UFC 309 preview: 15 tidbits, details and storylines | Jones vs. Miocic

Final Combating Championship (UFC) is again on pay-per-view (PPV) TONIGHT (Sat., Nov. 16, 2024) for its yearly mega Madison Sq. Backyard-based card, and UFC 309’s lineup is a doozy (see it right here). In the principle occasion, heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, lastly returns from a torn pec to combat former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic. Within the co-main occasion, Michael Chandler makes his large return after a protracted layoff (thanks, Conor!) towards former light-weight champion, Charles Oliveira.

UFC 309 is crafted with enjoyable fights from prime to backside, so earlier than all of it goes down from essentially the most iconic enviornment on the earth, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime …

Quack, Quack

Let’s simply get this out of the best way first: Sure, Jones versus interim champion, Tom Aspinall, would have been a a lot better combat and doubtless ought to have occurred.

However, it’s not occurring … possibly ever.

Is Jones ducking Aspinall? All indicators level to sure, however we’ll have a greater reply after UFC 309 concludes (and negotiations start).

G.O.A.T vs. G.O.A.T

Whereas Jones vs. Miocic would have been way more unimaginable if that they had fought 5 years in the past, nonetheless, it nonetheless is an superior combat due to their statuses. Jones is broadly considered the best blended martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time, and Miocic is a superb heavyweight in UFC historical past and, some might argue (like Dana White), the most effective all-time heavyweight.

Though they each could also be coming off layoffs, Miocic’s being 4 years, there is no such thing as a denying this can be a tremendous vital combat.

Legacies are on the road, too.

House Recreation

Jones was born in Rochester, N.Y., and all through his legendary profession, he has by no means competed in “The Large Apple.” When MMA was legalized in New York Metropolis in 2016, Jones received suspended for one yr and by no means received the possibility to compete in essentially the most iconic enviornment in sports activities.

Fortunately, “Bones” lastly will get the chance to test MSG off of his bucket record. Will he retire in his residence state?

Licensed Headliner

Jones will compete in his nineteenth UFC foremost occasion and record-holding seventeenth title combat — merely unimaginable.

Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Welcome Again, Mike

After two years, Chandler returns after unsuccessfully ready for Conor McGregor. It looks like an eternity since “Iron” final stepped contained in the Octagon, however that’s simply because he was extremely lively as soon as he made it to UFC.

He plans to win tonight, combat the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan subsequent yr, after which combat “The Infamous” in some unspecified time in the future.

Takin’ ovah!

Working It Again

Chandler and Oliveira will probably be working it again tonight after their epic two-round conflict again at UFC 262 in 2021. Chandler nearly completed Oliveira of their first assembly however ended up getting completed within the second spherical by way of technical knockout (watch highlights).

With how the division is correct now, the rematch makes full sense and ought to be utter chaos for so long as it lasts. Oh, and the winner may punch a ticket for a light-weight title combat.

Defeated (0-3)

Chandler has competed thrice inside Madison Sq. Backyard however is at the moment winless.

Chandler misplaced to Brent Primus when he was with Bellator, the one time Bellator visited “The Backyard.” Then, Chandler misplaced to Justin Gaethje in his second UFC combat, which ended up being “Combat of the Yr,” one yr later, he misplaced to Dustin Poirier.

Will he lastly win?

Bo’s Largest Battle

Three-time NCAA Division I nationwide champion from Penn State College, Bo Nickal, makes the stroll for his fourth combat contained in the Octagon tonight, and it will likely be towards his greatest check up to now, Paul Craig.

Whereas Craig has not had a lot success at Middleweight, he has wins over Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill, two of the present prime Gentle Heavyweights.

Nickal is a large favourite once more (full UFC 309 odds right here) and can probably win, but it surely may get difficult if the combat hits the ground.

Flyweights Combating For A Rating

Prime-ranked girls’s Flyweight prospect, Karine Silva, can bounce into the Prime 10 rankings with a win over the always-durable Viviane Araujo, who’s ranked No. 8.

Silva has been excellent up to now in UFC, profitable three first-round submissions and going to a call for the primary time in her whole profession final trip.

Combating Nerds Proceed To Roll

Brazilian fitness center Combating Nerds has been on an absolute roll in 2024 and is the front-runner for the fitness center of the yr, whether or not it’s chief Caio Barralho making his means into the Middleweight Prime 6 rankings, Jean Silva popping out of nowhere to cease Drew Dober two weeks after knocking out Charles Jourdain at UFC 303 or Carlos Prates, who simply slept Neil Magny.

Nonetheless, there might be an argument that the flashiest fighter in that fitness center competes tonight.

Certainly, Mauricio Ruffy competes in his second UFC combat at UFC 309 towards James Llontop and has been must-watch TV his whole profession. Oh, and he’s kicking off the PPV foremost card for a cause (he’ll type on Llontop).

‘Prelims’ Fast Hits

With the PPV out of the best way, listed below are some random storylines and stats for UFC 309’s “Prelims” undercard.

• Marcus McGhee — who’s undefeated (3-0) in UFC with three knockouts — fights outdoors of UFC’s Apex venue for the primary time. He’ll combat Jonathan Martinez, ranked No. 13 within the Bantamweight division.
• Former Middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, returns to his residence state of New York, the place he’s 1-3 and winless (0-2) inside Madison Sq. Backyard.
• Damon Jackson makes his Light-weight debut after 23 fights within the Featherweight division, takes on Jim Miller, who makes the stroll for his forty fifth UFC combat.
• Roberto Romero makes his UFC debut on lower than one week’s discover towards knockout artist David Onama. Romero holds an 8-3-1 file and fought most not too long ago for Combate World.
• Jhonata Diniz — who was alleged to combat Derrick Lewis two weeks in the past at UFC Edmonton — fights ranked Heavyweight, Marcin Tybura, as a substitute.
• Welterweights Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott may steal the “Prelims” portion of the present.
• Eduarda Moura — who missed weight twice in her first two UFC fights — will transfer as much as Flyweight towards Victoria Hardy.

UFC 309 Combat Chief

The fighter with essentially the most profession fights competing at UFC 309 is Jim Miller (55).

UFC 309 Combat Rookie

The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC 309 is Nickal (6).

UFC 309 Knockout King

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 309 is Miocic (14).

UFC 309 Submission Savant

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession submissions competing at UFC 309 is Oliveira (22).

Beta Canine

In accordance with Fan Duel, UFC 309’s “greatest” underdog is Craig at +730.

LIVE! Watch UFC 309 PPV On ESPN+ Right here!

LEGACY ON THE LINE! Final Combating Championship (UFC) returns to “The Large Apple” in New York, N.Y., on Sat., Nov. 16, 2024, with the long-awaited, legacy-defining Heavyweight showdown between reigning division champion, Jon Jones, trying to trip off into the sundown because the bonafide G.O.A.T. on the expense of former kingpin, Stipe Miocic. In UFC 309’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-headliner from inside Madison Sq. Backyard, former Light-weight champion, Charles Oliveira, will run it again with Michael Chandler, who has been sitting on the sidelines unsuccessfully ready for Conor McGregor’s ill-fated comeback. UFC 309 can even function the thrilling returns of tremendous prospects Mauricio Ruffy and Bo Nickal (in separate fights) and a lot extra! UFC 309’s begin time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims card) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV foremost card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching motion!

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