Curtis Blaydes: UFC 304 Co-Main Feels 'Less' Like Title Fight Due to Start Time

Curtis Blaydes is the latest to voice his issues with the odd start time for UFC 304.

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.”