Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall aren’t keen about the timing of their title fight rematch next weekend (Saturday, July 27). They will compete in the co-main event of the PPV in Manchester. Aspinall lost their first meeting via a 15-second technical knockout, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2022.
As they prep in their camps, the vampirish timing has been an issue so far. UFC 304’s main card commences at 3 a.m. BST (10 p.m. ET). This means that tail-end fighters like Curtis Blaydes will grind through at least 5.30 in the morning. The 33-year-old wishes he got that prime-value Conor McGregor treatment.
The biggest difference is it’s gonna be like 4 a.m., and that’s what doesn’t really feel like a real title fight…You wouldn’t have McGregor fight at 4 a.m…regardless of where it is in the world. That makes it feel a little less, but I don’t care. I’m getting the title fight purse money.
Curtis Blaydes via Amy Kaplan MMA YT Channel (@photoamy33); H/T: Fansided
Blaydes had voiced similar concerns a month back to Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour (for MMAFighting for SBN). As did the interim heavyweight champ, who rallied for a change of the “terrible” timings. With UFC 304’s middle-of-the-night start time failing the norms, Blaydes had hit back on locale-pandering. He urged to treat other titleholders as they would McGregor or Jon Jones.
In a way, he isn’t wrong; top brass once moved a card from Las Vegas to Los Angeles because ‘Bones’ came in green during a drug testing pool. Even now, the heavyweight faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly assaulting DFSI agents. Nevertheless, the Elevation Fight Team heavyweight or Aspinall does not quite get these party favors. However, the duo has some plans for it all.
Tom Aspinall sees himself reigning with horrendous KO at UFC 304
Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes face their toughest challenges as of yet – ungodly morning timings. When they made their first walks, it wasn’t at 4 A.M. in front of a zombified crowd. Hence, they have been prepping for it. The 14-3 Brit took the advice of Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards, copying his model.
Tom Aspinall has some plans ahead for UFC 304 (Source: bleacherreport.com/UFC.go.com)No. 4-ranking heavyweight Blaydes also says if he is sleepy five minutes before the brass calls his name, that’s on him. He’d be well prepared for it. Aspinall, 31, has returned to his roots, smashing hay bales as early as 4 A.M. and soaking his knuckles in petrol. They are meant to harden the knuckles; Tom Aspinall would be counting on them while he defends the substitute strap.
It’s Heavyweight MMA and anything can happen, I feel like I always have to say that just to cover all aspects…However, I feel like this ends with an absolutely horrendous knockout and me being the winner. That’s how I definitely see it going.
Tom Aspinall in a Prime Casino (primecasino.co.uk) Exclusive
Unlike Blaydes, the British champion has been on an uphill battle against Jones, who has continuously snubbed his worth. With or without Jones, he’ll wait for his unification fight or status promotion. Until then, it’s all eyes on UFC 304…OR more like “all eyes open” during UFC 304!
