UFC 304 Manchester card confirmed as Dana White makes announcement

Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards co-headline UFC 304 as the sport returns to Manchester on July 27.

The United Kingdom's largest indoor arena, Co-Op Live, will host its first live sporting event as the mixed martial arts giant returns to the North West. For Manchester, it will be the first time since Michael Bisping's rematch with Dan Henderson in 2016.

Wigan heavyweight Aspinall will lockhorns with Curtis Blaydes for the interim title, two years after Aspinall suffered a knee injury in the opening exchanges with the American, which forced an early stoppage.

Edwards will go face-to-face with Belal Muhammad, five years after their no contest at UFC Fight Night 187. An accidental eye poke from Edwards ended the bout but Muhammad will get his shot at gold in July.

Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett will get an opportunity in front of a local crowd as he takes on Bobby Green with his unbeaten UFC record at stake.

UFC President Dana White announced on Thursday: "There we have it ladies and gentlemen, we're coming back to Manchester and I tell you what if you have ever been to a fight in Manchester the crowd is incredible. A brand new arena, see you soon."

UFC Manchester card

• Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad – for welterweight title

• Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes – for interim heavyweight title

• Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett

• Manel Kape vs. Muhammad Mokaev

• Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze

• Daniel Pineda vs. Nathaniel Wood

• Shauna Bannon vs. Ravena Oliveira

• Bruna Brasil vs. Molly McCann

Tickets for the event will go on sale from 10:00am UK time on Friday, June 7, via Ticketmaster. However, UFC Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets early on Wednesday, June 5, at 9:00am UK time.

Those who registered their interest in the event will gain access to a special pre-sale which starts Thursday, June 6, at 10:00am UK time. UFC fans are advised to register their interest early via ufc.com/Manchester to secure their tickets and for the latest updates on this event.

In the meantime if you watch to catch the best action from the UFC you can catch it streaming on TNT Sports in the UK is Discovery+, where fans can get a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.