UFC 304 – Belal Muhammad dethrones Leon Edwards after Aspinall’s first-round win – As it happened

It has been good and unhealthy from our house fighter’s perspective. Nice first-round demolition jobs from Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett, however disappointment in the primary occasion as Leon Edwards was defeated.

“I am now GSP, I am no Khabib, I am Belal Muhammad,” the brand new champion mentioned on TNT Sports activities.

“I am my very own world. Now the world is aware of, they’ve seen it, they have to begin respecting it.”

The Palestine fighter takes the competition 48-47 (twice) and 49-46 to change into the brand new UFC champion.

Muhammad will get Edwards down once more and controls the remainder of the spherical. The gang did not prefer it, but it surely was efficient. Nonetheless, with a minute to go, Edwards reversed the maintain and landed vicious elbows exploding Muhammad’s nostril which can have seen him take the spherical. Absolutely Muhammad takes the title, Edwards could have simply wanted a number of seconds extra.

Edwards landed a giant left hook however Muhammad was relentless touchdown way more till he took place on the Birmingham fighter’s again and he locked in a physique triangle halfway by means of the spherical, touchdown blows on the groggy trying champion. Edwards reversed the maintain within the final thirty seconds however not sufficient to keep away from dropping the spherical. He wants a stoppage within the final to carry onto his title.

Muhammad started in management once more closing the gap and touchdown hooks however Edwards obtained a takedown and locked in a physique triangle which he saved for the final three minutes of the spherical. One spherical again for Edwards.

Muhammad continued to dominate taking Edwards down three extra instances, the second time seeing the champion touchdown on his head and he regarded a weary determine holding on for many of the spherical earlier than reversing a maintain and taking down Muhammad within the closing moments.

A takedown for Muhammad within the first thirty seconds of the spherical. Edwards has attacked the physique however Muhammad has landed jabs upstairs. An uppercut from Edwards obtained Muhammad’s consideration, however a left uppercut wobbled the champion and he was then taken to the mat once more.

Edwards has not misplaced for 9 years, can Muhammad change this tonight.

“Earlier than it was a freak accident, but it surely needed to be put to mattress,” Aspinall mentioned on TNT Sports activities, referring to his defeat to Blaydes two years in the past.

“I am the perfect finisher within the UFC.

“Who needs to see Aspinall towards Jon Jones.

“I’ve obtained nothing towards you personally, however I believe I am higher than you.

“I am only a regular individual. Typically regular folks can do extraordinary issues.”

His energy is extraordinary. A left jab was sufficient to place Blaydes down after which on the American’s again he pounded with left and proper fingers earlier than the referee jumped in with a minute on the clock.

Aspinall (14-3) defends towards #4 Blaydes (18-4, 1 NC).

Curtis Blaydes the one man to carry a stoppage win over Tom Aspinall. Albeit when the St Helens fighter collapses with an ACL damage.

When requested who he needed to struggle subsequent, Pimblett named #10 light-weight Renato Moicano.

“I am the primary individual to submit Bobby within the UFC,” Pimblett mentioned on TNT Sports activities. “That is to all you haters on the market who would say I would by no means get a rating.

What a efficiency from Paddy the Baddy! It began with calf kicks after which given the chance after one brutal kick, he introduced Inexperienced to the mat and locked in guillotine, which ultimately changed into an arm bar and with Inexperienced unconscious from the triangle choke, the referee referred to as the struggle off.

Robocop takes the struggle 30-27 on all three scorecards.

Rodrigues’ photographs are brutal and Duncan has accomplished nicely to take them with out wilting, as welts accumulate on his head. Rodrigues introduced Duncan down twice however the Brit’s defensive sport towards the jiu jitsu specialist was spectacular. Each finish the bout lined in blood.

A dominant show from Rodrigues. Dominating the arise with vicious rights, leaving Duncan with blood throughout his nostril. He’s additionally in cost when the pair grapple and he took down CLD within the closing levels. The Brit wants a stoppage within the final.

Rodrigues will get some early photographs in and takes down Duncan halfway by means of the spherical and pounded with elbows and proper fingers which has left a lump on CLD’s shaven head. A transparent spherical for Rodrigues.

A middleweight contest between Brit Christian Leroy Duncan and Gregory Rodrigues of Brazil.

He takes the struggle 29-28 on all three playing cards, Chikadze received the opening spherical however Allen the final two.

You marvel how a lot Allen urgent the third spherical will assistance on a spherical the place neither landed an excellent deal. The struggle stats are very shut. Chikadze landed a superb kick and a knee carry whereas Allen hit the goal with a number of left fingers however not a conclusive spherical at tall.

The Georgian started higher however Allen grew into the spherical and caught Chikadze with a giant left hand a minute from the tip of the spherical, displaying how he now has much less worry. Chikadze is bleeding from nostril and mouth it appears.

Chikadze the busier man early along with his faster kicks and proper fingers on the again foot. Allen landed a pleasant left within the final 30 seconds and desires extra of that.

Chikadze is the Tenth-ranked featherweight, Allen is #6.

Wooden takes the struggle 29-27 (twice) and 29-28 on the three playing cards.

The third spherical slowed spherical with grappling on the ground which suited Pineda simply superb however certainly the struggle is Wooden’s.

Wooden opens with a hellacious shot on Pineda’s eye which appears prefer it might need broken the socket – Pineda retains dabbing it, however nonetheless launching large hooks when he will get the prospect. Pineda will get a break from a groin kick however is then damage by consecutive calf kicks and put down with a jab. An enormous left hook on the broken proper eye places Pineda down once more however as soon as extra Wooden engages on the ground permitting Pineda to see the spherical out.

Wooden places Pineda down with a brutal kick to the abdomen after which lands a few photographs earlier than Pineda grabs him in shut on the bottom to get a little bit restbite. Pineda ends the spherical with a number of tomahawk photographs to the pinnacle of Wooden however the latter nonetheless wins the spherical.

Brasil wins by scores of 30-27 and 29-28 (twice).

McCann begins very nicely touchdown elbows and massive proper fingers and, although Brasil responds with a takedown, she for a second appears like she may lock in a chokehold as she wraps herself across the Brazilian’s again earlier than the buzzer sounds.

McCann turns issues round a bit, taking down her opponent however later Brasil has her on her again and in a precarious place. Within the remaining seconds she is put down with a flush proper hand and that’s more likely to see Brasil edge the second.

McCann within the wars. She obtained a shot within the groin space and a giant lump has opened on her brow. She can also be put down with a kick to the abdomen. An uphill activity from right here.

The ‘Meatball’ takes on Bruna Brasil in a strawweight contest.

He takes the struggle 30-27 (twice) and 29-28.

Hadley once more successful the struggle on the again foot along with his superior hanging and along with his superb takedown defence. Each fighters elevate their arms in triumph however certainly this was Hadley’s struggle.

Hadley once more touchdown extra. One eye-catching left-handed strike got here as he was caught “within the capsules” by Loughran and he took 90 seconds of a attainable 5 minutes break. Hadley’s strikes have induced swelling below Loughran’s left eye. Loughran tries a take down however Hadley exhibits superb defence. Loughran ends the spherical on prime on the mat, getting in some floor and pound earlier than the buzzer.

Hadley is the extra relaxed fighter and touchdown leg kicks and left-handed strikes. Loughran stalks Hadley and lands a number of physique blows however actually Hadley’s spherical.

The bantamweight contest between Jake Hadley (10-3) takes on Caolan Loughran (9-1).

He could must put in a greater efficiency to get a UFC Flyweight shot however it’s exhausting to argue with 13-0.

29-28 (twice) and 30-27 for the British fighter.

Once more there was little ation early within the spherical, Mokaev obtained a takedown however took various elbows from Kape whereas on the ground. Kape lands a few good left fingers within the remaining seconds. An odd struggle. A bit disappointing after the preamble.

Kape is a little bit hampered by an injured toe and Mokaev took him down however was then warned for grabbing his opponent’s shorts and acquired the sternest of warnings from the referee with out a level being deducted. Kape caught a thumb within the eye however with the referee not calling a break Mokaev charged at him. One other robust spherical to attain.

The pair race in the direction of one another with Mokaev narrowly lacking a kick. Then they get again to their combating stance and barely contact one another for the primary three minutes as each are cagey. Not a lot landed however within the remaining seconds probably the most damaging strike of the spherical got here from Kape.

Absolutely they’ll look ahead to Bruce Buffer to get issues going…

Britain’s Muhammed Mokoev (12-0) takees on Manel Kape (19-6).

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Reside protection from the Co-op Reside area in Manchester begins at 03:00 UK time on Sunday, July 28 on TNT Sports activities 1 and discovery+.

The prelims begin at 01:00 on Sunday, July 28, with the primary card following at 03:00. The early prelims, which may be watched on UFC Struggle Move, begin at 23:15 UK time on Saturday night time.

• Leon Edwards v Belal Muhammad
• Tom Aspinall v Curtis Blaydes
• Bobby Inexperienced v Paddy Pimblett
• Christian Leroy Duncan v Gregory Rodrigues
• Arnold Allen v Giga Chikadze

• Nathaniel Wooden v Daniel Pineda
• Molly McCann v Bruna Brasil
• Caolan Loughran v Ramon Taveras
• Muhammad Mokaev v Manel Kape
• Mick Parkin v Lukasz Brzeski

• Oban Elliot v Preston Parsons
• Sam Patterson v Kiefer Crosbie
• Shauna Bannon v Ravena Oliveira
• Modestas Bukauskas v Marcin Prachnio

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