UFC 304 – Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad 2 LIVE: ‘Rocky’ headlines huge Manchester card featuring Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann and Tom Aspinall

Although McCann isn’t the next fighter up—that would be Jake Hadley who narrowly missed weight yesterday—she’s getting ready backstage for her fight with Bruna Brasil.

There may be some confusion about the 30-27, but the sweep for the Brit remains intact!

The winner exclaimed, ‘Manchester, how’s everyone doing? I’m still young and fighting veterans, and I have the best team. Thank you for the support. I was a refugee here in 2012, and you welcomed me. Do I deserve a title shot?’

Mokaev landed a beautiful question mark kick early in the final round after Kape’s toe was checked by the doctors, and he was cleared to continue.

The critical moment came with two minutes remaining: Mokaev secured a takedown and escaped a submission attempt to end up on top, despite receiving some punishing elbows. He gave up position in the final moments as Kape scrambled back to his feet. A tough round to judge…

Kape seemed to have either broken or dislocated his big toe, trying to adjust it during the fight, which was ill-advised, as Mokaev pounced on him immediately. Mokaev managed to take Kape down during a scramble but was cautioned by the referee for grabbing the shorts before being returned to their feet. Kape then thought he was poked in the eye, turned away, and once again Mokaev followed him closely. This fight has been quite unusual so far, likely favoring Mokaev.

The crowd quickly turned from cheers to boos after a few uneventful minutes.

However, the round gained some excitement as Kape landed a powerful left punch, while Mokaev’s takedown attempt was unsuccessful. That best exchange likely put Kape ahead in the first round.

As Mokaev steps into the octagon for his fight, the audience erupts in a deafening cheer. It’s electric in here as everyone anticipates a spectacular showdown.

The British fighters secured a successful pre-lim showing, and Mokaev is set to continue that trend in the main card.

Mokaev remains unbeaten in the UFC and although he couldn’t become the youngest champion, he’s considered a rising star in MMA.

Tonight’s battle against Kape is a significant challenge, and the two had to be separated prior to the match, indicating a high-stakes atmosphere!

Matchup: Mohammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape

Matchup: Jake Hadley vs Caolan Loughran

Matchup: Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil

Matchup: Nathanial Wood vs Daniel Pineda

The happy winner stated, ‘It feels fantastic to silence the critics. London, you’re making my dreams come true. I’ve dedicated much of my career to wrestling defense, and I read the takedowns well. I remain undefeated and undisputed within the UFC like a true Welsh gangster.’

Aspinall is one of the most versatile heavyweights and has various pathways to victory this evening. A significant challenge against Curtis Blaydes awaits, following their prior match in London where Aspinall suffered a knee injury just 13 seconds in. A more satisfying conclusion is anticipated tonight…

It’s surprising to hear Sophie Ellis-Bextor featured in the UFC playlist tonight, but she performed in the interval between fights and surprisingly resonated well with a crowd that is completely captivated by the ongoing fights. The venue is buzzing as everyone is settled in for the long haul during the preliminary bouts.

Modestas Bukauskas and Marcin Prachnio have put on an exhilarating performance for over two rounds.

The Lithuanian-British fighter had Prachnio on the edge of defeat in the second round before taking a brutal head kick that turned the tide of the match.

In the third, after absorbing heavy strikes, he scored a takedown leading to a submission choke to finish Prachnio, who proved to be incredibly tough.

What kind of reception will Paddy Pimblett receive now that he’s in Manchester? As a proud Scouser, will the local fans rally behind him, or will Bobby Green receive more cheers instead? Pimblett has faced significant challenges in the lead-up to this event, recently speaking candidly about his mental health struggles.

After a disheartening debut loss to Ashmouz, Patterson rebounded with two first-round finishes and tonight showcased his skills by defeating Kiefer Crosby with an arm triangle choke. It took time to lock in, transitioning to mount and back, but eventually, Crosby tapped out.

Parkin now holds an impressive record of 10-0, with four victories in the UFC; this marks his first official finish in the promotion. The 6ft 4in heavyweight’s stock is undeniably on the rise.

Shauna Bannon kicked off the early prelims with an impressive split decision victory, exciting the Irish supporters at Co-op Live Arena.

Mick Parkin then electrified the atmosphere with a decisive right hook, knocking Łukasz Brzeski down quickly before finishing with a flurry, marking a fantastic win for the Englishman that fans hope is indicative of future performances.

Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean

Mick Parkin vs Lucasz Brzeski

Sam Patterson vs Kiefer Crosby

Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachnio

Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons

Mohammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape

Jake Hadley vs Caolan Loughran

Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil

Nathanial Wood vs Daniel Pineda

Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze

Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues

Bobby Green vs Paddy Pimblett

Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes

Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad

The last time this enormous MMA event took place in Manchester was back in October 2016, with Michael Bisping defending his title against Dan Henderson.

While it’s a challenging time for local attendees, they can look forward to plenty of action to keep them engaged and awake for the long haul. Many top British fighters are set to compete across early prelims, prelims, and the main card later on. Let the action commence!