At UFC 304, Tom Aspinall successfully defended his interim heavyweight championship with a decisive first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes, setting the stage for a potential showdown with the legendary Jon Jones.
Aspinall delivered a powerful right hand that sent Blaydes to the canvas, finishing the fight with a flurry of punches just one minute into the first round.
Aspinall Calls Out Jon Jones
Following his victory, Aspinall challenged Jones to a unification bout. Jones, considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, has been sidelined due to a torn pectoral tendon since his last fight in March 2023, necessitating the interim title. Aspinall’s call-out came during a thrilling event in Manchester, marking the UFC’s first visit to the city since 2016.
He continues to dominate every time out 😤@AspinallMMA now has the 2nd most UFC finishes since 2020 with eight! #UFC304 pic.twitter.com/1dRcWXCGJO
Advertisement— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2024
In the main event, Belal Muhammad made history by becoming the first fighter of Palestinian descent to win a UFC title, defeating Leon Edwards to claim the welterweight crown. The 36-year-old Muhammad secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, marking his 11th consecutive fight without a loss since 2019.
Muhammad, who has been vocal about his Palestinian heritage, expressed that his fight was not only for himself but also for his people. He proudly showcased the Palestinian flag in the lead-up to the match and has used the song “Dammi Falesteeni” by Mohammed Assaf as his walkout theme.
The bout between Muhammad and Edwards was a rematch, as their first encounter in 2021 ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke from Edwards. Since then, both fighters have been on impressive winning streaks, with Edwards having successfully defended his title twice before this fight.
BELAL MUHAMMAD FIRST EVER PALESTINIAN CHAMPION IN UFC HISTORY 🇵🇸
Advertisement“This is for my people in Palestine, they are fighting the real Fight”#UFC304 pic.twitter.com/cR5xfZjaoe
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) July 28, 2024
Aspinall, who improved his record to 15-3, is eager for a title unification fight against Jones, stating, “I just think I’m better than you. I know I can beat you in a fight.” Meanwhile, Muhammad’s victory over Edwards ended the latter’s reign, which began in 2022 after he knocked out Kamaru Usman.
New Safety Measures
The event also featured the introduction of new gold gloves designed to minimize eye pokes, a change welcomed by all four fighters in the title bouts. As the UFC continues to evolve, both Aspinall and Muhammad have solidified their places as champions in their respective divisions, looking ahead to exciting future matchups.
Belal Muhammad wins his 11th fight in a row & claims the welterweight title via UD at #UFC304. pic.twitter.com/DDzxcxsh00
Advertisement— Monster Energy (@MonsterEnergy) July 28, 2024
