UFC 304 at Co-op Live card confirmed with Leon Edwards v Belal Muhammad and Tom Aspinall v Curtis Blaydes

The fights taking place on UFC 304 in Manchester have been announced. The July 27 event is the first live sporting action to be hosted in the brand-new Co-op Live arena which opened on Tuesday after weeks of cancellations and setbacks.

UFC boss Dana White used a social media video to announce the news to eager fight fans. The card will be headlined by two rematches as Birmingham’s undisputed welterweight champion Leon Edwards takes on no.2 ranked rival Belal Muhammad and Atherton’s Tom Aspinall will face Curtis Blaydes for a second time.

Last time out Edwards defeated the controversial Colby Covington in Las Vegas, but in Manchester, he will face Muhammad who finally gets his long-awaited title shot. Muhammad is on a nine-fight win streak and previously faced Edwards but was forced to withdraw in the second round due to an accidental eye poke from the Brit

Aspinall will get the chance to avenge the only loss in his UFC career in Manchester. He faces American Blaydes who won the previous encounter after Aspinall injured his knee 15 seconds into the first round.

Fan favourite Paddy Pimblett has the opportunity to break into the UFC lightweight rankings as he faces no.15 ranked Bobby Green. The pair have traded blows on social media but will get the chance to settle their beef in the octagon in July.

Elsewhere, Wigan’s Muhammad Mokaev takes on Portuguese fighter Manel Kape. Following a career-best victory over Alex Perez in March, the no.6 ranked flyweight will be looking to extend his unbeaten 11-0 record in the first UFC event to be held in Manchester since hall of famer Michael Bisping defended his middleweight title in 2016.

Finally, British featherweight Arnold Allen will get the chance to bounce back from two successive losses as he takes on highly-rated Giga Chikadze in Manchester. 

UFC 304 Co-op Live Manchester main card

• Leon Edwards v Belal Muhammad 2 
• Tom Aspinall v Curtis Blaydes 2 
• Bobby Green v Paddy Pimblett 
• Muhammad Mokaev v Manel Kape
• Arnold Allen v Giga Chikadze