UFC 304 Main Card Predictions

(via FightMag)

UFC 304, in Manchester, England, will be the first of many things for the worldwide leader in mixed martial arts. It will be the first time two British champions will be on a card together, it will be the first UFC event to be held in the brand new Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, and it will be the first time Interim Heavyweight Champion, Tom Aspinall, will rematch a previous opponent in his career. The card is packed with the very best mixed martial artists in the United Kingdom, and they will be backed by one of the most passionate crowds that the UFC has ever hosted. Here are the top five fights on the card, and how they may very well play out come Saturday night.

(#6) Arnold Allen vs. (#10) Giga Chikadze (Featherweight Bout)

Despite the fact he is on a two fight skid, Arnold Allen is one of the most well rounded and dangerous featherweights in the division. He holds wins over some historically excellent featherweights such as Calvin Kattar, Gilbert Melendez, Sodiq Yusuff, and lightweight contender, Dan Hooker. His two fight skid came at the hands of the undefeated Mosvar Evloev, and all time great featherweight, Max Holloway. Chikadze, on the other hand is one of the best kickboxers in the division. He holds wins over division mainstays such as Edson Barboza and Cub Swanson. It will be very interesting if this fight stays standing up, considering both men have several finishes by knockout. However, if this fight goes to the ground, it is evident that the edge goes in the favor of Allen. Chikadze’s takedown defense has yet to be proven against a wrestler as good as Allen, and in terms of mixing it up, Allen is one of the best in the division.

Arnold Allen via Decision

Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight Bout)

Christian Leroy Duncan is a rather new face to the middleweight division. He is currently 10-1 and 3-1 in the UFC. Both of his finishes in the UFC have come by way of TKO, with his last victory coming against Claudio Ribeiro in March 2024. Rodrigues has been a division mainstay since 2021, and has gone 6-2 thus far. Rodrigues is known for his knockout power and unworldly toughness, which was showcased in his bout against Chidi Njokuani. Experience seems to be the difference maker here, something that Rodrigues has in spades. This experience coupled with an iron chin leads to him having a massive advantage over Duncan.

Rodrigues via TKO

(#15) King Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight Bout)

Paddy Pimblett has propelled his career into superstardom among British mixed martial arts fans. Despite the fact he has yet to face a single ranked opponent in the lightweight division, he has become one of the most hyped prospects in the promotion. Green, a grizzled veteran of the UFC, who has spent the better part of 10 years in the promotion has tested his metal against the very best in the division. Green’s hands are still some of the fastest in the division despite being 37 years of age. Pimblett has excellent Jiu Jitsu, and has a definite advantage when the fight hits the mat. However, the biggest challenge will be getting Green there, who has excellent takedown defense and an extensive wrestling background. This fight will certainly be determined by whether it stays on the feet, or is taken to the ground, and the likely outcome is that it will stay on the feet. Although Pimblett is still a good striker, he has a tendency to leave his chin up and open to be countered. This will give Green many opportunities to realize success in this fight.

King Green by Decision

(IC) Tom Aspinall vs. (4) Curtis Blaydes 2 (Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout)

It is not often fans see interim titles defended, with the only two other instances coming from Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Renan Barao, which both happened many years ago in their respective divisions. Aspinall is one of the greatest heavyweight prospects fans have seen in years. The combination of lightning fast speed, knockout power, and high level grappling has almost never been seen in the history of the division. Many believe that Aspinall has the skills to be one of the very best heavyweights in history with this combination of styles, and since he has a 100% finish rate and the shortest average fight time in UFC history, he has also proven his ability numerically. Blaydes has proven to be one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the heavyweight division, and has developed his boxing to be a formidable striker as well. These two previously met in July 2022, and it ended early in the first round after Aspinall suffered a knee injury, leading to his first UFC loss. Both men were unsatisfied with how the first fight went and are eager to get back into the cage against each other. It seems evident that Aspinall has all the skills to beat Blaydes in terms of speed, striking, and grappling prowess. Even if Blaydes is able to get Aspinall to the ground, the problems Aspinall has given other heavyweights in terms of submission attempts seems far too much.

Tom Aspinall via TKO

(c) Leon Edwards vs. (2) Belal Muhammad 2 (Welterweight Championship Bout)

These two first met in March 2021, and ended due to an eye poke that left Muhammad unable to compete. Since then, both men have proceeded to beat every single welterweight contender that was thrown at them. Edwards won the welterweight title after knocking out long time champion, Kamaru Usman, in a knockout fans call “The Head Kick Heard Around the World,” and has since defended the title twice. Muhammad has beat several notable welterweight contenders such as Sean Brady, Stephen Thompson, and Gilbert Burns. Edwards is without a doubt the complete package. He has some of the most crisp striking in the division, and has grappling that has been largely overlooked. Muhammad is known for his excellent cardio, and dominant wrestling ability that has been a key facet of his style throughout his career. Although Muhammad is more than capable of taking Edwards down, the striking discrepancy is more than evident. This in tandem with Edwards’ excellent takedown defense, and underrated Jiu Jitsu seems that it would take some type of miracle for Muhammad to get the win.

Leon Edwards via TKO

UFC 304 takes place on July 27th at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. The main card starts at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and the prelims start at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.