Belal Muhammad has stunned the Manchester crowd as he dominated Leon Edwards to win the UFC welterweight world title.
‘Remember the name’ had to spoil the party for a rowdy audience who stayed until after 6am local time to watch a world championship double header at UFC 304. He landed a takedown within seconds of the first round, and continued throughout the five rounds before being crowned champion.
It wasn’t all bad for the home fans, however. Hometown hero Tom Aspinall defended his interim heavyweight title in the co-main event to set up a showdown with Jon Jones for the undisputed title, while other Brits also picked up major wins.
The biggest moment of the undercard saw Paddy Pimblett submit King Green within a round to send the arena into a frenzy. He choked the American unconscious, and has now almost certainly taken his spot in the lightweight rankings.
Elsewhere on the night, Arnold Allen began his next run towards a featherweight title shot with a decision win over Giga Chikadze. Unfortunately, home favourite Molly McCann wasn’t as lucky, losing to Bruna Brasil in heartbreaking fashion over three rounds.
You can recap every big moment by reading over our live blog…
Main card
Belal Muhammad bts Leon Edwards by UD
Tom Aspinall TKOs Curtis Blaydes in R1
Paddy Pimblett SUBs King Green in R1
Gregory Rodrigues bts Christian Leroy Duncan by UD
Arnold Allen bts Giga Chikadze by UD
Prelim card
Nathaniel Wood bts Daniel Pineda by UD
Bruna Brasil bts Molly McCann by UD
Jake Hadley bts Caolan Loughran by UD
Muhammad Mokaev bts Manel Kape by UD
Early prelim card
Oban Elliott bts Preston Parsons by UD
Modestas Bukauskas SUBs Marcin Prachnio in R3
Sam Patterson SUBs Kiefer Crosbie in R1
Mick Parkin KOs Lukasz Brzeski in R1
Shauna Bannon bts Alice Ardelean by SD
- MOKAEV CUT: Dana White appears to cut unbeaten contender despite winning title eliminator at UFC 304
- ROCKY RUMBLED: Belal Muhammad dethrones Leon Edwards in UFC 304 main event
- TOP 15 PADDY: Paddy Pimblett chokes King Green unconscious in first round of UFC 304 clash
Belal Muhammad is the new UFC welterweight champion
A massive moment for the Chicago native as he declares that the victory was for the victims of what is happening in Palestine.
[Link]Leon Edwards almost steals it at the death
The fifth round was all Belal Muhammad until the final 30 seconds or so, when Edwards reversed position and landed a huge elbow that busted the challenger open. Was it enough to win the round, and the fight? We’ll see, but it seems unlikely.
[Link]Belal Muhammad back in control in Round 4
This is incredible from Belal Muhammad, he’s out-striking Leon Edwards and using that to finish his takedowns. He is fighting fearlessly and looks to be on his way to becoming UFC welterweight champion!
One more round and Dave Lovell is giving Edwards another iconic speech in the corner.
[Link]Much better for Leon Edwards in Round 3
After a similarly tough start to the round, Edwards managed to take control through the round. He pushed for the submission, but couldn’t get it. It might now be 29-28. Into the championship rounds.
[Link]Another big round for Belal Muhammad in Round 2
Massive showing again for Belal Muhammad, almost landing a rare takedown knockout as he dropped Leon Edwards on his head. As far as I’m concerned it’s 20-18 to the challenger.
[Link]Belal Muhammad dominates Round 1
Within seconds of the first, Muhammad landed a big takedown and while Edwards was able to get back up, surprisingly the challenger was able to stay competitive, arguably winning the exchanges before landing another one towards the end.
[Link]Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad are in the octagon
Nowhere to run now, it’s time for welterweight title action!
[Link]Tom Aspinall calls out Jon Jones
“I have nothing against you personally,” he tells Jones via Daniel Cormier. “I just think I’m better than you and will win in a fight.”
[Link]TOM ASPINALL TKOS CURTIS BLAYDES INSIDE A MINUTE!
MANCHESTER GOES ABSOLUTELY WILD AS TOM ASPINALL DEFENDS HIS BELT IN SIXTY SECONDS ON THE BUTTON! WHAT A MOMENT IN HIS HOMETOWN! THE INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION RETAINS
[Link]World title time!
It is time for the interim heavyweight championship of the world to be defended. There has never been more dispute over a title in MMA than this UFC heavyweight one.
But try telling this 5am Manchester crowd that Tom Aspinall is not defending the true world title against Curtis Blaydes…
[Link]PADDY PIMBLETT CHOKES KING GREEN TO SLEEP IN ROUND ONE
The Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester is going absolutely nuts as we approach 5am local time! What a moment. After a back-and-forth round on the feet, Green inexplicably shoots for a takedown and is caught in a guillotine. Pimblett turns that into a triangle, works into an armbar and the American refuses to tap. Game over. Phenomenal moment!
[Link]King Green makes the walk second
His first fight since legally changing his name from Bobby Green, King Green is loving life walking out with the Manchester crowd firmly against him.
[Link]Special shorts for Paddy Pimblett
Orange shorts for the Brit, an homage to his days in Cage Warriors.
[Link]Paddy Pimblett makes the walk at UFC 304
What a reaction at 4:35am local time for the Liverpool native! Can he get the job done this time around against the veteran King Green!
[Link]Gregory Rodrigues bts Christian Leroy Duncan by UD
A blood-bath that won’t quite have delighted the Manchester crowd as Rodrigues gets the job done against Rodrigues! Paddy Pimblett up next…
[Link]Arnold Allen beats Giga Chikadze by Unanimous Decision
Massive victory for Arnold Allen as he moves back into the win column against the number ten-ranked featherweight!
[Link]Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze head into the third
Dead even in this crunch featherweight clash. As I type this, they’ve both landed 37 significant strikes.
[Link]Nathaniel Wood beats Daniel Pineda by Unanimous Decision
A decisive striking display from Wood, but could he have pushed further for the finish there? Not sure about that performance as he moves to 8-3 in the UFC and we move to the main card!
[Link]Bruna Brasil beats Molly McCann by Unanimous Decision
Completely dominant, despite some exciting moments from ‘Meatball Molly’. One judge gave McCann a round, hard to see how this time. Huge win for Bruna Brasil
[Link]Rough couple of rounds for Molly McCann
‘Meatball Molly’ has been dropped multiple times thus far, in both rounds. Bruna Brasil just appears to be so much cleaner on the feet.
[Link]Molly McCann takes a nasty low blow
Bruna Brasil goes for a low leg kick as Molly McCann aims a shot of her own and she goes down in serious pain. Back up within a minute.
[Link]Jake Hadley beats Caolan Loughran by Unanimous Decision
Huge victory to snap a losing skid for ex-Cage Warriors champion Jake Hadley! Impressive outing from the Brit.
[Link]Muhammad Mokaev beats Manel Kape by Unanimous Decision
Emotional scenes in the octagon after the fact as the pair put their bad blood behind them. Very close, underwhelming fight but the Russian gets a win in his adopted hometown!
[Link]Manel Kape and Muhammad Mokaev settle feud as they go the distance
Both men embrace after the final bell, we head to the scorecards for a decision!
[Link]Manel Kape fighting through a gruesome toe injury
It seems as though Manel Kape has suffered a broken toe but he is fighting through and the doctor has let it continue
[Link]Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape kicks off
Security needed in the octagon right up until the first bell. This is one of the most bitter feuds in recent UFC memory.
[Link]Oban Elliott beats Preston Parsons by Unanimous Decision
Very impressive showing from ‘The Welsh Gangster’ as he refuses to be taken down and manages to stay up to land a dominant win. Parsons’ winning run comes to an end in the welterweight division. 30-27 on two cards, 29-8 on another!
[Link]Wayne Rooney is in the building!
Oban Elliott takes on Preston Parsons to round out the early prelims
The Welsh Gangster looks to land another big win under the UFC banner!
[Link]Modestas Bukauskas submits Marcin Prachnio in Round 3
After an insane three rounds of action with just over a minute on the clock Modestas Bukauskas returns to the win column! The arm triangle choke in the third is his first submission under the UFC banner!
[Link]Modestas Bukauskas and Marcin Prachnio go to war
Sam Patterson submits Kiefer Crosbie in Round 1
An arm triangle choke does the business for Sam Patterson after a tough striking exchange early on. Second finish of the night as the Brit beats the Irishman in one.
That could be it for Kiefer Crosbie’s UFC career.
[Link]Bitter rivals arrive at the Co-Op Live Arena
Kiefer Crosbie and Sam Patterson up next
Be ready for war in this battle between Ireland and England
[Link]Mick Parkin KOs Lukasz Brzeski in Round 1
Mick Parkin knocks out Lukasz Brezki with a tremendous first round knockout in the heavyweight division. First stoppage of the night!
[Link]Huge moment for Shauna Bannon and Paddy Holohan
Shauna Bannon beats Alice Ardelean by Split Decision
Ireland’s Shauna Bannon lands her first win under the UFC banner after an impressive three round decision. Delight for Paddy Holohan’s charge!
[Link]UFC 304 is underway
Shauna Bannon and Alice Ardelean kick us off at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, strawweight action gets us going.
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How to watch UFC 304 LIVE
UFC 304 will be available exclusively on PPV (streaming with extra fee on subscription service ESPN+) this Saturday, while the prelims will air on ESPN 2 and stream on ESPN+ in America.
The early prelims are available to watch from 6pm Eastern on Saturday night with a subscription to UFC Fight Pass. The later prelims kick off at 8pm Eastern, while the main card is expected to begin at 10pm.
The main card is a pay-per-view in America and many major markets. To find out how to order in your region, head to the UFC website for more details. In the UK, it is exclusively available on TNT Sports 1, which is not an extra fee on top of the subscription to TNT Sports.
[Link]Welcome to the UFC 304 Bloody Elbow Live Blog
Hello and welcome to our inaugural Bloody Elbow Live Blog as we bring you all the latest from UFC 304 in Manchester.
My name is Donagh Corby and I will be providing updates of all the results and news around the fights. I’ll also be keeping you up on how to watch the event on pay-per-view and other important details.
If you want to interact with us on social media send a message to Bloody Elbow on X, Instagram or Facebook and we will feature the most interesting ones on the blog!
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