Tomorrow should be a great fight card, especially for the fight fans of England.
UFC 304 is set to take place in the UK’s largest indoor arena – The Co-op Live in Manchester, England. The card will feature the UK’s 3 biggest stars in the sport – Paddy Pimblett, Tom Aspinall and Leon “Rocky” Edwards.
Below I share my picks for some of the biggest fights on the card. I have included the current Vegas odds for each fight (per ESPN). Feel free to throw ’em in a parlay this weekend and thank me later.
Manel Kape (+145) vs. Muhammad Mokev (-175)
- The winner of this highly anticipated fight is likely to earn themselves a shot at the 125lb title, which is currently held by Alexandre Pantoja.
- These two have been going at it all week – their teams got into it at the fighter hotel, and Kape and Mokev had to be separated immediately during weigh-ins.
- Prediction: I am going with the slight underdog (+145) here in Manel Kape by Unanimous Decision.
Arnold Allen (-235) vs. Giga Chikadze (+210)
- After going on a 12-fight win streak, Allen has dropped his last 2 fights to arguably the best two fighters in the division outside of the Champ – Holloway and Evolev.
- Allen is desperate to get back in the win column and keep his name on that list of potential championship fighters. And he will certainly have his hands full with UFC Vet Chikadze.
- Prediction: I am going with Allen (-235) to squeak out a close decision in front of his home crowd in what could be the best fight of the night.
Bobby Green (-110) vs Paddy Pimblett (-110)
- Paddy The Baddy’s first fight since his controversial win vs. Jared Gordon – he will take on a similar opponent in Bobby “King” Green.
- The odds makers have this dead even at the moment (-110 vs -110).
- Prediction: I am riding with Paddy the Baddy via submission in Round 2.
Tom Aspinall (-400) vs Curtis Blaydes (+300)
- The first of (2) championship fights features Heavyweight Champion and hometown favorite Tom Aspinall vs Curtis “Razor” Blaydes.
- This is the second time these two have matched up in their careers as Curtis Blaydes won the first matchup after Aspinall took a step backwards 30 seconds into their fight and completely blew out his knee.
- The odds in their first matchup were extremely close (Blaydes was a +120 underdog) so I am unsure why Aspinall is such a large favorite in the rematch, as I see this fight much closer to a pick ‘em!
- Prediction – Give me Curtis Blaydes via UD – as I really like the value at +300.
Leon Edwards (-250) vs. Belal Muhammed (+205)
- The main event features England’s biggest star and my personal favorite fighter Leon “Rocky” Edwards.
- I do not see this one being particularly close as Belal is an opponent tailor-made for Leon’s Style.
- You can make a case that Leon has the best stand-up game in the entire UFC regardless of the weight class.
- While Belal does have good hands, he has no chance standing with Leon, which would mean he needs to make this a wrestling match. Being that Leon just took out the best two wrestlers in the 170 pound division (Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman), I do not see that strategy working at all for Belal.
- Prediction – Leon Edwards via KO in round 2.
There you have it – the correct picks for the fights tomorrow night. A $10 bet on my picks would win you a solid $348.15 – paying that price for the PPV and more!
Good luck!
(Odds subject to change). (Bet at your own risk).
