UFC 304 takeaways: Can Muhammad finally get his shine? Will Jones-Aspinall ever happen?

A 14-fight card at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, was headlined by a pair of title bout rematches. Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards to change into the brand new welterweight champion. Within the co-main occasion, Tom Aspinall made fast work of Curtis Blaydes, leaving little doubt that he is among the best strikers on this planet. To make sense of all of it, Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim supply their remaining ideas.

The stage was set for Leon Edwards to placed on a starry efficiency. It was early into Sunday morning — with the solar nonetheless down — however the followers at Co-op Reside area have been absolutely awake and able to cheer on a present after simply having watched two different native heroes, Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett, rating rousing first-round finishes.

Edwards didn’t ship the locals house pleased, although. It wasn’t just because he misplaced his UFC welterweight championship to Belal Muhammad. By the point the choice was being learn, the solar was rising in Manchester, however the vitality within the constructing had already been deadened. The primary occasion had primarily performed out with the challenger in dominant positions on the canvas or in clinches, as he piled up over 12 minutes of management time. Muhammad by no means significantly threatened a end, however he gave Edwards little alternative for an enormous efficiency and the British followers little purpose to cheer.

This was exactly what Muhammad had stated he was going to do. But it surely appeared unlikely, on condition that Edwards’ previous three fights had been towards robust wrestlers — Kamaru Usman twice and Colby Covington — and the champ had principally saved these fights standing, the place he’s most harmful. Even when Edwards and Muhammad first met in 2021, in a bout that ended early in Spherical 2 as a no-contest after an eye fixed poke rendered Muhammad unable to proceed, Edwards had saved the struggle in positions the place he might get the higher of it.

Not this time. Though Edwards had an enormous third spherical, getting a takedown early and threatening a submission till the horn, and though he turned across the remaining spherical and landed a late elbow that left Muhammad’s face bloody, the soon-to-be-dethroned champ was unable to generate constant offense. His title reign simply petered out.

So now Muhammad is the newest everyman to personal a UFC belt, following within the footsteps of men resembling Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, fighters who placed on championship-winning performances however lack the star energy the UFC brass craves. Muhammad deserves all of the accolades for this victory, however will these accolades come his means?

The UFC star-building machine has by no means precisely embraced Edwards. So good luck to Muhammad, who had waited a very long time earlier than being given his shot. He needed to go on a 10-fight unbeaten run earlier than getting a date with Edwards. He made probably the most of it on this evening, however the smothering model through which he secured his title would have made this struggle a yawner even when it weren’t taking part in out in entrance of his opponent’s house followers and the sleepy hours of the evening. — Wagenheim

Is Jon Jones going to reply the cellphone for Tom Aspinall?

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Tom Aspinall delivers message to Jon Jones after title protection

Tom Aspinall tells Jon Jones he is higher than him after his fast win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

Hale: All Aspinall wanted was one minute to avenge the lone blemish on his UFC report by annihilating Blaydes. Exterior of Ciryl Gane, there’s no one else left for Aspinall to struggle who would current an inexpensive risk.

Other than the TKO loss because of harm, Aspinall has worn out the higher crust of the heavyweight division with little to no resistance. Aspinall’s previous three fights towards Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich and Marcin Tybura have lasted a grand whole of three minutes and 22 seconds, with none going longer than 90 seconds. Aspinall entered the Octagon with a median struggle time of two:10, the shortest in UFC historical past. The 60 seconds it took to dispatch Blaydes will lengthen his lead.

For what it is price, Jones has each proper to disregard the decision and trip off into the sundown when he presumably beats Stipe Miocic in November. It most likely will not diminish his stature as the best blended martial artist, contemplating that he has way more to lose than acquire in a struggle with Aspinall.

Nevertheless, if he needs to show that he is nonetheless one of the best fighter on this planet, Jones should reply the hardest problem of his UFC profession towards a person who is larger, sooner and extra highly effective than anyone he has ever shared an Octagon with.

As massive as a struggle between Jones and Francis Ngannou was regarded as, the specter of Aspinall has eclipsed that and made Jones-Aspinall the largest struggle that may be made within the UFC, outdoors of something Conor McGregor.

Paddy Pimblett was all the time this good

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Paddy Pimblett wakes up Manchester with big submission win

Paddy Pimblett electrifies the Manchester crowd with an unbelievable submission win at UFC 304.

Okamoto: Here is how you understand Pimblett has achieved his job with regards to getting individuals to care about him — the overreactions to his performances.

When he beat Jared Gordon, in a struggle many scored for Gordon, it appeared like followers and pundits alike could not wait to leap off the bandwagon. When he failed to complete a veteran in Tony Ferguson, the “overrated” narrative grew. After which, after one (albeit) improbable submission victory over King Inexperienced, abruptly social media is flooded with “Paddy is the actual deal” feedback?

The game as a complete is swinging means too extensive with each Pimblett efficiency. What did he do Saturday that we did not know he might do? We all know he has a harmful floor recreation. We all know he tends to stand up when the highlight is at its brightest. This is not to downplay his previous exploits. The precise reverse, really.

It was one of the best win of his UFC profession to this point. However why are we treating it prefer it confirmed us one thing we have been oblivious to? I knew Pimblett might carry out like this, and I feel the UFC knew it, too. The highest of the division continues to be going to be robust for Pimblett. It was all the time going to be. The query of how far he can go continues to be on the market. And maybe for some, this final efficiency reveals he is for actual, however I used to be below the impression we already knew he was.