Tom Aspinall gives honest verdict on Paddy Pimblett, Leon Edwards and UK fighters at UFC 304

Tom Aspinall believes that British Mixed Martial Arts talent is at an all-time high ahead of UFC's return to Manchester this weekend.

The 31-year-old will face Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 at the Co-op Arena on Saturday night in his first defence of the interim heavyweight title. Aspinall, who fights out of St Helens, will co-headline the card alongside welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

It promises to be a momentous night for British MMA as the UFC returns to Manchester for the first time since Michael Bisping became the first British champion when he beat Luke Rockhold in June 2016.

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While it's Aspinall and Edwards who top the bill, British MMA will be well-represented as Liverpool's Paddy Pimblett is set for a three-round bout with American Bobby 'King' Green with fellow Brits Christian Leroy Duncan and Arnold Allen completing the main card. Earlier in the night, meanwhile, Muhammad Mokaev, Nathaniel Wood, and Molly McCann are all in action.

And Aspinall believes the quality and quantity of British fighters on the UFC 304 card highlights just how quickly MMA and combat sport is growing in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"It's amazing The best it's ever been. It’s just getting better and better," Aspinall, who became just the third British UFC champion last November, tells the Manchester Evening News. "We should be really proud of it because we’re a tiny little country compared to America and Russia.

"And top to bottom on the card there’s nearly a UK fighter on every single event. That is