- The UFC confirmed that they will return to Manchester for a PPV event in July
- However, UK fans will still have to deal with a brutal 3am start for the main card
- The likes of Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall are expected to feature on the card
Fight fans across the country have been sent into frenzy after the UFC confirmed they will make their highly-anticipated return to Manchester on July 27th.
The organisation revealed that they’ve booked their first pay-per-view event in the north of England since 2016 – with UFC 304 set to take place in Manchester.
The huge card will be the first sporting event to be held at the £365million Co-op Live arena – the largest indoor entertainment venue in the UK.
However, despite the excitement of a return to England for the UFC, fans will have to deal with a late night – with the main card set to begin at 3am BST.
This will give American fans the opportunity to also catch the numbered event in Manchester, with the pre-lim fights set to start at 11pm BST.
The UFC have confirmed they will make a return to Manchester for a pay-per-view event in July
The Co-op Live arena will host it’s first live sport event when the UFC comes to visit in summer
Though the UFC have not officially confirmed any of the bouts for the event, fans can expect to see the likes of Tom Aspinall or Leon Edwards feature on the card.
The two British champions – with Aspinall holding the interim heavyweight title – have been out of action and keen to orchestrate a return to the octagon.
Aspinall said on TikTok: ‘Just back from Vegas, was over there doing YouTube stuff, meetings, all that stuff. Had a meeting with the UFC.
‘It has now been confirmed that I am fighting on UFC Manchester. So I’m back home preparing for that now, just starting the early stages of a training camp.
‘Just waiting for my opponent to accept, so stay tuned.’
Aspinall, 31, won the interim crown by knocking out No. 2 ranked heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds at UFC 295.
Meanwhile, Edwards retained his welterweight title back in December after beating American rival Colby Covington at UFC 296 in Las Vegas.
Tom Aspinall (left) and Leon Edwards (right) are expected to feature on the event’s main card
Edwards recently defended his welterweight title with a decision victory over Colby Covington
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich to clinch the interim heavyweight title
‘Rocky’ stormed to a unanimous decision over Covington after their five-round war and, in turn, completed the second defence of his UFC belt.
For UFC 304, Rocky is expected to take on welterweight contender Belal Muhammad while Aspinall will likely rematch Curtis Blaydes or take on Frenchman Cyril Gane.
Last month, UFC chief Dana White hinted that the organisation would be making a return to the England.
UFC have only held two numbered events in the United Kingdom, with their last outing – UFC 286 – coming in March 2023.
Dana White hinted that the UFC will be heading to the United Kingdom for an event in 2024
The last time the UFC visited Manchester was in 2016 – where Michael Bisping headlined
Now, White has said: ‘I’m so excited to get back to Manchester. And no better time than this summer.
‘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!’
The last time the UFC visited Manchester was for UFC 204 back in 2016, where Michael Bisping defended his middleweight title against Dan Henderson.
Similarly to the upcoming event, the main card on the night got underway at 3am. Despite this, the event still sold out within minutes.
