'Forget what he says' - Edwards fired up at final face-off

Britain's Leon Edwards was fired up as he shared words with American Belal Muhammad during an intense face-off as the pair weighed in for their welterweight title bout at UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday.

Edwards, 32, who is making the third defence of his title, weighed 170lb - one pound heavier than his 36-year-old opponent.

Edwards grabbed the microphone in both hands before addressing the passionate crowd.

"Manchester! Forget what he says. He's too small, too slow, I'm knocking him out," said Edwards.

The fight at the Co-op Live is a rematch of their 2021 bout, which was deemed a no-contest following an accidental eye poke from Edwards which left Muhammad unable to continue.

That bout has led to hostility between the pair, with Muhammad, who has played the villain role during fight week, embracing heavy boos from the audience.

"The rest of you guys tomorrow night, cry about it. It's over for you guys. England is going to lose again," said Muhammad.

The pair will make their walk to the octagon in the early hours of Sunday morning - predicted to be around 05:00 BST - with the UFC's scheduling catering largely to a US audience.

In the co-main event, Britain's Tom Aspinall arrived draped in an England flag to a raucous cheer in front of his home fans.

Aspinall, 31, weighed in at 251lbs before his interim heavyweight title defence against American Curtis Blaydes, who came in 5lbs heavier.

The bout is a rematch of their 2022 contest, where Aspinall seriously injured his knee leading to defeat by 33-year-old Blaydes.

The show is the first sporting event to take place at the 23,500-capacity venue since its opening in May.

The build-up has been dominated by the late scheduling of the fights to benefit the American audience, with a host of fighters changing their body clocks to adapt to the early morning fights.

However, Britain's Molly McCann, who faces Brazil's Bruna Brasil in a strawweight contest, says it is the children who will miss out the most.

"I think what people are upset about is it’s such a big occasion for England in the north west, and it’s a shame that the kids can’t come because of the time - MMA is inclusive for all," said McCann.

"But I’m aware it’s a money business, we’re prize fighters, and with more viewers coming later I can understand the logic."

The arena says alcohol will be available to spectators upon arrival at 22:00 BST, but has not stated when it will stop serving.

Greater Manchester Police, meanwhile, says it is policing the show like it would any other big event in the city such as a high-profile boxing fight, with the only change being a shift in hours.

Much has been made of the late scheduling of the fights, but the growing feeling throughout fight week is that it will affect the fans more than the fighters.

Many of the athletes have said that once the adrenaline kicks in, any lingering feelings of tiredness will wash away, while the American fighters will not have to adjust much because it is the time zone to which they are used.

The fighter who appears to have prepared the most is Edwards, who consulted a doctor who specialises in sleep and performance, and that is perhaps evidence of why he has looked so comfortable since becoming welterweight champion in 2022.

Edwards and his team are methodical in their preparation, doing everything in their power to make sure he is at optimal performance when he steps into the octagon.

With two title defences to his name, Edwards is already the most successful Briton in UFC history, and it is apt he will headline the biggest event which the promotion has hosted on English soil.

To add the icing on the cake, the home fans will also have a Manchester athlete to get behind when Aspinall defends his title against Blaydes.

It is going to be a long night for the fans, but there is plenty of entertainment for them to stay awake.