Belal Muhammad is finally getting a welterweight title shot against champion Leon Edwards. The #2 ranked 170-pounder is on a ten-fight undefeated streak and has been the strongest contender for a title shot, at least for the past year, after he defeated Gilbert Burns in a short-notice fight. He was snubbed by the UFC for UFC 300 as they gave Edwards three potential opponents to choose from, none of them Muhammad.

However, all of that is now water under the bridge as ‘Rocky’ posted a poster for Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad (following Dana White’s official announcement) as the main event for UFC 304 on July 27. “The Rocky Era continues. UK Stand Up!!!” the Englishman captioned it. This caption included the hashtag “#manchester”, indicating that the card will take place in the English metropolis of Manchester.

Edwards, of course, took the title off Kamaru Usman, probably the greatest welterweight in UFC history, in a shocking upset back in 2023. He went on to defend his title against ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’, shutting down any talks of his first victory being a fluke. The Muhammad fight will be Edwards’s third title defense and is shaping up to be a classic grappler vs. striker contest, with Edwards’ world-class stand-up game going against Muhammad’s elite wrestling. But, that is not the only title bout on the card.

Aspinall-Blaydes 2 to co-headline UFC 304

Along with the welterweight title bout, Dana White announced another exciting title fight for the UFC 304 co-main event. Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will defend his belt for the first time in a much-awaited rematch with Curtis ‘Razor’ Blaydes. The heavyweight champ will be fighting on home turf as he hails from the area adjoining Manchester.

Blaydes and Aspinall met in the octagon for the first time in 2022 and have unfinished business between them. During their Fight Night encounter, Aspinall suffered a freak injury, blowing out his knee in the first fifteen seconds to hand Blaydes a TKO victory. Both men have been clamoring for a rematch, and with a Jon Jones fight off of the table, it is the best move Aspinall could make.

It will help the Englishman redeem the only loss in his professional career and build his legacy as he is already expected by many, including former champion Michael Bisping, to be among the best heavyweights the sport has ever seen. A spectacular victory for Aspinall in Manchester will help create even more hype for a possible unification bout with undisputed champion Jon Jones, who will fight Stipe Miocic when he returns from injury. And this, perhaps, will be enough to change Dana White and Jon Jones’ mind, who are perhaps the only two people in the MMA world who do want to see the two champions fight.

Who do you think will emerge as a winner in the UFC 304 bout? Drop your pick in the comments below.