Local fans should be prepared to pull an all-nighter. UFC 304 prelims begin at 11 p.m. BST, followed by the main card start time of 3 a.m. BST to preserve the traditional UFC pay-per-view broadcast schedule in the United States.
After weeks of speculation, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Sat., July 27, 2024 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. UFC 304 tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. BST on Friday, June 7, via Ticketmaster with special pre sales for UFC Fight Club members on Weds., June 5, at 9 a.m. BST and newsletter subscribers on Thurs., June 6, at 10 a.m. BST.
“I’m so excited to get back to Manchester and no better time than this summer,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “We have two champions from the UK and fans have been dying for a UFC PPV event. So here we come to the largest indoor arena in the UK. See you soon, England!”
Among those fighters expected to compete are UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and UFC interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall, as well as local favorites Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Muhammad Mokaev, Michael Page, and Arnold Allen, among others. Expect official announcements on specific matchups in the coming weeks, if not days.
“With the north of England home to so many of the world’s leading fighters, we are primed and ready for UFC and its knowledgeable, passionate fanbase,” said Co-op Live Executive Director & General Manager, Gary Roden. “Offering a state-of-the-art platform for globally broadcast events, Co-op Live is extremely proud to welcome entertainment of this scale and caliber as the future home of combat sports in the UK.”
UFC has not staged an MMA card in Manchester since UFC 204 “Bisping vs. Henderson” back in late 2016.