The 27th of July is not all that far away. Mark this date as the night when UFC 304 is going to win against the United Kingdom. UFC has been away from the UK for a while now, especially from the city of Manchester. The last time Manchester had the honor to host a UFC event was back in 2016 for UFC 204.
This month they will host it once again at the Co-op Live Arena. This is one of the best opportunities for the UK audience and for people from all around the world to witness the top-end UK fighters at work. The main and co-main events are a joy to be seen as Aspinall vs. Blaydes and Muhammad vs. Edwards are the fights everyone wants to see. The titles will be on the line in two different categories, and if you're even remotely into MMA you'll have UFC 304 on your schedule.
The two matches we mentioned above are what everyone wants to see, but that's not everything. This event has plenty to offer to everyone interested and we're going to give you our best UFC picks for the night, odds that show the favorites and underdogs relationship, and which bouts you should have your eyes and money on. Let's start with some minor bouts, and move onto the main events.
Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze
Giga Chikadze wants to make a name for himself in the featherweight category. The duel against Allen can be his statement. Chikadze is on an upward trajectory which can be seen through his UFC score which stands at 8:1. With a combined 15:3 MMA score, he has a nice track record of success. His opponent is nothing to scoff at either. Allen is at 19:3 in his MMA career and 10-2 in the UFC. This promises us a good show in Manchester and you should have this duel on your slip.
Arnold Allen will have the crowd on his side, and it is believed he is the hot favorite to win this one despite their record being close. Arnold lost his two last matches shattering his perfect record. The two fighters approach this duel from different angles, as Giga wants to get his career back on track after a set of injuries while Allen wants to stop the losing streak. The bookies have more faith in Allen as he's favored at 1.39 while Giga rates at 3.05. According to expert UFC picks you'd be wise to avoid betting on Chikadze.
Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil
This one is a trait for all of you bettors out there. A quite an unpredictable duel. McCann won't travel too far from her native Liverpool. Experienced fighter got on the winning track after beating Diana Belbita. Bruna Brasil wasn't as good in her last bout losing to Loma Lookboonmee. Both want to have a go and add to their win column.
For bookies, the home advantage and the current record of 14-6 for Molly puts her ahead of the opponent and with 1.35 odds she appears to be a safe bet. For those who want to risk it a little bit, making a run for Bruna's win pays well with odds of 3.20. If you want to go against the latest UFC betting markets, search for a surprise with this bout.
Preston Parsons vs. Oban Elliott
Welterweight has plenty to offer at UFC 304 and Preston Parsons vs. Oban Elliott is one of those matches everyone should pay attention to. Parsons, a Florida native, has a nice 11-4 UFC score and is coming off a UD win against Matthew Semelsberger. His opponent is at 10-2 at the moment with plenty to prove in the world of MMA. With six straight wins, he already has shown signs of greatness to come.
If you plan to bet on this match, you should know that despite his hot streak, Oban Elliott is not favored to win this match. In fact, he's the underdog having odds of 2.29 to win this bout. While this might be tempting for bettors all over the world, many will look favorably at Parsons who is set to open the line at 1.63. The pick is all yours, but this one should be seen through the lens of a possible surprise.
Ramon Taveras vs Caolan Loughran
Another amazing bout is scheduled for UFC 304 at Manchester Co-op Live Arena. While not a headliner by any means, this match could provide a lot of fun for neutrals. This bantamweight duel promises us a log of three rounds when we look at the styles both fighters apply. They hold similar scores with Taveras currently standing at 10-2 while Loughran is at 9-1 The former didn't fight since January while the latter had his last bout in March. Will the additional rest play a role? We will see.
The bookies do not believe that plays a role at all. Caolan is a heavy favorite with the odds on his win set at 1.49. While he still is not a big name in this domain, one could argue that his fighting style adds a slight advantage over his opponent. But, if you want to test your luck and money with Ramon, his win is paying rather well with odds of 2.65. You can almost triple your money by betting on him. Those who look for additional income through surprise slips, bet on Taveras winning by KO in the first round. For this type of mixed bets, Stake offers some of the best options and odds, so be sure to check them out.
Mick Parkin vs. Łukasz Brzeski
For all of you fans of heavyweight, looking at this duel is a must-see TV. Parkin enters this match as a favorite to win and deservedly so. At the moment he is ranked as the 28th fighter in the world in his division and is on an ascending path. Brzeski is not all that good ranked and is currently at position 64 and falling. His downfall started with three consecutive defeats, a trend that was finally stopped in 2024 with a win against Valter Walker. Across him, we have Mick with a perfect 9-0 score, a younger and heavier fighter. When you add the fact that Parkin is a home-grown fighter you know why he's so heavily favored to win.
For us, this is a surefire win by Parkin. The odds of him winning are set at 1.46 and you can win nicely just out of this one match. Brzeski's win pays even better with 2.75 odds, but we're suggesting betting against him. It is hard to believe that he will turn his favors around with this match. Instead, we could see Mick Parkin going against Tom Aspinall one of these days.
Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda
Now this is a duel of two fighters who are not afraid to enter a ring. The much more experienced Pineda who is a 38-year-old fighter from the USA won 28 of his matches, losing 15 in the process. In the last three years, he was all over the place, winning, losing, and drawing matches through eye pokes. Wood is eight years younger, and at the moment looking to rise through the rankings. At the moment he's the #21 ranked fighter in the featherweight division. He's coming off a loss against Muhammad Naimov and will be looking to get back on track after winning three consecutive matches before that defeat.
Due to the age difference, current form, and overall battling quality, Nathaniel Wood is the hot favorite to win this one. We can't look past him, and with odds set at critical 1.22 you know he's going to win. Betting on this match, if you want a bigger win will need to include the round and style of the win. If you're looking for a big surprise, this time around, and want to place your money with Daniel Pineda it pays with a nice odds of 4.30. Make your pick at your discretion, but betting on Pineda could be a money wasted gambling.
Mokaev Muhammad vs. Kape Manel
UFC 304 gets serious with bouts such as this one. Kape, a former Rizin champion, currently stands at 4-2 in the UFC. With total wins standing at 19, paired with 6 losses, he is a fine fighter in his own right. Four consecutive wins show that he means business. Across himself, in the octagon, he will have the master of submission, Muhammad Mokaev. His career in MMA is an astounding one and with a score of 12-0, he is a rare undefeated breed. UFC is still waiting for his defeat, and many believe that it could come in the hands of Manel Kape.
It is a close duel between two quality fighters. Mokaev might find himself under a little bit of pressure to retain his undefeated streak, but bookies have him as a light favorite with odds set at 1.88. Manel Kape will be hoping to make his fifth UFC win with a win in this duel and 1.93 odds show that he's not too far from achieving this.
Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett
This one has been on the cards for some time now. After all, Green took it to the media to call Paddy out. Pimblett is not one to shy from confrontation on the mic and we'll finally have their feud resolved in the octagon. Bobby Green is a household name in the world of MMA and with a combined score of 32-15-1 he has little left to prove. But, that also means he has little to fear. Paddy is in a similar stratosphere with a 21-3 score in the MMA and an undefeated 5-win streak in the UFC.
Both have promised big things for this bout and we can't wait to see what they brought to the table. Even bookies believe we are in for a close fight with them favoring Green with odds of 1.70. Paddy is close by with odds set at 2.17 so you can risk favoring him instead.
Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes
Aspinall vs. Blaydes is the co-main event at UFC 304. There's a good reason for that. Tom is one of the biggest heavyweight draws in the world of MMA. Even Jon Jones is avoiding him. Curtis Blaydes stood up to the challenge considering their last duel ended with a knee injury to Aspinall. This rematch was two years in the making. With a duel between an expert hitter and a submission master, we're in for a good fight.
The one thing that might turn bettors away from this duel is the fact that Aspinall is too favored with odds set at 1.36. If you're looking for a surprise aim at 3.20 and Blaydes. It's your money after all.
Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad
The main event of this bout is the Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad duel. The world of fighting is eager to see the outcome of this one, and so are we. Edwards is a beast in his own right and two title defenses against Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman are proof of this. At the moment, Leon is on a twelve-win streak which even beats the current 9-0 run by Muhammad. When you know that Belal can't knock down any of his opponents while Edwards is a master in this you'll understand that even for the main event standards Leon Edwards is heavily favored with 1.49 odds. A win by Muhammad pays with 2.65 odds.
Bottom Line
UFC 304 is just two weeks away, and we can't wait for it. These are just some of the fights that will happen in Manchester and are those that we deem the most interesting from both the fighting and betting perspective. 27th July, Co-op Live Arena, Manchester is the home of the biggest summer fighting event. Do not miss it!
