That’s all from us at the Co-op Arena. Thanks for following live updates on an incredible night for British MMA!

Belal Muhammad is the new welterweight champion after beating Leon Edwards by UD: 48-47 48-47 49-46 Edwards’ first loss since 2015.

The Arena is furious at Muhammad’s style of fighting and the judges’ verdict was even greeted with boos.

Edwards cuts Muhammad at the end of round five but it was too little too late. That will surely be the end of his reign as welterweight champion.

Lots of boos at the end of the fight, a very disappointing main event.

Fair to say that Belal Muhammad isn’t winning over any fans with this performance tonight. Not what people want to see as the clock ticks towards 6am on Sunday morning.

Still, though, he edges that round 10-9.

Much better from Edwards who has Muhammad on the verge of a rea naked choke hold for most of the round but is unable to execute. Huge cheers from the crowd as the round draws to a close, they’re much more impressed with what they saw from the welterweight champion in those five minutes.

10-9 Edwards.

Loads of boos for Muhammad’s fighting style, but he’s 2/2. He had Edwards in tricky positions up against the cage for most of that round, though Rocky eventually managed to wriggle free.

But Muhammad is 20-18 up after two rounds.

Not too much in this opening round as both fighters look to ease their way into the fight. Though it was Muhammad who took the innovative in the opening five minutes and took Edwards to the floor on several occasions.

Edwards, however, did land a nice kick, something Muhammad will have to be wary of in the forthcoming rounds.

10-9 Muhammad.

Leon Edwards has not lost a fight in the UFC since 2015.

The Birmingham-fighter is hoping that he will extend his unbeaten streak but he faces stiff opposition in Belal Muhammed.

The pair fought in the past but their trading of blows was cut short after an eye poke resulted in a no contest.

This bout is scheduled for five five-minute rounds.

We’ve had two first-round stoppages in the last two main card fights – could we have a third?

For those not familiar with the situation, Greater Manchester’s Tom Aspinall is defending his interim heavyweight title against American Curtis Blaydes, who beat him at a UFC Fight Night in London two years ago.

Should Aspinall emerge victorious tonight and avenge the only defeat of his UFC career to date, he is primed for a super-fight against Jon Jones.

Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall owe Paddy Pimblett immensely after that; the crowd had grown tired and slightly frustrated by the fights that came before Pimblett’s. Now, though, the entire mood of the Co-op Arena has been transformed ahead of back-to-back title defences.

Paddy has arrived and, by the sounds of it, he has brought half of Liverpool with him! What a reception that was for the Liverpool fighter, who is looking to go 6-0-0 in UFC and move into the top-15 lightweights with victory tonight.

The Co-op Arena is well and truly alive!

After nine decisions in a row, this crowd is in need of serious lifting as the clock ticks towards 4:30am. Can Paddy Pimblett provide that, he certainly doesn’t do things by half measures in the UFC.

That was some performance by Gregory Rodrigues and, quite frankly, anything other than a 30-27 scorecard in favour of the Brazilian would come as a huge shock to most inside Manchesters’ Co-op Arena.

Here come the judges’ scorecards and, as expected, they all score the fight 30-27 in Rodrigues’ favour.

Better from Allen in round two as he lands more notable strikes on Chikadze. However, the Georgian looked in control of that round from start to finish, with his only rock coming as Allen swiped his legs with a kick and he fell on the cage.

A big third round is needed from Allen, who has lost his last two fights coming into this, as this bout could be called either way.

It’s all happening at the end of round one as Allen tests Chikadze’s chin with a strong left hook. However, it is the Georgian who, in my opinion, just about edges round one as he rocks Allen with a flying knee with just seconds remaining.

10-9 to the Georgian, for me.

Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze are about to get the #UFC304 Main Card underway. Good challenge for Allen after back-to-back defeats either side of the New Year.

As we prepare for Arnold Allen and Gigi Chikadze prepare to enter the octagon and start the Main Card, the Co-op Arena has just broken out into a wonderful rendition of Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.

It’s fair to say everyone housed inside the arena loved that. Nicely done.

This Manchester crowd have just had their first glimpse of the interim heavyweight champion as he was pictured on the big screens arriving at the Co-op Arena ahead of his co-main event with Curtis Blaydes.

It must be said, the 31-year-old looked calm and composed as he made the walk to the dressing room.

Wood has easily won rounds one and two here and came close to finishing 38-year-old Pineda midway through the second five minutes.

The Brit worked a lovely combination of punches to ground the American but was unable to work a finish or submission.

Keep it simple in this third round and Wood will surely be recording his eighth win in the UFC.

The contender in the main event has arrived with Belal Muhammed entering the Manchester arena in style.

The 36-year-old is looking to reap the rewards of his name in lights, three years after the no contest against Leon Edwards due to an eye poke.

Since then the Birmingham fighter has reached new heights, winning the welterweight title after beating Kamaru Usman – successfully defending against the Nigeran and Colby Covington.

Belal arrived tonight in a Rolls Royce, fair play.

Good start for Wood, who grounded Pineda early in the round and hit him with a barrage of elbows and punches before looking for a choke.

Pineda, though, to his credit, showed strong grapple defence to take the mount on the Brit towards the end of round one.

It is Wood who has the backing of the Co-op Arena, unsurprisingly as he hails from London.

That was more like it from McCann as she she landed some nice strikes on Brasil in the final round and nearly pulled off a rear-naked choke.

However, Brasil’s dominance in rounds one and two will be enough to see the Brazilian win this bout.

Brasil takes round two. McCann needs a big finish in round three if she’s to avoid defeat.

“Meatball Molly, Meatball Molly, Meatball Molly,” sings nearly the entire arena in a bid to inspire McCann.

A tough opening round for McCann, who was rocked by a couple of strong hits from Brasil.

10-9 Brasil.

The first round is temporarily brought to a halt as McCann is on the end of an illegal knee to the groin area. Huge cheers as she gets back to her feet.

Blaring reception as Molly McCann walks to the octagon soundtracked by Jamie Webster. This is McCann’s second bout in the strawweight division.

Huge cheers as Molly McCann’s name is read over the tannoy, followed by huge boos for her opponent Bruna Brasil!

McCann debuted as strawweight earlier this year after consecutive defeats at flyweight in 2022 and 2023.

A surprise win against the bookmakers for Jake Hadley who beats Caolan Loughran by unanimous decision.

30-27

30-27

29-28

Too slow from the Irishman, he couldn’t overcome the experienced fighter.

Muhammed Mokaev has thanked Manchester for taking him in as a refugee as he aims for a title shot.

It wasn’t pretty but he got the better of his foe, Manel Kape. Their feud seemed to be settled after 15 minutes in the octagon.

“23 years old, 7-0 in the UFC give praise to Manel Kape,” says Mokaev.

“I’m still young and I’m fighting veterans, we have the best team in the world, thank you Manchester for welcoming me as a refugee in 2012. This country I really respect what it did to me and my small town Wigan and in Dagestan.

“I want a title shot, eh guys do I deserve a new contract? Manchester woo!”

Jake Hadley has had about ten days to prepare for this fight with Caolan Loughran, who fights out of Kaobon gym in Liverpool.

Twenty-three-old Mokaev won’t be bothered by his performance tonight as he extended his unbeaten record in the UFC, but you could argue he was fortunate to have beaten Manel Kape.

Kape certainly got the better of Mokaev in round one and the early stages of round three, so I’m not sure how one of the judges scored the contest at 30-27.

Mokaev, though, leaves a UFC event in his home city with his unbeaten record still intact.

Well in, lad!

Better from Mokaev. Kape, though, looks to have seriously injured his right toe.

10-9 Mokaev.

Looks like Kape has possibly broken a toe on his right foot. He’s struggling to spring off it.

Wow! Some big hits from Kape late in round one and Mokaev tries to counter them by shooting for the legs.

10-9 Kape.

Mokaev and Kape nearly clash before the fight has begun. Tensions for this one have been rising all week!

Huge cheers for Mokaev as his name is read out!

Three rounds of flyweight fighting to come!

Muhammad Mokaev will have the support of nearly the entire Co-op Live Arena when he takes to the octagon shortly.

That’s because despite being born in Dagestan, Russia, Mokaev moved to England at the age of 12. After arriving at a refugee centre in Liverpool, Mokaev was housed in Wigan.

Now he is 6-0-0 in the UFC and if he wins tonight, will surely be in contention to fight for the flyweight title in the not-too-distant future.

His story is one of many in the UFC that hails the importance of learning a discipline and what can be achieved with incredible self-belief.

Next up is Muhammad Mokaev vs Manel Kape in a flyweight bout. This could be one of the fights of the night with both fighters making no secret of their dislike for one another. In fact, they had to be separated by security at Friday’s weigh-in.

Save it for the octagon please, lads!

As the klaxon signals the end of round three, both fighters take to their feet to lap up the applause of the crowd and celebrate with designated corners.

I’ve got Elliott for the win, but let’s see what the judges think.

Speaking to the UFC’s social media channels, Rooney, who is at tonight’s 304 bout said: “Hi just want to wish Paddy and Molly all the best tonight.

“Really looking forward to seeing it, excited and hopefully you both get the win, all the best.”

Chants of ‘Oban, Oban’ as we enter the third round here at the Co-op Arena. It’s anyone’s game after two close rounds in this welterweight bout.

Liverpool’s Molly McCann is preparing for her bout with Brazilian Bruna Brasil.

This will be just McCann’s second fight at strawweight after dropping down from flyweight earlier this year.

She is the third fight in the prelims.