Laura Sanko says delayed start time of UFC 304 won't matter, shares tips for fans to endure: "Just don't start drinking too early"

Laura Sanko recently stated that the delayed start time of UFC 304 will not significantly affect either the fighters or the fans. The upcoming UFC pay-per-view (PPV) event is set to take place this weekend at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, featuring two rematches as the headliners.

In the main event, Leon Edwards will defend his UFC welterweight title against Belal Muhammad, while UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will take on Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event.

However, a fan outcry has arisen over the promotion's decision to schedule the UFC 304 fight card to accommodate North American viewers, despite the event being held in Europe. The PPV broadcast is set to begin at approximately 11 p.m. BST local time, which is 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT in the U.S. This means that the main event fighters will be making their octagon walkouts around 5:00 a.m. in Manchester.

In a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Sanko noted that the schedule is less than ideal for European fans. However, she emphasized that the excitement surrounding UFC 304 will make the timing inconsequential:

"It’s unfortunate for the fans, but I think when that day comes, it’s not gonna matter for the fans or for the athletes. I think the energy is going to be so off-the-charts it’s not going to matter if you’re a fan and trust me; you’re going to be able to soldier through because the action from these fights is going to be enough to keep you going hopefully."

The UFC color commentator also shared a piece of advice for fans on how to stay awake throughout the night:

"Here’s my one tip: just don’t start drinking too early. That’s going to be the downfall of at least a certain proportion of this fan base."

Check out Laura Sanko's comments below (3:55):

---

Tom Aspinall not worried about UFC 304 schedule

In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Tom Aspinall said that his training camp for the UFC 304 rematch against Curtis Blaydes included preparations to acclimate his body for competition at early hours. The 31-year-old Brit further remarked that he remains completely indifferent to the unusual fight timings:

"Look mate, if you can fight really well at 12 o'clock, midnight, but you can’t fight really well at 4 a.m., you weren’t that [good] in the first place, in my opinion. There are plenty of times that I've traveled across the world and fought in different time zones without even adjusting myself. And now I’ve had a full training camp at home."

Check out Tom Aspinall's comments below (14:10):