Remember His Name, Belal Muhammad | UFC 304 Recap
UFC 304 in Manchester, England, was a night culminating in a new welterweight champion as Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision. This victory marks Edwards' first loss since 2015 when he was defeated by Kamaru Usman.
Main Event: Muhammad vs. Edwards
In the highly anticipated welterweight championship bout, Belal Muhammad took on defending champion Leon Edwards. From the start, the tension was palpable as the fighters refused to touch gloves. Muhammad set the tone early, taking Edwards down twice in the first round and leading in significant strikes. The second round saw Muhammad continuing his dominance with multiple takedowns, including one that landed Edwards on his head.
Edwards managed to gain an advantageous position in the third round but couldn’t capitalize fully as Muhammad defended well. The fourth round saw a role reversal with Muhammad taking control again, leaving Edwards needing a finish in the final round to secure a victory. Despite a late surge from Edwards, including several elbows that opened a gash on Muhammad’s face, it was too late to change the outcome. Muhammad's consistent control and takedowns earned him the unanimous decision victory and the welterweight title.
Aspinall vs. Blaydes: A Quick Knockout
The co-main event featured a rematch between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes for the interim heavyweight title. Aspinall wasted no time, knocking Blaydes down with a right hand within the first minute. He followed up with relentless ground and pound, securing a knockout victory just 60 seconds into the fight.
Pimblett's Triumphant Return
Paddy 'the Baddy' Pimblett made a statement in his fight against Bobby 'the King' Green. After a tentative start, Pimblett executed a perfect triangle choke, rendering Green unconscious three minutes and 22 seconds into the first round. This victory was a crucial comeback for Pimblett, who had faced criticism and controversy in recent fights.
Rodriguez Dominates Duncan
In the middleweight bout, Gregory Rodrigues outclassed Christian Leroy Duncan, winning by unanimous decision. Rodrigues controlled the fight from the start, using his ground game to his advantage and inflicting significant damage on Duncan, who struggled to find his footing throughout the bout.
Allen vs. Chikadze: A Bloody Battle
Featherweights Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze delivered a hard-fought battle. Allen ultimately emerged victorious by unanimous decision, outstriking Chikadze and causing considerable damage. The fight was a display of grit and determination from both fighters, but Allen's precision and power gave him the edge.
Preliminary Highlights
- Nathaniel Wood defeated Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision, showcasing superior striking and control despite Pineda’s resilience.
- Bruna Brasil overcame Molly McCann in a unanimous decision victory, using powerful strikes and effective grappling to secure the win.
- Jake Hadley emerged victorious against Caolan Loughran, also by unanimous decision, with a strategic approach and strong defense.
- Muhammad Mokaev defeated Manel Kape in a bout that saw intense grappling and striking exchanges, with Mokaev winning unanimously.
Early Prelims
- Oban Elliott claimed a unanimous decision victory over Preston Parsons in a welterweight clash marked by strong takedown defense and striking.
- Modestas Bukauskas secured a third-round submission victory over Marcin Prachnio with an impressive arm triangle, rounding off a night filled with thrilling finishes.
Our take? UFC 304 was really nothing special, the card did not give us anything new or exciting in our most honest opinion, Dana was not happy in the post-fight presser, removing bonuses, and even releasing Mokaev, who actually got a victory in the card, but nonetheless, these things happen, something there are great cards, but sometimes there are dull cards, hopefully UFC Noche will not turn out into a disappointing one.
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