Why does UFC 304 start at 3 a.m. BST local time? Real reason behind bizarre timing despite headliners' protests

The UFC 304 event's headlining match will see Leon Edwards defending his UFC welterweight title in a rematch against Belal Muhammad. Additionally, the co-main event is a rematch between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes, with Aspinall's interim UFC heavyweight title at stake. It will take place at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27, 2024.

The event starts with the early preliminary card at 11 pm British Summer Time (BST) on July 27. The preliminary card starts at 1 am BST on July 28, whereas the main card starts at 3 am BST on July 28. The headlining fighters are expected to clash at around 5:00 or 5:30 am BST.

In the US, the event starts with the early prelims at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT on July 27. The prelims start at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT, while the main card starts at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT in the US.

The UK's Tom Aspinall and America's Curtis Blaydes strongly disapproved of the timings, with 'Razor' notably opining that the UFC wouldn't have booked a card with such bizarre timings if a megastar like Conor McGregor were on it. Aspinall initially requested the UFC to reschedule the fight. UFC events in the US generally witness their early prelims start at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT.

Aspinall's request wasn't fulfilled, and he subsequently suggested that a good fighter ought to be capable of fighting well at any time. Meanwhile, Edwards hired a sleep specialist to help prepare for the odd timings, whereas Muhammad jibed at him by warning that his "right hand will put him to sleep for free" at UFC 304.

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Leon Edwards on reason behind UFC 304 timings

The consensus among fans and the indications from the UFC 304 fighters has been that of disapproval toward the event's strange timings. On The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani in May 2024, Leon Edwards recalled speaking to UFC Chief Business Officer (CBO) Hunter Campbell.

Apparently, 'Rocky' learned from Campbell that the timing issue is because the UFC 304 PPV was initially scheduled to take place in Utah, USA. In response to Helwani noting that fans believe the PPV's timings cater to the US audience, Edwards stated:

"Yeah, about five, five-thirty, I think. So, I'm trying to adjust my time zones to accommodate that. But I feel like it should have been in normal time in UK. [UFC CEO] Dana White came out, say, award the fans in Europe and UK. And I think it would have been brilliant to do that. But it is what it is. I spoke to Hunter [Campbell] and said, 'Why can't we do this in normal time?' But he said the pay-per-view's in America, because of that, so, yeah."

As opposed to UFC 286, a UK PPV headlined by Edwards in March 2023, the UFC had supposedly agreed to UFC 304 being broadcast per US timings. That was before the UFC 304 card was shifted from Utah to Manchester. Implying that UFC and broadcast partner ESPN couldn't reschedule the timings, Edwards said:

"I think they said the pay-per-view was already booked for Utah. Right? So, the slot was already booked in. So, when they changed it to Manchester, they couldn't change also the time with the TV station. And that's the reason why it's staying on that time I think. So, yeah. It is what it is."

Check out Edwards' comments below (0:50):