UFC 304: Belal Dominates Edwards To Win Welterweight Title; Aspinall Stops Blaydes In 60 Seconds

Belal Muhammad is the new UFC Welterweight Champion, beating Leon Edwards at UFC 304 via a unanimous decision. 

Edwards was making the third defense of his title, which he won after beating Kamaru Usman. He headlined in his country within Manchester, England, as he sought victory following their no-contest in 2021. On that occasion, Edwards accidentally poked Belal in the eye, and the bout was stopped. 
This time, there was no room for controversy.

Belal Dominates

Belal started the fight well, taking Edwards to the ground. The extra work by training with Khabib Nurmagomedov appeared to be paying off. The takedowns and striking allowed Belal to increase his output, as he secured another takedown before the first was over. 

It was the same story in the second. Muhammad put the champ on the ground as he was beating him in the exchanges. Muhammad dropped Edwards on his head and dominated the round after taking Edwards on the back. Edwards rallied back in the fourth with a much more aggressive approach.

But Belal got on the inside again and took him to the ground, forcing Edwards on the back foot. Edwards pressed the action in the fifth, knowing he needed to do more. He secured a reverse position and dropped several elbows on Belal. While he finished the fight well, it was not enough, as Belal became the UFC Welterweight Champion. 

Post-Fight

“It sounds like all the people booing right now got a lot of tears coming out of their eyes. I see you guys with watery eyes right now. This is for my family, for my people in Palestine. I got the best team in the world. We study to the core. We get better every single fight. He said it right, I’m not Khabib [Nurmagomedov], I’m not GSP, I’m Belal Muhammad. I’m my own man. [And] I’m a world champion,” Belal

“I’m not surprised. My body just felt tired. All week I’ve been feeling tired. Congrats to Belal. I’d like to get one more this year. Whenever, November, December. I’m ready to go,” Edwards

Aspinall Stops Blaydes

In chief support, Tom Aspinall stopped Curtis Blaydes in the first round to retain his UFC Interim Heavyweight Title. Before the fight, White confirmed that the winner would face either Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic once they face off. Bones is working his way back from injury, as he is expected to defend his heavyweight title against Miocic after having pulled out of their UFC 295 clash with a pectoral muscle problem. 

Aspinall talked up Blaydes, saying he was his toughest match-up at heavyweight. He suffered a loss to the American in 2022 after getting stopped in the first round. However, Aspinall suffered a knee injury, after which he returned stronger with first-round KO wins over Marcin Tybura and Sergei Pavlovich.

On the biggest stage, Aspinall delivered. Just 60 seconds into the round, Aspinall sent Blaydes to the canvas with a big right hand. He followed up with numerous unanswered strikes as Blaydes remained helpless, forcing the referee to end the fight. After the win, Aspinall turned his attention to Jones. 

“What a human being this guy is. I had nothing against him personally but we needed to put that one to bed. I got my revenge, thank god. I’m the best finisher in the UFC. If I smell blood, you’re done. I just spoke to the boss man, who wants to see Tom Aspinall versus Jon Jones? Hello Jon, I have nothing against you personally but I think I’m better than you,” Aspinall said 

Full Card

Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards via a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes via a first-round TKO

Paddy Pimblett def. King Green via a first-round submission (triangle choke)

Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan via a unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze via a unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Prelims

Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda via a unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-28)

Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann via a unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Jake Hadley def. Caolan Loughran via a unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape via a unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)

Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons via a unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio via a third-round submission (arm triangle)

Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie via a first-round submission (arm triangle)

Mick Parkin def. Lukasz Brzeski via a first-round KO

Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean via a split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)

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