The Octagon returns to Manchester, England for the first time in nearly eight years for a major pay-per-view event, featuring two title fights, in the promotion’s debut at the new Co-Op Live with UFC 304.
In the main event, UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards defends the title for the third time against challenger Belal Muhammad. The two have unfinished business as they have fought before, but that bout ended in a no contest in the second round after Muhammad was unable to continue due to an eye poke. Both are on long unbeaten streaks, with Edwards’ streak at 13 and Muhammad’s at ten.
In the co-main event, Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall defends for the first time against Curtis Blaydes in another rematch featured unfinished business. The two did step inside the Octagon across from each other in July 2022, but that fight never really got going after Aspinall suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the fight.
Also on the main card is a lightweight bout between King Green and popular English fighter Paddy Pimblett; a middleweight bout pitting Christian Leroy Duncan against Gregory Rodrigues; and a featherweight bout between top-ten fighters Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze.
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> Women’s Strawweights- Shauna Bannon (5-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Alice Ardelean (9-5, 0-0 UFC)
They come out trading and both land leg kicks. Bannon lands a jab. Ardelean with a combination. Ardelean with a stiff left hand. Bannon with a combo. Bannon lands a jab. They trade before tying up against the fence. Ardelean gets a takedown despite Bannon grabbing the fence. Ardelean landing from the top as Bannon looks for an opening with her legs. Ardelean lands from the top. Bannon looking for an armbar. Bannon tried to reverse but Ardelean ends up back on top. Bannon with some elbows from the bottom. Ardelean with some shots from the top. Close round. 10-9 Bannon.
Ardelean lands a jab. They trade inside the pocket as Bannon lands a solid combo. Bannon connects with a left hand. Bannon lands a head kick. Ardelean looks for a takedown but they scramble in a tie-up and separate. Bannon lands a solid combination. Ardelean grabs the body and they go to the fence. Bannon turns around. Bannon lands while tied up. Ardelean controlling against the fence trying for a takedown and is able to get it into side control. Ardelean has a headlock in as Bannon is trying to work to the back. Ardelean with some right hands. Bannon lands from the back at the end. 10-9 Ardelean, 19-19.
They trade and Bannon lands a nice right hand. Bannon with a pair of body kicks. Ardelean lands a right hand. Bannon lands a right hand and a body kick. Ardelean with a right hand. They both land in close range then Bannon lands a combo. Ardelean with a right hand. Bannon continues to land more as they stay on the feet. They trade inside the pocket. Bannon with a combo as Ardelean lands a jab. Bannon with a left hand. Bannon with a push kick then a combination. They trade late. Close fight. 10-9 Bannon, 29-28 Bannon.
Official Result- Shauna Bannon def. Alice Ardelean by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
> Heavyweights- Mick Parkin (9-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (9-4-1 1 NC, 1-3 UFC)
Brzeski lands a leg kick and they trade in close range. They tie up and Brzeski lands to the body. Parkin with a jab and leg kick. Parkin lands a right hand. They trade combinations. Brzeski lands a calf kick. Parkin with a right hand. They trade and Parkin lands a big flurry that drops Brzeski and finishes it off with some shots from the top. Huge finish from Parkin!
Official Result- Mick Parkin def. Lukasz Brzeski by knockout (punches) at 3:23 of Round 1
> Welterweights- Sam Patterson (11-2-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (10-4, 0-1 UFC)
Patterson with a combo as Crosbie lands some leg kicks. Patterson with a front kick. Patterson with a combo and Crosbie lands a right hand. Brief timeout for a groin strike before they trade as they get back going. Patterson lands an uppercut and they tie up against the fence. Patterson gets a takedown into mount and is working for an arm-triangle choke. He has it locked in and is adjusting. He has it in tight and Crosbie taps! What a showing from Patterson.
Official Result- Sam Patterson def. Kiefer Crosbie by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:50 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Modestas Bukauskas (15-6, 3-4 UFC) vs. Marcin Prachnio (17-7, 4-5 UFC)
Prachnio with some leg and body kicks early. Bukauskas lands a big left hand and Prachnio lands a leg kick. He lands another. Bukauskas with a body kick. Bukauskas lands a left hand. Prachnio with a leg kick. Prachnio with a big left hand. Bukauskas with a combination. They tie up and trade knees. Bukauskas with a spinning elbow as they break. Bukauskas hurts Prachnio with a combo. Prachnio with a leg kick. Bukauskas lands a right hand. Bukauskas with a head kick and Prachnio backs up. 10-9 Bukauskas.
They start by trading some wild punches. Bukauskas with some leg kicks. Prachnio lands a right hand. Bukauskas with a stiff jab. Bukauskas hurts Prachnio with a right hand and lands then Prachnio lands a head kick that backs Bukauskas up. They are throwing wildly. They tie up and Bukauskas pushes it to the fence. Prachnio with some knees and they separate. Bukauskas gets a takedown and Prachnio holds the fence for several seconds. Bukauskas with an elbow. Bukauskas is in side control and lands a knee. They get up late. Close round. 10-9 Bukauskas, 20-18 Bukauskas.
Prachnio landing big punches to start the third and Bukauskas is backing up. They clinch up and Bukauskas gets a takedown. Bukauskas in half-guard and looking for a choke. Bukauskas landing from the top as Prachnio is stuck on the bottom. Bukauskas with a pair of elbows. Bukauskas trying for an arm-triangle choke. He has it locked in and Prachnio taps! Bukauskas with the late submission win.
Official Result- Modestas Bukauskas def. Marcin Prachnio by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:12 of Round 3
> Welterweights- Oban Elliott (10-2, 1-0 UFC) vs. Preston Parsons (11-4, 2-2 UFC)
Parsons with a right hand and they clinch. Elliott with a pair of elbows and they separate. Elliott with a spin kick to the body. Parsons with a pair of low kicks. Elliott connects with a high spin kick. Parsons with more leg kicks. Parsons trips Elliott up with a leg kick and grabs the neck. They clinch and both land before separating. Parsons with a leg kick. He lands them again as Elliott lands a right hand. Both land. Parsons tries for a takedown but Elliott defends against the fence. Elliott lands an elbow. 10-9 Parsons.
Parsons with a leg kick and Elliott lands a right hand. Parsons shoots for a takedown and Elliott defends though Parsons lands an elbow. They break apart. Elliott with a left hand. Parsons with a leg kick. Elliott with a snapping jab. They trade combos. Parsons looks for a takedown but Elliott defends and gets the back of Parsons. They separate but Elliott gets Parsons’ back moments later and drags it down despite Parsons grabbing the fence. Elliott lands from the back but they stand and break. Elliott with a right hand. Parsons tries a takedown but Elliott uses the arm to sweep and they get right up. 10-9 Elliott, 19-19.
Elliott lands a combination. Parsons looked for a takedown but Elliott lands a combination to defend. Parsons tries for another takedown but Elliott defends and they scramble to the mat. They get to their feet and Parsons looks tired. Elliott with a combination. They tie up and Elliott lands before they break. Elliott controlling the center. Elliott lands a combination and has clinch control before they break as he lands an elbow. Parsons shoots for a takedown but Elliott defends. Parsons is able to get a takedown but Elliott immediately attacks the armbar. They scramble back to their feet. They trade body shots at the end. 10-9 Elliott, 29-28 Elliott.
Official Result- Oban Elliott def. Preston Parsons by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
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> Flyweights- #6 Muhammad Mokaev (11-0 1 NC, 6-0 UFC) vs. #8 Manel Kape (19-6, 4-2 UFC)
Mokaev rushes forward. Mokaev with a couple of kicks. Mokaev lands a leg kick. Kape lands a left hook. There isn’t much action going on. Mokaev with a body kick. Mokaev with a wheel kick. Kape rushes forward. Kape lands a left hand. Kape lands a combo. Mokaev looks for a takedown but Kape defends. 10-9 Kape.
Again, they aren’t doing much to start this round. Mokaev lands a kick. Kape looks to have broken a toe and he tried to fix it and bait Mokaev in and Kape lands a right hand. They scramble and Mokaev gets Kape down. Mokaev grabbed the shorts and they are stood up by Mike Beltran and he gives Mokaev a warning and takes away the position. Mokaev with a body kick and Kape lands a left hand. Mokaev with a body kick. Mokaev lands a left hand. Mokaev with a pair of kicks. Kape lands a left hand. Mokaev with a body kick. 10-9 Mokaev, 19-19.
Mokaev lands a leg kick. He lands another. Kape’s broken big toe is affecting him. Mokaev shoots for a takedown but Kape defends. Kape lands a combination. Mokaev with a high kick. Mokaev with a body kick. Mokaev lands a right hand. Mokaev gets a takedown. Kape has neck control. Mokaev gets his head out. Kape with lots of elbows from the bottom. Mokaev lands to the body. They scramble up. Kape tries a takedown but Mokaev defends. Kape lands a left hand and Mokaev gets body control at the end. 10-9 Mokaev, 29-28 Mokaev.
Official Result- Muhammad Mokaev def. Manel Kape by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
> Bantamweights*- Jake Hadley (10-3, 2-3 UFC) vs. Caolan Loughran (9-1, 1-1 UFC)
*Hadley missed weight by one pound
Hadley with a pair of leg kicks. Hadley lands a left hand. Loughran with a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Hadley with an inside leg kick. Loughran with a right hand. Hadley with a body kick. Loughran lands a right hand to the body. Hadley with a leg kick. Loughran lands a right hand. Loughran with a right hand to the body as Hadley lands a left hand. Hadley with a leg kick. Loughran with a right hand. Hadley with another left hand. 10-9 Hadley.
Hadley with some left hands and leg kicks. Loughran shoots for a takedown but Hadley defends and lands some knees. They separate. Hadley with some leg kicks. Loughran lands a right hand after Hadley lands. Loughran lands a right hand. Timeout is called as Hadley is struck in the groin. They get back to action and trade punches. Loughran shoots for a takedown but Hadley defends. Loughran almost got it down as he has a leg but Hadley scrambles away. Loughran lands a right hand. Loughran gets a late takedown and ends the round on top. 10-9 Loughran, 19-19.
They trade leg kicks. Hadley lands a left hand. Loughran goes for a takedown and they scramble. Hadley has the back and lands some left hands before they break. Hadley with a leg kick and left hand. Hadley lands a combination. Loughran with a right hand. Hadley lands a jab. Loughran shoots for a takedown but Hadley defends. They trade knees and body shots and Hadley lands a big elbow on the break. Hadley with a leg kick as Loughran lands a jab. Loughran with a right hand. Hadley with a left hand and a leg kick. Loughran lands a right hand. Hadley with a leg kick. They trade late. 10-9 Hadley, 29-28 Hadley.
Official Result- Jake Hadley def. Caolan Loughran by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Women’s Strawweights- Molly McCann (14-6, 7-5 UFC) vs. Bruna Brasil (9-4-1, 1-2 UFC)
Brasil with a leg kick. Brasil with a body kick and right hand. Brasil lands a knee as McCann is pressuring. McCann with a body kick and a right hand. Timeout is called as McCann is kicked in the groin but they continue. Brasil with a body kick. McCann with a leg kick. Brasil with a high kick and hurts McCann with a knee to the stomach. McCann goes down for a moment but is let up. Brasil with a body kick and McCann is hurt badly. Brasil with a flurry and lands a head kick and knees. McCann gets the clinch. Brasil gets it down and lands from the top. They scramble up and McCann has the leg and scores a takedown. They scramble up. 10-9 Brasil.
McCann pressing forward and lands a right hand. McCann with a left hand. Brasil lands a combination. McCann shoots for a takedown against the fence. McCann gets a big takedown but they quickly get up and separate. McCann with a combination as they clinch. McCann trying to get it down and they go to the mat with Brasil inside the guard of McCann. They get up and McCann tries a spin attack as Brasil lands a right hand and they go to the mat at the end. 10-9 Brasil, 20-18 Brasil.
They trade and Brasil lands a knee to the body. They clinch and Brasil lands a knee. Brasil gets a takedown as they tie up. Brasil takes the back. Brasil is on top and McCann is holding on. They get to their feet. McCann lands a left hand and a push kick. McCann with a combination. Brasil scores a takedown. Brasil working from the top as McCann gives up her back. They get up and McCann jumps on the back of Brasil. McCann lands. Brasil spins into McCann’s guard. Brasil gets the back but McCann squirms out. 10-9 Brasil, 30-27 Brasil.
Official Result- Bruna Brasil def. Molly McCann by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Featherweights- Nathaniel Wood (19-6, 7-3 UFC) vs. Daniel Pineda (28-15 3 NC, 5-6 1 NC UFC)
Wood with early leg kicks. Pineda shoots for a takedown but Wood defends. They separate from the clinch. Pineda with some leg kicks. Wood lands a jab. Wood lands a right hand. Pineda with a leg kick. Wood hurts Pineda with a body kick and follows it with some punches from the top. Wood with an elbow from inside the guard. They scramble and Pineda sweeps to the top. Pineda with an elbow from the top. Pineda with some late shots from the top. 10-9 Wood.
They trade leg kicks. Wood lands a big combination that backs Pineda up but he recovers. Pineda lands a right hand. Wood with some front kicks to the body and Pineda lands a few right hands. There is a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action. Pineda with a calf kick and Wood lands a right hand. Wood lands a pair of calf kicks that hurt Pineda. Wood lands a jab and Pineda stumbles down for a moment. Wood with a right hand. Wood with a calf kick. Pineda trying for a takedown. Wood cracks Pineda with a left hand. Wood drops Pineda with a left hook and starts landing elbows from the top. Pineda with an elbow from the bottom. 10-9 Wood, 20-18 Wood.
Pineda lands an uppercut and shoots for a takedown as they scramble to the mat. Wood has neck control and ends up on top but they stand. Wood with a pair of jabs and a leg kick. Wood with a jab and Pineda lands a right hand. Wood gets the body and they scramble to the mat. Pineda with a back elbow that lands. Pineda looking for an arm from the top. Pineda lets go but keeps working from the top. Pineda ends landing from the top. 10-9 Pineda, 29-28 Wood.
Official Result- Nathaniel Wood def. Daniel Pineda by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
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> Featherweights- #6 Arnold Allen (19-3, 10-2 UFC) vs. #10 Giga Chikadze (15-3, 8-1 UFC)
Chikadze with a leg and body kick early. He lands some more kicks. Allen lands a left hand. Chikadze with a leg kick then a head kick that gets blocked. Chikadze with a high kick. Chikadze lands a right hand. Allen with a high body kick. Allen lands a combo. Chikadze lands a body kick. They trade body kicks. Allen lands a left hand. Chikadze with a pair of jabs. They trade and Chikadze lands a right hand. Chikadze lands a body kick. Allen with a solid left hand. Chikadze lands a flying knee that hurts Allen late. 10-9 Chikadze.
Allen throwing left hands but Chikadze able to circle away. Allen lands a short leg kick. Allen lands to the body as Chikadze lands a pair of jabs. Allen with a leg kick and Chikadze counters with a leg kick. Chikadze lands a jab. Allen with a left hand. Allen connects with a straight left hand. They trade inside the pocket as Allen lands a big left hook. Chikadze with a head kick. Allen lands a right hand. Chikadze with a pair of high kicks. Allen lands a left hand. Chikadze with a left hand. Allen lands a big left hand. Chikadze with a leg kick. They both connect in close range. Allen with a body kick. Close round. 10-9 Allen, 19-19.
Allen pressing forward. Allen lands a left hand. Allen works the jab as Chikadze lands a body kick. Chikadze with another body kick then a leg kick. They trade and Allen lands to the body. Chikadze is bleeding from his nose. Chikadze lands a body kick. Allen lands a left hand. Allen with another left hand. He lands another one. He lands again as Chikadze is against the fence. Allen with a body kick. Allen with another left hand. Allen landing more left hands. Allen with a jumping knee. 10-9 Allen, 29-28 Allen.
Official Result- Arnold Allen def. Giga Chikadze by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Christian Leroy Duncan (10-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (15-5, 6-2 UFC)
Duncan lands a jab. Duncan with a leg kick. Rodrigues lands a left hand. They trade big shots. Rodrigues with a body kick. Duncan lands a leg kick. Rodrigues lands a right hand. Duncan with a push kick and lands a right hand. Rodrigues scores a takedown. Rodrigues landing punches and elbows from the top. Rodrigues with more elbows. Duncan scrambles out from the bottom and Rodrigues tries to take the back. They get to their feet. Rodrigues maintains control. 10-9 Rodrigues.
Duncan with a leg kick. Duncan with another leg kick and Rodrigues lands a left hand. They clinch and trade knees. Duncan pushes it against the fence. They separate and Duncan lands an elbow. Rodrigues pushes it to the fence and lands a knee as Duncan grabs the fence. They are separated by the referee. They trade in close range as they tie up. Both land right hands in a clinch before Duncan pushes it to the fence. Rodrigues lands an elbow as they break. Rodrigues with a big right hand. They trade and Rodrigues scores a takedown. Rodrigues lands from the top. 10-9 Rodrigues, 20-18 Rodrigues.
There were feed issues to start the third but it came on and they were trading. Rodrigues pushes it to the fence and gets a takedown and scores a big takedown. They pop right up and are clinched up by the fence. Duncan is landing as Rodrigues is holding onto the body. Rodrigues drags it to the knees and is trying to get the back. Rodrigues has the back and blood is everywhere. Rodrigues landing from the back as they stand. 10-9 Rodrigues, 30-27 Rodrigues.
Official Result- Gregory Rodrigues def. Christian Leroy Duncan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Lightweights- #15 King Green (32-15-1 1 NC, 13-10-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Paddy Pimblett (21-3, 5-0 UFC)
Pimblett with a strong leg kick. He lands another. Green with a leg kick. Pimblett with a calf kick. Pimblett lands a right hand. Green with some short leg kicks. They trade leg kicks. Pimblett with a leg kick and Green gets a takedown. Pimblett looked for a guillotine choke but switches to a triangle choke. Pimblett switches to an armbar with the triangle choke still locked in and Green goes to sleep! WOW, what a finish from Pimblett!
Official Result- Paddy Pimblett def. King Green by technical submission (triangle choke) at 3:22 of Round 1
> Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship- IC Tom Aspinall (14-3, 7-1 UFC) vs. #4 Curtis Blaydes (18-4 1 NC, 13-4 1 NC UFC)
Blaydes lands a right hand. They trade before clinching up but they quickly break. Blaydes lands a combo. Aspinall drops Blaydes with a right hand and starts pounding away from the back and it is all over! Aspinall retains his title in quick and impressive fashion.
Official Result- Tom Aspinall def. Curtis Blaydes by knockout (punches) at 1:00 of Round 1 to retain the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
> UFC Welterweight Championship- C Leon Edwards (22-3 1 NC, 14-2 1 NC UFC) vs. #2 Belal Muhammad (23-3 1 NC, 14-3 1 NC UFC)
Muhammad gets a takedown. He lands some short punches from the top as Edwards is trying to get up. They get to their feet but are tied up against the fence. Muhammad lands a knee and Edwards reverses. Edwards with some knees. They separate. Edwards with a body kick. He lands a knee. Edwards with a leg kick. Edwards scores with a left hand. Muhammad lands a body kick. Edwards with a hard leg kick. Muhammad lands a left hook. Muhammad with a combo and gets a big takedown. Muhammad lands from the top. 10-9 Muhammad.
Muhammad lands a right hand. Muhammad lands the jab. Edwards lands. Muhammad with a jab then shoots for a takedown. Muhammad gets it down for a moment and gets on the back as they go to a knee. They get up and Muhammad dumps Edwards down and Edwards landed on his head. Muhammad has the back and looks for a choke. They get to their feet. Muhammad dumps Edwards back to the mat as he has the back. They stand. Edwards with a knee to the body and he scores a takedown. Edwards has the back as the round ends. 10-9 Muhammad, 20-18 Muhammad.
Edwards with a leg kick as Muhammad lands a right hand. Edwards with a high kick. Muhammad lands a head kick. Muhammad gets a takedown. They get to their feet and Edwards has the back. They scramble to the mat as Edwards has the back. Edwards has the hooks and is working for a choke. Edwards still working. He almost had a chin lock. Edwards with a few punches. Edwards continues to land from the back. 10-9 Edwards, 29-28 Muhammad.
They trade and Muhammad with a combo. Edwards lands a big combination. Muhammad with a jab. Muhammad with a combo. Muhammad goes for a takedown and takes the back. They go to the mat with Muhammad having Edwards’ back and landing. Muhammad trying to set up a choke. They roll and Edwards reverses to the top late. Edwards has the back and lands. 10-9 Muhammad, 39-37 Muhammad.
Muhammad comes forward and they trade. Edwards lands. Muhammad goes for a takedown but Edwards defends. Muhammad with a jab and Edwards lands to the body. Muhammad with a right hand. Muhammad gets a takedown and has the back. Muhammad controlling from the back and looks for a choke. There’s not much going on except Muhammad landing short punches. Edwards reverses to the top and lands a pair of big elbows that bust Muhammad wide open. He lands another big elbow. Edwards steals the round but too little too late. 10-9 Edwards, 48-47 Muhammad.
Official Result- Belal Muhammad def. Leon Edwards by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to win the UFC Welterweight Championship
