THE UFC returns to the UK this weekend for another historic showcase of the nation’s finest mixed martial artists.
And MMA‘s top promotion has delivered yet another stacked pay-per-view event for the second year on the bounce.
But UFC 304 won’t be held at the promotion’s traditional UK home, London‘s 02 Arena.
The brand-spanking-new Co-op Live arena in Manchester – which cost a whopping £365million to construct – will play host to the card.
Sunday morning’s British brawls is the fourth time Manny has staged 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 huge knockdown in the main event of UFC 204 to avenge his UFC 100 defeat to the former Pride middleweight champion.
Bisping will be calling the fights at the Co-op Live, the last of which will be a 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 champ and Wigan warrior Tom Aspinall.
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UFC 304 will take place on July 27.
The card will be held at the brand new 23,500-capacity Co-op Live arena.
The show will be a late one for UK fight fans, as the promotion has opted to start the card at 11pm.
The decision was made in order to increase interest from the North American market, as it will be prime time.
That means the fighters in the main event will make their respective walks to the cage at around 5:15am (BST) on July 28.
The main event, however, could start earlier if there is a string of quick finishes.
UFC 304 will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and will be available to live stream on the discovery+ app and website.
The early prelims will be available on UFC Fight Pass and TNT Sports 2.
Main card
Prelims
Leon Edwards: “His boxing coach came out and said he’s got hands like Canelo.
“What the hell is going on? As far as the Canelo thing, I think everyone knows.
“It’s like what the f***?”
Belal Muhammad: “I’m hoping he comes out with that same mentality.
“I’m hoping that he thinks that it’s gonna be an easy fight.
“Even with that first fight, when you’re going back and you’re watching it, he had one moment. It was a head kick.
“There was nothing else in that first round where you’re looking at like, ‘Oh, this is a 10-8 round.’
“It was still a 10- 9 round on the judges’ scorecard. He outstruck me by like six strikes. And in general, I’m a guy that picks up the pace.
“And that was before, you know, Leon was off for two years before that. So for us, it was, ‘Let’s see what Leon comes out [with].
“‘Let’s see what Leon shows up today, what he’s gonna bring, what new style he brings.’
“So it was to start at a slow pace. So I’m hoping that he thinks that, ‘All right, we’re gonna go the same way.’
“And I’m even telling myself like, ‘I wanna go out here and lose this first round against Leon in this fight just to show him – all right, you won this first round now, watch what I do these next four.'”
