Edwards v Muhammad – big fight predictions

Britain’s Leon Edwards defends his welterweight title against American Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester this weekend.

Edwards, 32, will be making a third defence as he takes on 36-year-old Muhammad, who is on a nine-fight winning streak in completed contests.

The fight at the Co-op Live Arena 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.

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 an American audience.

In the co-main event, Britain’s Tom Aspinall will defend his interim heavyweight belt against 33-year-old American Curtis Blaydes in another rematch.

Aspinall, now 31, seriously injured his knee when losing to Blaydes in 2022.

You can follow live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app from 04:00 BST on Sunday.

Will Edwards and Aspinall retain their titles in front of a 23,500-capacity home crowd?

BBC Sport has asked around the world of MMA for fight predictions.

Irish welterweight Ian Garry: “I think Belal has a huge opportunity to go out there and bring it to Leon. Over five rounds Leon rarely gets the finish – I think we could see Belal go out there and try and dominate – but I just believe this will be a five-round decision that sways in the way of Leon. But I’m excited to see if there’s an evolution and difference in Belal from his training camp. I think it’s an exciting time for him.”

Irish strawweight Shauna Bannon: “I think Leon Edwards will win by decision. I think it will be back and forth but Leon will get the win.”

American heavyweight Curtis Blaydes: “I think it will be a hard-fought five rounds, I think Belal Muhammad will get the decision win. I think there’s going to be a lot of wall grappling involved and just grappling overall, and that’s where Belal shines.”

British featherweight Nathaniel Wood: “Call me biased but I think they’re [Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall] both going to get the job done and I think they’re going to get it done in good fashion.”

British UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall: “Leon will knock him out. Later in the fight. I think it will be competitive but I don’t think it will be an exciting fight. I think Leon will control range, be safe and doing his thing, and knock him out.”

British strawweight Molly McCann: “I like Curtis and I love Tom but obviously I’d like to see a fellow North West boy keep the belt. I think it won’t be a decision with them both, I think it will be a submission win. And I believe Leon will win by TKO but I’m not sure what round.”

British lightweight Paddy Pimblett: “Obviously I’m backing the fellow Englishmen, it goes without saying. I think Belal has got so much better since the first fight, but Leon was on his way to finishing him in that fight and I think he gets a finish. And Big Tom’s out for revenge, but Curtis is his toughest test to date, stylistically.”

American welterweight Belal Muhammad: “I think people are going to be surprised – Curtis Blaydes is so good everywhere: his wrestling, grappling, striking, and he’s kind of hard to beat in a wrestling match-up. And I think I dominate Leon and I think that should be your headline – Belal dominated Leon.”

British featherweight Arnold Allen: “Leon’s the man, he’s grown so much as a champion, he’s got better and better. I think you’re going to see him be a dominant champion for a while. With Tom, the heavyweight division is crazy, but Tom looks so good. Every time he’s out he shocks again, so I think those guys are going to defend their belts.”

American lightweight Bobby Green: “Tom is a new age heavyweight. I used to be a Sergei [Pavlovich] fan and he creamed Sergei. He understands fighting and what it should look like so I’m going with Tom. And then I’m gonna go with Leon, let’s go.”

British heavyweight Mick Parkin: “I think the two British guys are good. I don’t know Edwards or train with him but I think he will win. Obviously I train with Tom and I wouldn’t he surprised if in the first minute or two he wins again. Respect to Curtis Blaydes, I think he’s a great fighter, but Tom is something special.”