Curtis
Blaydes is the latest to voice his issues with the odd start
time for UFC
304.
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Blaydes challenges interim heavyweight champion Tom
Aspinall in the co-main event at UFC 304, which goes down on
July 27 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. While it
marks the promotion’s return to the city after nearly eight years,
the card has been scheduled for U.S. primetime. The UFC 304 early
prelims kick off at 11 p.m. British Summer Time (BST) and the main
card starts at 3 a.m. BST.
Blaydes claims the odd timing of the card makes it feel like a less
of a title fight for him. “Razor” notes that it’s unlikely that a
superstar like Conor
McGregor would be fighting for the title in the wee hours of
the morning, regardless of where the card is.
“The money is title fight money, that’s all that matters to me,”
Blaydes told media during a scrum at UFC Denver.
“Everything else is going to be five rounds. I’ve had multiple five
rounders. Biggest difference is, it’s gonna be at like 4 a.m.
That’s what doesn’t really feel like a title fight. You wouldn’t
have McGregor fighting for a belt at 4 a.m., regardless of where it
is in the world. So, that makes it feel a little less. But like I
said, I don’t care. I’m getting title fight purse money, that’s all
that matters.”
Aspinall has previously voiced his concerns about the UFC 304 start
time, even trying to convince the UFC top brass to change it,
though those efforts were without success. Aspinall is now copying
the schedule of fellow Brit Leon
Edwards, who has brought in a sleep specialist in preparation
for his UFC 304 main event title defense against Belal
Muhammad.
Aspinall has long been rallying for a shot against lineal champ
Jon
Jones, who is currently sidelined due to injury and remains
adamant on fighting Stipe
Miocic on his return. Blaydes admits that Aspinall should have
ideally been fighting Jones for the title next. However, while an
interim title defense is an anomaly, Blaydes isn’t surprised given
the UFC’s history of bizarre matchups. Blaydes recalled when
Dan
Henderson challenged Michael
Bisping for the middleweight title at UFC 204 in 2016.
“Honestly, in a perfect world it’s Aspinall vs. Jon. But that’s not
the world we live in,” Blaydes said. “The UFC’s had a lot of weird,
wonky matchups over the years… Hendo [just comes out [and jumps the
queue for a title shot]. It’s normal for the UFC. I’m not like, ‘Oh
my god!’ It’s normal.”
Both Jones and Miocic have hinted at retirement following their
title fight, regardless of the result. While that would likely
grant championship status to the winner Aspinall vs. Blaydes, it
would always be marred by the lack of win over Jones as the lineal
champ. However, Blaydes isn’t bothered as long he gets a champion’s
payday and notes that “Bones’’ was also crowned champ with a win
over the then interim champ Ciryl
Gane.
“As long as I’m getting paid like I have the belt, I have the
belt,” Blaydes said. “That’s all that matters. Because people don’t
remember. I remember, Jon got the belt off a guy who had an interim
belt. So, is that belt really that valid? That’s a debate. I don’t
know, I don’t care.”