UFC 304 | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

Robert Whittaker predicts Belal Muhammad will struggle against Leon Edwards at UFC 304

Belal Muhammad, Leon Edwards Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes Belal Muhammad will have a lot of struggles against Leon Edwards at…

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes Belal Muhammad will have a lot of struggles against Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

Muhammad is set to challenge for the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 304 against Edwards. It’s an intriguing matchup and heading into the fight, Muhammad has oozed with confidence that he will be able to dominate the Brit to win the title.

However, Whittaker thinks Edwards will be too good for Muhammad and should cruise to a win, as he expects the champ to pick apart Muhammad.

“I can see like two possibilities,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast (via MMANews). “The first one, Leon Edwards, just being too good. I think the caliber of fights Leon Edwards has had is different from Belal Muhammad’s. Fighting Usman twice is huge, especially when he fought him the first time; that was good. Fighting Colby, like Colby, is a nightmare for everyone, and he was just able to shut him down so well with spectacular spacing. It’s very hard to find a hole, especially, you know, if we compare it to when he fought Nate Diaz, right? And we saw that hole get exposed in the later round or fights before that.”

“I feel like he’s tightened up to a whole new degree, further than he was then, and especially in that last fight, I was so super impressed with just how clean he was. There wasn’t really anything to pick apart; there weren’t any holes or glaring weaknesses to exploit for Colby.”

Robert Whittaker believes Belal Muhammad will struggle to push the pace

A key part of Belal Muhammad’s game is his cardio and his ability to push the pace. However, against Leon Edwards, Robert Whittaker thinks Muhammad will struggle to push the pace against Edwards.

“I find that sort of fight going to be hard for Belal Muhammad, who, you know, is not spectacular in any one field. He’s kind of just really high level at all of them, in my opinion. He’s amazing at everything, but I feel like his greatest strength is that he’s well-rounded. He can take the fight in any direction to get the win. But I think he’s going to have trouble trying to push that sort of game plan on Leon Edwards,” Whittaker said.

With Whittaker thinking Muhammad will struggle to push the pace, he believes that will lead to Edwards getting the win to remain the welterweight champ.

Curtis Blaydes says ‘This is for the real belt’ against Tom Aspinall at UFC 304

Perennial heavyweight contender, Curtis Blaydes may very well be competing for the interim crown this weekend at UFC 304…

Perennial heavyweight contender, Curtis Blaydes may very well be competing for the interim crown this weekend at UFC 304 in his rematch with gold holder, Tom Aspinall, however, he wants fans to make no bones about the claim that they’re pairing is for the real belt.

Blaydes, who currently sits at number four in the official heavyweight rankings, returns to action this weekend in Manchester, taking on home-town favorite, Aspinall in an interim title rematch – his first championship charge since landing in the UFC eight years prior.

curtis blaydes 12520 getty ftr 1lcldug4lkbco191nsodk1qyvg

As for Aspinall, the Atherton maestro clinched interim heavyweight spoils in a short-notice showdown at UFC 295 back in November, scoring a first round knockout win over Russian force, Sergei Pavlovich.

Curtis Blaydes claims Tom Aspinall and him are fighting for the “real” title

And in the time since, the British star has made his feelings clear regarding his pursuit of a title unification clash with Jon Jones, however, incoming opponent, Blaydes has claimed the duo are actually fighting for the “real” crown this weekend in the ‘Rainy City’.

“Yes, this is the real belt in my mind,” Curtis Blaydes told assembled media ahead of UFC 304. “In my mind, (Jon) Jones vs. Stipe (Miocic) is just their retirement fight. Not to be rude, bu they’re both one or two fights away [from ending their careers]. More than likely, this is their get-the-bag-get-out fight, which is fine. That’s how I viewed it.”

Blaydes’ claims come hot on the heels of recent comments earlier this month in which he explained how Jones was making a “smart decision” by apparently avoiding a championship fight against him.

“I wasn’t surprised (that Gane vs. Jones was booked for UFC 285),” Curtis Blaydes said. “I’ve been with the UFC for eight years now. Like, I get it,” Blaydes said. “Marketing. He’s French, which means he brings in all the fans over there. He has an aesthetically pleasing style. A lot of people don’t like wrestling, so I get that. He does all the fancy karate stance and all that. It’s easy to market his highlights versus the highlights that I have.

“Also, I think they asked Jon and were probably like, ‘Jon, do you wanna go against this guy who doesn’t know how to wrestle? Or this guy, who knows how to wrestle?’ I think he did the business, smart decision,” Blaydes continued. “I am a harder fight for him than Gane; I think a lot of guys are a harder fight for him than Gane.”

Who do you think wins at UFC 304: Tom Aspinall or Curtis Blaydes?

Belal Muhammad looking to ‘Torture’ Leon Edwards at UFC 304

Incoming welterweight title challenger, Belal Muhammad has vowed to “torture” incumbent gold holder, Leon Edwards in their championship rematch…

Incoming welterweight title challenger, Belal Muhammad has vowed to “torture” incumbent gold holder, Leon Edwards in their championship rematch at UFC 304 this weekend.

Muhammad, the current number two ranked welterweight challenger, returns this weekend in a championship setting for the first time in his Octagon tenure, matching with Birmingham favorite, Edwards for the second time.

Belal Muhammad laughs off Leon Edwards' cardio 'It is hilarious'

In their first matchup, Muhammad was hit with multiple illegal eye pokes from Edwards, resulting in an eventual second round official ‘No Contest’.

Belal Muhammad vows to “torture” Leon Edwards at UFC 304

Unbeaten in his last 10 straight fights, however, Illinois native, Muhammad has played down the ability of Team Renegade BJJ & MMA staple, Edwards – particularly his cardio tank, and vowed to “torture” the defending champion when they share the Octagon in the early hours of Sunday morning at UFC 304.

Belal Muhammad laughs off call out from Colby Covington after UFC 304 this guy's a joke

“I want to torture him (Leon Edwards),” Belal Muhammad told assembled media during his UFC 304 media day availability. “I want him to realize how much better I am than him. When you go out there and get a finish, people are like, ‘Oh, you got lucky. It happened because of that.’”

“I go out there and dominate him and beath in all aspects of MMA,” Belal Muhammad explained. “Wrestling, grappling, striking, Jiu-Jitsu, get him to the point of making him want to quit. I want to torture him. I want him to get to the point of looking at his coaches and his coaches have nothing to say and they walk away because they’re embarrassed.”

Belal Muhammad denied title fight with Leon Edwards at UFC 300 received no offer — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

In his most recent outing, Muhammad landed a one-sided unanimous decision win over former title challenger, Gilbert Burns in the short-notice co-main event of UFC 288 early last year over the course of five rounds to earn his premiere championship charge.

Who do you think wins at UFC 304: Leon Edwards or Belal Muhammad?

VIDEO: Former Opponents Paddy Pimblett & Jared Gordon Have Respectful Elevator Interaction In Manchester Ahead Of UFC 304

There appears to be no bad blood between UFC lightweights Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon following their high-profile 2022 fight. The pair are both in the English city of Manchester for different assignments this week, While Pimblett is gearing up for his first fight of 2024, Gordon has crossed the pond to train with and […]

Continue Reading VIDEO: Former Opponents Paddy Pimblett & Jared Gordon Have Respectful Elevator Interaction In Manchester Ahead Of UFC 304 at MMA News.

There appears to be no bad blood between UFC lightweights Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon following their high-profile 2022 fight.

The pair are both in the English city of Manchester for different assignments this week, While Pimblett is gearing up for his first fight of 2024, Gordon has crossed the pond to train with and support Belal Muhammad in the lead-up to his title shot in the UFC 304 main event.

Before the two title fights set to play out inside the Co-op Live arena, Pimblett will stake his claim for a spot in the lightweight top 15 against King Green. And with a dominant performance on Saturday night, “The Baddy” has vowed to get the fanbase back on his side.

The hype surrounding Pimblett has appeared to fade in recent years, making way for frequent waves of criticism. The catalyst for that was seemingly the controversial result of his first appearance on pay-per-view.

Nevertheless, that hasn’t created any tension between the Liverpool native and the man he narrowly outpointed at the Las Vegas-held UFC 282 in December 2022.

Pimblett, Gordon Reunite In Manchester Ahead Of UFC 304

On that night, Pimblett received his toughest test to date against Gordon. The veteran was competitive throughout and had plenty of fighters, fans, and pundits backing him to get the nod on the scorecards.

But after the verdict unanimously went the way of Pimblett, many were left up in arms and branding the result a “robbery.”

Funnily enough, during a recent friendly interaction at the fighter hotel in Manchester ahead of UFC 304, Pimblett told Gordon that he believes the American was actually robbed last time out against Nasrat Haqparast in Saudi Arabia.

@theufcbaddy

Always a pleasure running into my man Jared

? original sound – Paddy The Baddy

“Always a pleasure running into my man Jared,” Pimblett wrote in the description of a TikTok video showing the moment.

Gordon also posted his own clip of the meeting with Pimblett.

Before parting ways, Gordon wished Pimblett well for his clash this weekend with Green, who marks a shared opponent for the pair.

“Flash,” who was knocked out in April 2023 after an accidental clash of heads that resulted in a no contest, told “The Baddy” he foresees a stoppage victory for him come fight night at UFC 304.

Read More: PHOTOS: Leon Edwards & Paddy Pimblett’s Custom Shorts For UFC 304

Continue Reading VIDEO: Former Opponents Paddy Pimblett & Jared Gordon Have Respectful Elevator Interaction In Manchester Ahead Of UFC 304 at MMA News.

“On my back with guys on top of me” – Tom Aspinall ready to out-grapple Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304

Preparing to fight Curtis Blaydes has not been a pleasant experience for Tom Aspinall. Eight months after his insane…

Preparing to fight Curtis Blaydes has not been a pleasant experience for Tom Aspinall.

Eight months after his insane 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich to claim the interim heavyweight championship, Aspinall will defend his title in a massive co-main event matchup with Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester.

The fight will serve as a sequel to their 2022 clash, though that fight only lasted 15 seconds after Aspinall went down almost immediately due to a freak knee injury. As it stands, his loss to ‘Razor’ is the only blemish on Aspinall’s UFC career — something the Salford, England native intends to rectify this Saturday night when the two run it back live on pay-per-view.

Tom Aspinall’s UFC 304 fight camp has been ‘exhausting’

To prepare himself for the wrestle-heavy approach of his opponent, Tom Aspinall put himself through the wringer during his latest fight camp, spending the majority of it on his back and finding ways to fight out of uncomfortable positions.

“That’s probably where I spent the most of this camp is on my back with guys on top of me,” Aspinall told New York Post Sports. “It’s not been a very, Curtis Blaydes is not a very comfortable guy to train for. Do you know what I mean, you’re getting up off your back. See the way I work it is I work it with multiple training partners so I’ll be starting on bottom, I get them off, the energy that it takes to get a big guy off is, you know, you expend a lot of energy.

“Then I restart on my back with a fresh partner, like it’s exhausting man, it’s just exhausting training for this guy and I’ve done everything I can so we’ll see on Saturday how it goes” (h/t MMA News).

After seeing his three-fight win streak snap at the hands of Sergei Pavlovich in April 2022, ‘Razor’ returned to the win column in impressive fashion, scoring a shocking second-round KO of grappling wizard Jailton Almeida at UFC 299.

The victory solidified Blaydes’ spot in the heavyweight top five and set the stage for his interim title tilt with Aspinall.

Tom Aspinall’s knuckles feel like stone: ‘Half of the roster are going to be dipping their knuckles in petrol’

Tom Aspinall is taking some extreme measures to prepare for his interim heavyweight title fight with Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall…

Tom Aspinall is taking some extreme measures to prepare for his interim heavyweight title fight with Curtis Blaydes.

Aspinall will run it back with ‘Razor’ on Saturday night at UFC 304 in Manchester, two years after their first meeting came to a crashing halt just 15 seconds in. That night, Aspinall suffered a freak knee injury resulting in him taking his first and only L inside the Octagon.

Their co-main event clash will be Aspinall’s first fight of 2024 and thus, his first time competing in the new and improved(?) gloves that made their official debut at UFC 302 in June.

Having had an opportunity to try out the new fit, Aspinall quickly recognized that the gloves were lighter and had less protection around the knuckles. So he did what any reasonable fighter would do — he started soaking them in gasoline.

“Mate, they’re like absolute stones,” Aspinall told reporters during his appearance at the UFC 304 media day. “You know what, I’ve seen them new gloves, and they’re a lot smaller than the other ones. There’s a lot less padding on them.

“And I just thought, you know what, I need to harden the knuckles up, and that’s the only way I know how. I’ve been doing the old gypsy method of dipping them in petrol, and they’re like rocks. … If I get a disgusting knockout on Saturday, you better believe that half of the roster are going to be dipping their knuckles in petrol” (h/t MMA Junkie).

Tom Aspinall has nothing but respect for Curtis Blaydes

With 18 fights inside the Octagon and wins over the likes of Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, Alexander Volkov, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Jailton Almeida, Curtis Blaydes has more than proven himself to be one of the heavyweight division’s toughest tests.

“The guy’s been in the top five, top 10 for a long time,” Aspinall said. “He’s done basically everything there is to do apart from win a title. So I respect him a lot, and I respect what he’s all about. I respect him as a person, as an athlete, everything, and I have taken him very seriously in the build-up, and I’m taking this fight very, very seriously. I’m not looking past him at all.”