UFC 304: Why so much is at stake at UFC 304 this weekend

Two high stakes title fights will leave two fighters within touching distance of greatness this weekend.

3 min read

July 27, 2024 - 3:49PM

Leon Edwards (L) and Belal Muhammad (R) have weighed in and are ready to settle their long-simmering rivalry. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC

Don't miss out on the headlines from UFC. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Two title fights, two rematches, and two chances to touch greatness.

That’s what’s on the line at UFC 304 this weekend.

At the top of the card, welterweights Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad both look to take a step closer to the so far untouchable record of Georges St-Pierre.

In the co-main, Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes fight for an interim title in a rematch of their anticlimactic first bout in 2022.

UFC 304: EDWARDS V MUHAMMAD 2 | SUN 28 JULY 12PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Jon Jones is the current heavyweight champion, but hasn’t fought since March 2023, and Aspinall and Blaydes both argue the winner of their showdown should be considered the true heavyweight kind.

After a heated build-up, Edwards and Muhammad both made weight and finally get the opportunity to lay their rivalry to rest.

It’s been three years in the making.

Edwards and Muhammad needed to be separated earlier this week. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Their first fight ended in a no-contest after Muhammad – who took the bout on just three weeks’ notice – suffered an accidental eye poke early in the second round.

The American-Palestinian has demanded a rematch ever since, but Edwards went his own way, scoring one of the wildest fifth-round knockout wins in UFC history to dethrone Kamaru Usman and claim the 170-pound title.

He has defended the title twice since then, and is eyeing up St-Pierre’s phenomenal welterweight record of nine title defences.

“He’s just another guy in the way, I’m chasing the great GSP’s record,” Edwards said this week. “He’s just another opponent in the way.

“If it weren’t for the eye poke, I would’ve finished (their first fight) in round two. The eye poke was a blessing.”

Englishman Edwards is the huge fan favourite. Picture: Getty Images

Excluding their no-contest, Muhammad is on a nine-fight winning streak, and says his resume – which includes victories over Gilbert Burns, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and Demian Maia – makes him one of the best welterweights ever.

“For me to go out there and beat Leon, who beat Usman twice, who everybody thought was the best welterweight to do it, then I’m ahead of him and I’m right underneath (St-Pierre),” he told MMA Fighting.

In the co-main event, hometown hero Aspinall is in the rare position of defending an interim title.

That’s because Jones hasn’t fought in 16 months after injuring his shoulder weeks before a scheduled defence against Stipe Miocic last November.

Aspinall (L) and Blaydes (R) agree the winner of their fight should be considered the true heavyweight champ. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC president Dana White confirmed this weekend’s winner will face the winner of Jones-Miocic, but Aspinall already claims to be the true heavyweight champ.

“This is the fight between the two best heavyweights in the world,” he said. “Me and this guy sitting to me left.

“This guy’s legit – he’s good everywhere.”

Like the welterweight showdown at the top of the card, the heavyweight scrap is a rematch of a disappointing first fight.

Just 15 seconds into their main event clash in London in July 2022, Aspinall collapsed with a knee injury and lost a technical knockout.

Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

One year and a day later, he made his emotional return with a 73 second demolition of Marcin Tybura, before finishing Sergei Pavlovich in even less time to win the interim title in November.

“The real people, the real fans, the real guys know this fight defines who’s the best heavyweight in the world,” Aspinall told Main Event. “Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are doing their thing, they’ve got a title, fair play. Whatever.

“This is the number one guy in the world fight.”

How to watch UFC 304 in Australia

You can watch UFC 304 on Main Event and Kayo Sports.

What time does UFC 304 start in Australia?

The early prelims are on Fight Pass from 8am (AEST).

The prelims start on ESPN at 10am (AEST).

The PPV card kicks off at 12pm (AEST) and expect Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad to fight any time after 2pm.

Full UFC 304 card

Welterweight – Leon Edwards (c) vs. Belal Muhammad
Heavyweight – Tom Aspinall (ic) vs. Curtis Blaydes
Lightweight – Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
Middleweight – Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Featherweight – Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze

Preliminary card (ESPN 2 / ESPN+)

Featherweight – Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda
Women’s Strawweight – Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil
Bantamweight – Jake Hadley vs. Caolan Loughran
Light Heavyweight – Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio

Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)

Welterweight – Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons
Flyweight – Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape
Welterweight – Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie
Heavyweight – Mick Parkin vs. Lukasz Brzeski
Women’s Straweight – Shauna Bannon vs. Alice Ardelean