Tom Aspinall retained his interim heavyweight title with a rapid knockout of Curtis Blaydes on Saturday, before Leon Edwards lost the welterweight belt to Belal Muhammad in the UFC 304 main event.
Wigan’s Aspinall needed just one minute to floor Blaydes with a one-two, before flattening out the American and forcing a finish on the canvas. With that, Aspinall avenged a 2022 loss to Blaydes, a defeat that occurred when the Briton sustained a knee injury just 15 seconds into their fight in London.
In Manchester on Saturday, Aspinall was able to prove his superiority over Blaydes, 33, retaining the interim belt that he won in November. And in doing so, the 31-year-old moved a step closer to a dream fight with Jon Jones. Jones, 37, holds the regular belt but is out injured, with the American expected to return later this year in a title defence against former champion Stipe Miocic, 41.
In the main event of UFC 304, Edwards’s welterweight title reign was ended in comprehensive fashion by Muhammad. The Palestinian-American beat the Jamaican-born Briton on all three scorecards – 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 – in a rematch of their 2021 meeting.
Their first clash ended as a No Contest, after Edwards accidentally landed an eye poke on Muhammad, while each man had otherwise been faultless in recent years. Only Muhammad, 36, was able to retain that form on Saturday, however. With his unanimous-decision victory over Edwards, he ended a title reign that began in 2022 – when Edwards knocked out Kamaru Usman in stunning fashion.
Edwards, 32, retained the belt against Usman and Colby Covington with decision wins in 2023, but the Birmingham fighter could go no further on Saturday. Re-live the action and see all results from UFC 304, below.
UFC 304 LIVE: Tom Aspinall triumphs but Leon Edwards comes up short
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 08:20
UFC 304 LIVE: Tom Aspinall knocks out Curtis Blaydes to retain interim title
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 07:50
UFC 304 LIVE: Tom Aspinall knocks out Curtis Blaydes to retain interim title
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 07:30
UFC 304 LIVE: Paddy Pimblett submits Bobby King Green
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 07:13
UFC 304 LIVE: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 06:55
UFC 304 LIVE: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 06:40
UFC 304 LIVE: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 06:27
UFC 304 LIVE: Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards
Muhammad: “It sounds like a lot of the people booing have a lot of tears in their eyes right now.”
Edwards: “I’m not surprised, my body just felt tired from round one. All week I felt tired. But good job to Belal.
“Not too long [before I’m back], one more this year. November or December, I’m ready to go.”
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 06:14
UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad
Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
And new! Edwards applauds, while Muhammad breaks down in tears.
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 06:09
UFC 304 LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad
Edwards has one round to save his title reign. He lands some straight shots, while Mugammad paws with hooks. Edwards digs to the body.
Muhammad with a takedown attempt in the open this time, but Edwards defends it. He’s driven back to the fence, however, and he hangs around for too long: In comes the double-leg from Muhammad.
Edwards is dragged to the mat, where Muhammad has a body triangle. Time is running out, and Edwards’s title is slipping away.
Edwards manages to get on top and fire off punches – and seemingly an elbow – slicing open Muhammad badly!! But it’s too late, surely!
And there’s the final horn. Belal Muhammad will be your new UFC welterweight champion.
Alex Pattle28 July 2024 06:06