Featured Image Credit: UFC & Twitter/ChampionshipRounds
Topics: UFC, MMA, Leon Edwards, Paddy Pimblett, Dana White, Tom Aspinall
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: UFC, MMA, Leon Edwards, Paddy Pimblett, Dana White, Tom Aspinall
Dana White has announced a major change to UFC 304 just days before the hugely-anticipated event in Manchester.
Arguably the biggest ever MMA event held in the UK will take place on Saturday at the Co-op Live arena, with several British fighters on the card.
Welterweight champion Leon Edwards defends his title against Belal Muhammad in a rematch of their 2021 fight, which ended with a no contest result after an accidental eye poke on the Palestinian-American.
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Interim heavyweight title holder Aspinall will face Curtis Blaydes in another rematch as he continues his journey towards a shot at the current division champion, Jon Jones.
Meanwhile, Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann and Arnold Allen also feature on the star-studded card.
At a press conference on Thursday to promote the event, UFC boss White agreed to double the amount given for the Performance of the Night bonuses for fighters – taking them from $50,000 (£38,864) to $100,000 (£77,728).
During the press conference, fighter King Green urged White to make the change, saying: "Uncle Dana, let's spice it up a little bit. Can we get one hundred Gs for it? Let's spice it up!"
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To which White agreed, replying: "Leon says yes."
Muhammad and several other fighters then celebrated, prompting his opponent Edwards to swiftly respond: "Belal, don't worry about that.
"You're knocking nobody out."
It's not the first time White has agreed to increase the Performance of the Night bonuses for a UFC event.
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In April, White agreed to bump up bonuses for the historic UFC 300 event in Las Vegas to $300,000 (£233,188).
He also gave Alex Pereira $302,000 (£234,743) for his second-round KO victory over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 in June after he stepped in at late notice to save the event.
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White's decision to increase the bonuses at UFC 304 comes after he confirmed the event had set an early record for the largest gate at the new Co-op Live, which was completed earlier this year.