The UFC last came to Manchester nearly 8 years ago, but on Saturday 27th of July 2024 at the Co-Op Live Arena they are coming back with a big PPV card for the UK and Irish fighters. The card starts 11PM UK time and the main card is scheduled for 3AM time, which has a massive disadvantage for the home fighters. We are going to take a look at the fights.
Shauna Bannon vs Alice Ardelean – Shauna Bannon is coming for her first UFC win after she fell short on her debut losing by decision to Bruna Brasil, who is fighting Molly McCann who is Shauna’s friend and training partner. Alice Ardelean is making her UFC debut, but she has fought UFC Strawweigt Champion Weili Zhang 8 years ago, losing via Rear-Naked-Choke.
Mick Parkin vs Lukasz Brzeski – Sunderland’s Mick Parkin is 3-0 in the UFC and all is wins are by decision so he will be looking to get his first finish inside the Octagon on Saturday. Lukasz Brzeski last fight was a Unanimous decision over Valter Walker who is Johnny Walker’s brother.
Sam Patterson Vs Kiefer Crosbie – Sam Patterson is a heavy favourite in this fight over Crosbie. Sam is 1-1 in the UFC with his win was by rear-naked-choke over Yohan Lainesse on the Strickland Vs Du Plessis card in January. Sam Patterson also beat Crosbie’s best friend in Cian Cowley at a Brave FC event in 2019. Kiefer Crosbie will be swinging bombs as soon as the bell rings.
Mohammed Mokaev vs Manel Kape – I have no idea how this card is on the early prelims, as they have real hatred for one another. Mokaev is unbeaten having a perfect 12-0 record with 6 wins in the UFC and 4 by submission. Manel Kape is 4-2 in the UFC and has missed weight a few times in the UFC, but he is looking to take Mokaev’s 0 from him.
Oban Elliott vs Preston Parsons – The Welsh Gangster is back and is looking for his 2nd UFC win this Saturday. He is a successful Cage Warriors and Dana White Contender Series Alumni who has made it into the UFC. Preston Parsons is 2-2 in the UFC and has more experience than Oban but it will be a great fight for sure. Parsons last win was over Matthew Semelsberger in January past.
Modestas Bukauskas vs Marcin Prachnio – Modestas is a true friend to us here at Against The Fence, being in a few of our watch alongs. He is coming to look to make a statement here in Manchester. He is a two time Cage Warriors Champion on two different occasions. Marcin Prachnio is a tough polish warrior and will be a great fight so make sure you tune in!
Jake Hadley vs Caolan Loughran – this fight was only made on Monday 5 days before the night. The original bout was Ramon Tavares vs Loughran, but Tavares pulled out due to injury. Hadley who is originally a Flyweight comes in on short notice and takes on a heavy 135er in Loughran. ‘The Don’ will be looking for his 2nd straight win inside the Octagon after losing his debut with another short notice bout vs Taylor Lapilus.
Molly McCann vs Bruna Brasil – As I mentioned at the start this is a revenge fight for Molly McCann after Brasil beat her friend Shauna 1 year ago. Molly will be looking for another UFC win on Saturday after her last fight she defeated Diana Belbita via Armbar, which she has been caught in a few times herself.
Nathaniel Wood vs Daniel Pineda – Englands own Nathaniel Wood has a UFC record of 7-3 and is coming off a loss but he is back to take another win on his record over a tough veteran in Pineda who has a UFC record of 5-6-1. This one will be a great fight.
Arnold Allen vs Giga Chikadze – this one is a featherweight ranking tussle as #6 in the world Allen takes on #10 in the world Chikadze. Ipswich’s Allen is a great fighter but is coming off two losses to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev. Giga Chikadze is known for his kickboxing style of fighting, showing some flashy kicks in his bouts. This one could be Fight Of The Night.
Christian Leroy Duncan vs Gregory Rodrigues – ‘CLD’ is a former Cage Warriors Welterweight Champion and has a record of 10-1 and a 3-1 UFC record and no doubt this will be his toughest test in the Octagon. Gregory Rodrigues is a savage with a 6-2 UFC record with 5KO’s in that time. This could be another candidate for Fight Of The Night.
Bobby Green vs Paddy Pimblett - #15 ranked Bobby Green is looking to keep his ranking with a win over Pimblett and set him back from the rankings. Bobby is a UFC veteran with a UFC record of 13-10-1-1 with 5 finishes. Liverpools Paddy “The Paddy” Pimblett is looking to make a statement in this fight and move into the rankings and shutting up a lot of people who said he would never make it there. This is a massive test for Pimblett but he will be looking to finish bobby with a choke I would say.
Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes – this fight is a rematch for the Interim Heavyweight Championship. Their first fight was in 2022 and ended in agony for Tom Aspinall as he tore his medical collateral ligament 15 seconds into the fight ending in a Curtis Blaydes TKO win. Since then Aspinall has been a monster taking everybody out on his way. His last fight was a KO win over hard Russian hitter Sergei Pavlovich. The winner of this fight is supposedly going to fight the winner of Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic, the bout is still not made
Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad – The Main event is also a rematch of Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad after their first fight was a no contest due to an accidental eye poke in 2021. Since then Leon Edwards has 4 wins in a row and winning and defending the UFC Welterweight Championship, and will be looking for a finish in this fight. Belal Muhammad has also 4 wins since that fight and this is his first chance at gold. Can Belal upset the Manchester crowd on Saturday? Or will he see Leon “Rocky” Edwards defend his strap for the 3rd time in a row. .
Comments