Tag: Curtis Blaydes

UFC 304 ‘Embedded,’ No. 6: ‘They can’t save you now!’

In the sixth and final episode of “Embedded,” you can feel the heat up close at the UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-ins.

The UFC is across the pond for UFC 304, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 304 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

In the main event, welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) puts his belt on the line in a rematch with [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) three years after their first encounter ended in a no contest. And in the co-headliner, [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) defends the interim heavyweight championship in a rematch with [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) two years after a freak knee injury to Aspinall ended their first fight.

The sixth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Curtis Blaydes has dinner before weigh ins; King Green has a cardio session; Belal Muhammad goes to a spa; UFC 304’s athletes weigh in for fight night.

Also watch:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

What time is Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes fight? Walkout time for UFC 304 co-main event

Here’s when to expect Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes to make their cage walks at UFC 304.

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] will meet at UFC 304 with a gold strap on the line. This interim heavyweight championship bout scheduled for five rounds is taking place Saturday, July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

It’s not the norm for a fighter to defend an interim title, but that’s the case with Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who claimed the belt last November by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a fight that came to fruition on just a couple weeks’ notice. That’s because champ Jon Jones suffered a serious injury forcing him out of his title defense with Stipe Miocic. After winning the interim belt, Aspinall lobbied hard to unify against Jones but to no avail as Jones is expected to rebook with Miocic this November.

Instead, Aspinall is getting a rematch with Blaydes (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC), who beat him by injury TKO in July 2022 after a freak accident in the opening moments of the fight. Blaydes, who’s won four of his past five, followed that up with a loss to Pavlovich but rebounded strong in his most recent bout by finishing Jailton Almeida this past March at UFC 299.

Here are the walkout times for the UFC 304 co-main event between Aspinall and Blaydes.

When does the UFC 304 fight card start?

  • The UFC 304 lineup consists of 14 fights. Early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, prelims at 8 p.m. ET, and the pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET.

Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes walkout time

  • As the co-main event, Aspinall and Blaydes are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 11:45 p.m. ET.
  • The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

UFC 304: Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 304 odds between Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 5-round heavyweight championship bout in the co-main event, Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes meet Saturday at UFC 304 at Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC 304: Aspinall vs. Blaydes odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims begin at 6 p.m., and they can be viewed on ESPN+. The prelims begin 8 p.m. ET, and they can be viewed on ESPN2/ESPN+, while the main card starts at 10 p.m. ET on Pay-Per-View (PPV).

Records: Aspinall (14-3-0) | Blaydes (18-4-0)

Aspinall plucked the heavyweight strap from Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 with a resounding KO/TKO win in just 69 seconds on Nov. 11, 2023. This will be his 1st title defense.

Prior to that victory, Aspinall posted a KO/TKO win over Marcin Tybura in the main event of a fight night in July 2023. That’s 2 straight KO/TKO wins since his last loss, but that’s the rub. His most recent setback was a KO/TKO loss in just 15 seconds in a main event against Blaydes in July 2022.

Blaydes bounced back from a Round 1 KO/TKO loss to Pavlovich in the main event April 22, 2023, posting a KO/TKO in Round 2 against Jailton Almeida at UFC 299 this past March. Each of Blaydes’ past 4 fights have resulted in KO/TKO, with 3 victories, including the short one over Aspinall.

Blaydes, nicknamed Razor, has managed 9 KO/TKO results in his past 12 bouts since June 9, 2018, with 6 victories by way of knockout, and 3 losses — to Pavlovich, Derrick Lewis (February 2021) and Francis Ngannou (November 2018), which is certainly nothing to be ashamed about.

In the tale of the tape, Blaydes holds a 2-inch reach advantage, while Aspinall is an absolute punching machine. He has 7.72 significant strikes landed per minute, while landing them at an impressive 68.08% rate. Blaydes has just a 3.53 significant strikes landed minute rate, but when he does land them, they’re extremely effective.

Both are tremendously efficient in takedown average, with Blaydes checking in at 5.72 and Aspinall at 3.46. Both of those numbers are off the charts. Aspinall has a sparkling 100.0% takedown-accuracy percentage, too, while Blaydes is at 53.45%, which is still phenomenal. Aspinall has an outstanding 1.73 submission average, too.

Watch the early prelims and prelims with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC 304: Aspinall vs. Blaydes odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:51 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Aspinall -405 (bet $405 to win $100) | Blaydes +320 (bet $100 to win $320)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over +134 | Under -172)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +560 | No -1000)

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UFC 304: Aspinall vs. Blaydes picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Aspinall (-405) suffered the 15-second knockout against Blaydes (+320) in the July 2022 bout, but even if that didn’t happen, this big -405 number should give bettors pause. Betting such heavy favorites, even as part of a multi-leg parlay, is not a recommended betting strategy over the long term.

Aspinall will be fighting in his native United Kingdom, and he’ll have an arena at full throat which should energize him. In fact, with fellow countryman Leon Edwards fighting in the other co-main event, it’s gonna be a raucous and wild pro-England crowd, resembling a soccer match.

Since we’re rolling with the current champ, playing ASPINALL BY KO/TKO (-155) is the way to go as far as the method of victory is concerned.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-1000): Will the fight go the distance? is ridiculously priced, and even the alternate round betting prop which has Aspinall winning in Rounds 1, 2 or 3 (-230) is a little pricey.

The best prop bet to roll with is FIGHT TO REACH SECOND ROUND: YES (-115). We’re unlikely to see a Round 1 finish as Aspinall won’t be caught with a devastating blow early in the fight like the previous matchup.

In fact, OVER 1.5 ROUNDS (+134) at plus-money is super tempting, and could be a nice value, too, especially as part of a multi-leg parlay.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

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UFC 304 faceoff video: Tom Aspinall, Curtis Blaydes square up for interim title fight

The theme of respect between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes carried through to their final UFC 304 faceoff at ceremonial weigh-ins.

MANCHESTER, England – [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] are ready to battle for the interim heavyweight title after squaring off for the final time at UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-ins.

After their first meeting ended in 15-second injury TKO win for Blaydes (18-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) when Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) blew out his knee, the pair will run it back Saturday at Co-op Live (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN) – but with the stakes much higher.

Aspinall and Blaydes have shared the utmost respect leading into fight night, and that didn’t change during their final faceoff.

Watch the video above to see how things unfolded at UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-ins.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

UFC 304 ‘Embedded,’ No. 5: Up close and personal with that main event flinch-free faceoff

In the fifth episode of UFC 304 “Embedded,” the fighters have a memorable pre-bout news conference in Manchester.

The UFC is across the pond for UFC 304, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 304 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

In the main event, welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) puts his belt on the line in a rematch with [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) three years after their first encounter ended in a no contest. And in the co-headliner, [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) defends the interim heavyweight championship in a rematch with [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) two years after a freak knee injury to Aspinall ended their first fight.

The fifth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Champ Tom Aspinall plays games with Michael Bisping; Belal Muhammad gets a hero’s welcome; Arnold Allen goes bowling; Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann get another training session in; Athletes face off at the UFC 304 Press Conference.

Also watch:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

UFC 304 video: Tom Aspinall, Curtis Blaydes official for interim heavyweight title fight

The fight featuring the man who could get Saturday’s loudest fan pop is official after the co-headliners made weight Friday.

MANCHESTER, England – The fight featuring the man who could get Saturday’s loudest fan pop is official after the co-headliners made weight Friday.

Ahead of UFC 304 (pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+) at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, interim heavyweight champion [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC), from Manchester, and challenger [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

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Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

UFC 304 video: Tom Aspinall, Curtis Blaydes locked in, end faceoff with handshake

The intensity was there, but so was the respect between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes during their fist faceoff of UFC 304 fight week.

MANCHESTER, England – Before they meet in the octagon, interim heavyweight champion [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] had their first faceoff of fight week Thursday at the UFC 304 press conference.

UFC 304 takes place Saturday at Co-op Live (ESPN+, ESPN2, pay-per-view), which also hosted Thursday’s press conference, where 10 fighters convened before fight night. Afterward, they all came face to face.

Aspinall and Blaydes were locked in on each other but kept things cordial with a handshake at the end.

You can watch Aspinall and Blaydes’ UFC 304 press conference faceoff in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

UFC 304 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: Paddy Pimblett peels back curtain on fatherhood

In the fourth episode of UFC 304 “Embedded,” Paddy Pimblett talks about what he deals with from his twin babies back home.

The UFC is across the pond for UFC 304, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 304 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

In the main event, welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) puts his belt on the line in a rematch with [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) three years after their first encounter ended in a no contest. And in the co-headliner, [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) defends the interim heavyweight championship in a rematch with [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) two years after a freak knee injury to Aspinall ended their first fight.

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Athlete check-ins wrap up for UFC 304; Champ Leon Edwards gets in a late night striking session; King Green goes for a swim; Belal Muhammad trains in the early morning; Curtis Blaydes hits pads in an alley; Media Day kicks off.

Also watch:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Video replay: UFC 304 press conference

You can watch a live stream of the UFC 304 press conference in Manchester, England right here on MMA Junkie.

The UFC 304 pre-fight press conference takes place Thursday, and you can watch a live stream of the event in the video above. The press conference takes place at Co-Op Live in Manchester, England, which also hosts Saturday’s fight card.

UFC 304 is built around two title-fight rematches involving British champions as [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] puts his welterweight title on the line in a rematch with [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag], while Tom [autotag]Aspinall[/autotag] and [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] run it back for the interim heavyweight belt.

Here’s what you need to know about the UFC 304 press conference.

What time does the UFC 304 press conference start?

The UFC 304 press conference starts at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, which is 6 p.m. local time in Manchester.

Who’s taking part in the UFC 304 press conference?

Eight fighters from four main-card bouts are slated to participate in the UFC 304 press conference: Edwards, Muhammad, Aspinall, Blaydes, [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag], [autotag]King Green[/autotag], [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag], and [autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag]. In addition, ranked flyweights [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] and [autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] are expected from the early prelims.

UFC CEO Dana White will oversee the UFC 304 press conference.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.

Curtis Blaydes: ‘I would f*ck up Alex Pereira’

Curtis Blaydes warns that it’s a “bad idea” for UFC light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira to move up a division.

MANCHESTER, England – When a reporter at UFC 304 media day prefaced his question with the mention of “[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s inevitable move to the heavyweight division,” [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] didn’t hesitate to cut him off with two words that spoke volumes.

“Bad idea,” Blaydes said.

Pereira, the former middleweight champion and current light heavyweight titleholder, has teased a move to heavyweight after two successful defenses of his 205-pound belt this year. Should the UFC grant Pereira’s wish, it’s a matchup Blaydes would welcome with open arms.

“I know this is what everyone wants to hear: Yes, I would f*ck up Alex Pereira,” Blaydes said. “Not because he’s not good, (but because) I’m heavier. Just a heavyweight, gravity, weight matters. It’s not his skill base. That’s just how it is.”

In fact, Blaydes (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) is so confident that he had no qualms sharing how he would approach a fight with Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC).

“Him, I’ll give you my premeditated plan: I’m gonna shoot immediately,” Blaydes said. “Why would I give him any chance to knock me out on the feet when I know I can take him down at will? And I’m sure he has to know that. I think he’s looking for a specific heavyweight, not any heavyweight.”

First, Blaydes has business to tend to Saturday at Co-op Live where he’ll meet interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in the night’s co-main event. A win there would put Blaydes on Pereira’s radar given his career goal of making history as the first UFC fighter to claim gold in three divisions.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.