UFC 304 in UK is finally announced – but fans hit out at start time

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UFC’s return to the UK is finally official, with UFC 304 taking place at Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena on 27 July. UFC president Dana White confirmed this month that the promotion’s next UK event would take place in Manchester, and that the fight card would be on pay-per-view. Meanwhile, one comment read: “Main card starts 3am uk time, that’s so poor man.” When White discussed the event in March, he referenced Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards as potential combatants in Manchester, saying: “I have an English heavyweight champion and lots of other European stars, but two champs now out of England.” Wigan heavyweight Aspinall holds the interim title and is expected to defend that belt – in a rare move in the UFC – in his next fight, likely at UFC 304. Meanwhile, Jamaican-born Edwards – who fights out of Birmingham – holds the welterweight title and is expected to defend the belt against Belal Muhammad next, possibly at UFC 304.