UFC 304 went down in Manchester, England on Saturday featuring an exciting five fight main card. The prelims left something to be desired with only three of the nine fights ending with a finish. In the main event UFC welterweight champion and hometown favorite, Leon Edwards lost his belt and his first fight in nine years losing a dominant decision to Belal Muhammad. A lot of fighters at solid rankings need matchups moving forward after UFC 304.
Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards lost a five round unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304. Edwards was on a mythical 13-fight unbeaten streak heading into the title bout, including two successful title defenses. (Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman)
Edwards should fight Ian Machado Garry in his next fight. Although Jack Della Maddalena is ranked slightly higher at #5 compared to Garry’s #7 ranking and would make sense. A fight with Ian makes even more sense. Garry has defeated bigger names with his last four wins being over: Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal and most recently, Michael Page. Although Garry has been vocal with his callouts of Colby Covington in the past, surely, he could change around his plans for the former UFC welterweight champion.
Leon’s next fight: Ian Machado Garry
Curtis Blaydes
Curtis Blaydes was quickly dropped and finished by interim UFC heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall on Saturday. The co-main event of UFC 304 was over in exactly a minute as Curtis, who entered the fight as the #4 ranked UFC heavyweight, was sent back to the drawing board.
Blaydes has now lost two of his last three fights since defeating Aspinall in the pair’s first fight, back in July of 2022.
The top of the UFC’s heavyweight division is small and crowded. To avoid a rematch with Pavlovich (Who Curtis just fought in 2023), Curtis should fight the winner of Spivac vs. Tybura II. That fight is scheduled to be the main event of a fight card on August 10th. Curtis has not fought either fighter and both Tybura and Spivac have lost to Aspinall. Tybura is the #8 ranked UFC heavyweight while Spivac is ranked at #9. So Curtis getting the winner of the fight the main event on August 10th makes sense as a ‘rebuilding’ type fight.
Curtis’ next fight: Serghei Spivac vs. Marcin Tybura II winner
King Green
King Green (formerly Bobby Green) was submitted in the first round of his fight against Paddy Pimblett in the people’s main event of UFC 304. Green has now lost two of his last four fights. He’s also been one half of the co-main or main event in two of his last four fights.
King entered the fight ranked as the #15 lightweight even after being with the UFC for over 11 years now.
Green has fought a lot of guys. Avoiding a pointless rematch, a good fight for King Green at this point in his career would be a fight against the winner of Matt Frevola vs. Fares Ziam. That fight is scheduled for September 28. Both men have won three of their last four fights. The winner could be just an impressive win away from a ranking and a name like Bobby could get them there. Or vice versa and Bobby could get right back in the mix at nearly 38-years-old by taking one of these guys out.
Bobby’s next fight:
Christian Leroy Duncan
Christian Leroy Duncan lost a bloody unanimous decision at the hands of Greogry Rodrigues on Saturday. Duncan has now lost two of his last four fights since stopping Dusko Todorovic in his UFC debut last March. His wins are a pair of second round stoppages against Denis Tiuliulin and Claudio Ribeiro.
Duncan’s next fight should be opposite of Brad Tavares. The veteran Tavares has been in the UFC for 14 years now. Plus, Tavares has amassed a record of 15-9 with the promotion. Tavares has lost three of his last four. The win being against former UFC middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, last August. His last time in the octagon was also against Greogry Rodrigues, but he was finished early in the third round. Tavares was supposed to fight Jun Yong Park recently (July 20th), but Park was not medically cleared after weigh ins.
Christian’s next fight: Brad Tavares
Giga Chikadze
Giga Chikadze lost a unanimous decision to Arnold Allen in the main card opener of UFC 304. Chikadze entered the fight as the #10 UFC featherweight while his opponent was ranked at #6. Chikadze has now lost two of his last three fights dating back to his first UFC main event against Edson Barboza in August of 2022.
Bryce Mitchell should be the next fight for Chikadze. #13 ranked UFC featherweight, Bryce Mitchell, has also lost two of his last three fights. However, unlike Giga, Bryce was finished in both losses. Bryce was most recently in action late last year at UFC 296 when he was flatlined by a huge overhand from Josh Emmett in the first round on UFC 296. (Giga was the original opponent for Josh until he tore his groin in training and Mitchell stepped in.)
Giga’s next fight: Bryce Mitchell
