The UFC returns to the UK this weekend for another historic showcase of the country’s best mixed martial arts fighters.
And the main MMA promotion provided another pay-per-view event accumulated for the second year in a row.
But UFC 304 will not be held at the promotion’s traditional home in the United Kingdom, LondonArena 02.
The brand new Co-op Live arena in Manchester – which cost an incredible £365 million to build – will host the card.
Sunday morning’s British brawls are the fourth time Manny has hosted a UFC event.
A memorable middleweight title rematch between Clitheroe clubber Michael Bisping and long-time rival Dan Henderson headlined the promotion’s last visit in October 2016.
‘The Count’ survived a massive knockdown in the UFC 204 main event to avenge his UFC 100 loss to the former Pride middleweight champion.
Bisping will be the caller of the fights at Co-op Live, the last of which will be the welterweight title rematch between champion Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad.
Here’s everything you need to know about the card, which also includes interim heavyweight champion and Wigan warrior Tom Aspinall.
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When is UFC 304?
UFC 304 will take place on July 27th.
The card will be held in the new 23,500 capacity Co-op Live arena.
The show will be a late show for UK fight fans, as the promotion has opted to start the card at 11pm.
The decision was made to increase interest in the North American market, as it will be in prime time.
This means that the main event fighters will make their respective walks to the cage at around 5:15am (BST) on July 28th.
The main event, however, may start earlier if there is a series of quick finishes.
What channel is it on and can it be streamed live?
UFC 304 will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and will be available to stream live on the Discovery+ app and website.
The first prelims will be available on UFC Fight Pass and TNT Sports 2.
UFC 304: Edwards x Muhammad card
Main card
- Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad (Welterweight title fight)
- Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes (interim heavyweight title fight)
- Paddy Pimblett v Bobby Green (lightweight fight)
- Arnold Allen x Giga Chikadze (men’s featherweight fight)
- Muhammad Mokaev x Manel Kape (men’s flyweight bout)
Preliminary
- Nathaniel Wood x Daniel Pineda (men’s featherweight fight)
- Molly McCann x Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight fight)
- Shauna Bannon x Alice Ardelean (women’s bantamweight fight)
- Caloan Loughran x Ramon Tavares (men’s bantamweight fight)
- Mick Parkin x Lukasz Brzeski (heavyweight fight)
- Oban Elliot v Preston Parsons (welterweight fight)
- Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight fight)
- Modestas Bukauskas x Marcin Prachino (light heavyweight fight)
What was said?
Leon Edwards: “From him boxing the coach came out and said he has hands like Canelo’s.
“What the hell is happening? As for the Canelo deal, I think everyone knows.
“It’s like, what the fuck?”
Belal Muhammad: “I hope he leaves with the same mentality.
“I hope he thinks it will be an easy fight.
“Even in that first fight, when you’re going back and watching it, he had a moment. It was a kick to the head.
“There was nothing else in that first round where you thought, ‘Oh, this is a 10-8 round.’
“It was still a 10-9 round on the judges’ scorecards. He outplayed me by six hits.
“And that was before, you know, Leon was away for two years before that. So for us it was, ‘Let’s see what Leon comes out with. [with].
“’Let’s see what Leon shows up today, what he’s going to bring, what new style he brings.’
“So it was to start at a slow pace. I hope he thinks, ‘Okay, let’s follow suit.’
“And I’m even saying to myself, ‘I want to come out here and lose the first round against Leon in this fight just to show him – okay, you won the first round now, see what I do in the next four.’ “
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story