main fight between Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes, for example. Technically, the “interim” UFC heavyweight title is up for grabs. And when asked if the winner of that fight would face the winner of the UFC heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic, UFC president Dana White responded with a single word: “ for sure”.

Of course, this is not necessarily a guarantee that White has the power to offer. Jones could very well win and retire immediately. He’s dropped more than a few hints that this is exactly what he plans to do, in fact. Which, if all goes well, would leave the winner of this Aspinall-Blaydes rematch as outright champion.

That’s all, could you really imagine someone like Jones staying home and letting Blaydes or Aspinall soak up all the glory? Could you imagine him doing this for more than six to nine months? It strains belief, is what I’m saying. Especially if this weekend’s winner comes out with a bang and a crowd of screaming fans, which is very likely to be the case if Aspinall continues his run of quick and violent finishes.

Here’s what else is happening on the UFC 304 main card from Co-op Live in Manchester:

Arnold Allen x Giga Chikadze

Who are they: Both men have taken turns as the new featherweight for the past two years. Both also had their hype trains slowed by poorly timed losses. Allen is the local boy, giving up some height and reach to Chikadze, but at least this time the UFC gave him a fellow striking specialist who will likely fulfill his desire to stand and strike.

Why this matters: Each fighter showed flashes of brilliance, enough that there could be a future title contender in this pair. Obviously neither wants to lose here, but it’s Allen who is in a must-win scenario. He comes from two defeats. Both were quality opponents, but three in a row looks like a potential career killer. Especially with all those British fans watching.

Christian Leroy Duncan x Gregory Rodrigues

Who are they: “CLD” is the local lad with an extensive MMA history on British soil, first as an amateur and then as a rapidly rising professional. Rodrigues is a Brazilian knockout artist who seems to lose just when he’s about to really go on an impressive run.

Why this matters: This feels like a level-up fight for Duncan. If Rodrigues beats him, he will move on to more serious business in the UFC middleweight division. If he makes a good impression, he might even enter the rankings. Rodrigues, on the other hand, is attempting his first three-fight winning streak since joining the UFC. He would love to break his previous mold and prove that he is capable of some consistency.

King Green x Paddy Pimblett

Who are they: Green recently changed his name from Bobby to King because, as he told Yahoo Sports, he likes to “keep things interesting.” This is also a good description of his fighting style, as you’ll typically find him with his hands on his hips, chatting with his opponents and their trainers, before throwing quick punch combos and deftly dodging counterattacks. Pimblett isn’t as well known for his striking. He depended on his grappling and his personality to get here, but we saw big flaws in his standup game.

Why this matters: Pimblett said this is the last fight of his UFC contract and he would like to see if there is some boxing money from the YouTuber waiting for him on the other side. Green is a tough stylistic matchup for him, which could be why the UFC made this fight at this time, as it could send Pimblett to free agency in a loss that would show how much he still needs to learn about striking.

Tom Aspinall x Curtis Blaydes

Who are they: Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion, a big athletic man with lots of knockout power. Blaydes is a heavyweight grinder who makes a living from being a problem, without ever coming close to being a star. If you don’t know how to fight, he’s the guy who will probably figure it out.

Why this matters: The winner here will fight the winner of Jones vs. Miocic (so…probably Jones) will either be crowned champion by default at some point in the future. The betting odds lean heavily toward Aspinall, and the UFC is likely hoping he’s the only one left standing when the dust settles. Fight fans love a heavyweight with one-punch power. If Aspinall wins, expect him to begin his campaign immediately to convince Jones to stay.

Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

Who are they: Edwards is the UFC welterweight champion, a title he won with a dramatic comeback knockout over Kamaru Usman that looked like something out of a movie. Muhammad is the guy who is begging for a title shot while racking up wins, although his lack of star power has made that an unconvincing proposition for the UFC.

Why this matters: Not only is the belt on the line, but there are also major bragging rights for two guys who have a history and don’t care about each other. Their 2021 fight ended in a no contest after Edwards accidentally poked Muhammad in the eye. The bitterness between them boiled over here, as Muhammad promised to walk through Edwards with ease. As much as each would love to win, they would both hate losing to the other. This may be a stronger motivation than even the title.