Watch UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2 — Prelims Free.

What's at Stake

The preliminary card for UFC 304 serves as a crucial proving ground for rising European prospects and established global contenders looking to secure their spot in the official rankings. With the main card featuring a highly anticipated championship rematch, the prelim fighters have a prime opportunity to steal the spotlight, build momentum, and position themselves for high-profile matchups in the second half of the year. For many on the card, a decisive victory here means the difference between entering the title conversation or falling back into the crowded middle tier of their respective divisions.

Head-to-Head

This portion of the card features highly competitive matchups showcasing contrasting fighting styles, particularly pitting elite European strikers against well-rounded international grapplers. Recent events in the region have seen local fan favorites leverage the energetic home-crowd advantage to secure dramatic stoppage victories. The featured preliminary bouts carry significant momentum, with several fighters carrying multi-fight winning streaks and looking to extend their dominance against opponents who have historically struggled when traveling to hostile territory.

Key Players to Watch

• Arnold Allen — The featherweight contender looks to reassert his dominance and showcase his elite striking and takedown defense in front of a passionate home crowd.
• Paddy Pimblett — The charismatic lightweight aims to extend his promotional winning streak and prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the division.
• Muhammad Mokaev — The undefeated flyweight prospect seeks to utilize his relentless wrestling and submission game to secure another dominant victory on his path to a title shot.

Prediction

Expect the local European fighters to feed off the crowd's energy and dictate the pace in the majority of these matchups. The grappling-heavy fighters on the card are likely to find success early, but the striking advantages of the hometown favorites should ultimately prove decisive. A majority of the preliminary bouts are predicted to go to the judges' scorecards, with the local contenders securing hard-fought decision victories to set a thrilling tone for the main card.