Conor McGregor disappointed by UFC 304: ‘Probably not even a pay-per-view’

conor mcgregor disappointed by ufc 304: ‘probably not even a pay-per-view’

GettyImages-1231671122.jpg

Conor McGregor has expressed his disappointment in the UFC 304 card, ahead of the pay-per-view event in Manchester this July.

UFC 304, scheduled for 27 July, will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. In the co-main event, Tom Aspinall defends the interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes.

Both bouts are rematches. Before winning his title in 2022, Birmingham fighter Edwards fought Muhammad to a No Contest in 2021. Meanwhile, Wigan’s Aspinall suffered a knee injury 15 seconds into a contest with Blaydes in 2022, before claiming gold in 2023.

Elsewhere at UFC 304, the divisive Paddy Pimblett will be in action, yet McGregor is unimpressed by the card and main event in particular.

“Even look at the welterweight picture, which is my next weight, the welterweight picture,” McGregor said during a Duelbits live stream, referring to his UFC 303 main event against Michael Chandler on 29 June.

“Leon Edwards... Nate Diaz almost knocked him out, had him out on his feet. If that was going on [with me], Leon’s unconscious. Also [Donald] Cerrone went the distance with him.” McGregor stopped Cerrone in 40 seconds in 2020.

“There’s too many decisions going on now with that Leon fella,” McGregor continued. “Leon Edwards loves a decision. Then he’s fighting another decision guy, your man Belal. Not great times in the welterweight title picture.

“[UFC 304 sells 200,000 pay-per-view] buys probably, not even. [Maybe] 150,000 buys, if it’s even a pay-per-view. It’s probably not even a pay-per-view [...] I think Curtis and Tom is a good fight.”

McGregor’s fight with Chandler will be the Irishman’s first bout in three years. McGregor, 35, suffered a broken leg in his most recent fight, in July 2021.

The former dual-weight champion sustained the injury in a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, who knocked out McGregor six months earlier. In 2014, McGregor scored his own knockout against the American.

The UFC 304 main event will mark Edwards’s third title defence. The Jamaican-born fighter won the gold in stunning fashion in 2022, avenging a 2015 loss to Kamaru Usman by knocking him out in the final minute, before outpointing Usman and Colby Covington in 2023.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

OTHER NEWS

14 minutes ago

Opal fares increasing across Sydney from Monday

14 minutes ago

Reliable power ‘can’t’ be guaranteed with renewables: John Anderson

14 minutes ago

Lakers Interested in Acquiring Jerami Grant and Jonas Valančiūnas, per Report

14 minutes ago

Assistant referee collapses on pitch at Copa America as Peru vs Canada halted

14 minutes ago

England disappoint again but still top group after stalemate with Slovenia

14 minutes ago

Rams News: LA Unveils Training Camp Schedule

14 minutes ago

Portrait of Sir David Attenborough, 98, unveiled by Royal Society

14 minutes ago

Lebogang Phiri’s advice to striker Mothiba amidst PSL interest

14 minutes ago

Quantum annealer improves understanding of quantum many-body systems

14 minutes ago

Australia's central bank says policy is restrictive, causing households pain

16 minutes ago

Jim Schlossnagle leaves Texas A&M for Texas baseball job

19 minutes ago

England send fans and WAGs into despair with bore draw against Slovenia - as supporters sleep, families WEEP and Gareth Southgate is pelted with booze (and boos)... but his side win group so avoid Germany, Spain, Portugal or France until the final

19 minutes ago

Video: Fed-up England fans pelt Gareth Southgate with beer cups and BOO as the team goes on lap of 'honour' after mind-numbing 0-0 bore draw with Slovenia sent supporters to sleep... but the side DID top the group and now it's likely Holland on Sunday

19 minutes ago

Video: Why these popular Aussie skincare buys are BANNED in Sweden - and thousands say it's the right decision

19 minutes ago

Iowa floodwaters breach levees as even more rain dumps onto parts of the Midwest

19 minutes ago

Disney Fails Again To Get Antitrust Class Action Over ESPN & Hulu Ownership Tossed Out

21 minutes ago

AOC wins Democratic primary over former Wall Street banker Marty Dolan

22 minutes ago

The Immunity Case Is Actually Not the Most Consequential One Before the Court This Week

23 minutes ago

World's oldest ever professional footballer Kazuyoshi Miura to play on age 57 after transfer move

23 minutes ago

Postecoglou lures A-League double act to join Tottenham staff

23 minutes ago

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie 'could be a real asset' as King reconsiders slimmed-down monarchy

23 minutes ago

2025 Volkswagen Golf R: Hot hatch gets hotter

23 minutes ago

Future of Laybuy unknown after company placed into receivership

23 minutes ago

Melbourne star Christian Petracca says season-ending King's Birthday injuries 'the most traumatic thing I've experienced'

23 minutes ago

Volkswagen dropping $5bn into struggling EV maker Rivian

23 minutes ago

Gary Neville says England substitute 'must start' Euro 2024 last-16 tie

23 minutes ago

KF-21 Fighter: KAI Signs $1.41 Billion Deal To Start Production Of South Korean Air Force Next-Gen Jet

23 minutes ago

Celine Dion’s sweet friendship with Aussie music legend John Farnham

23 minutes ago

Ramnaresh Sarwan predicts mass exodus of West Indies players to the US

23 minutes ago

Jeremy Renner felt his skull crack in hellish snowplough accident

24 minutes ago

A US$100 billion bet on China’s economy sours as warehouses empty

24 minutes ago

India's Rahul Gandhi appointed as parliamentary leader of opposition

27 minutes ago

America's largest outdoor mineral springs resort is coming to Houston

31 minutes ago

Katie Holmes receives award in Italy in stunning off-white gown

31 minutes ago

Hearing on removal of Jack Smith from Trump case concludes

31 minutes ago

Titans' Rashad Weaver: 'It's time to take a leap' in Year 4

31 minutes ago

Woman Has Internet Hooked With Daily Vlogs as Moulin Rouge Dancer

31 minutes ago

China rover returns historic samples from far side of the moon — and they may contain secrets to Earth's deep past

31 minutes ago

2024 Volkswagen Golf R brings power boost and new tech

31 minutes ago

Julian Assange Pleads Guilty to Espionage, Securing His Freedom