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

Final Preventing 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 struggle former three-time champion, Stipe Miocic. Within the co-main occasion, Michael Chandler makes his huge return after an extended 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 area 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 significantly better struggle 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 rather more unbelievable if that they had fought 5 years in the past, nonetheless, it nonetheless is an superior struggle due to their statuses. Jones is broadly thought to be the best combined martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time, and Miocic is a good heavyweight in UFC historical past and, some could argue (like Dana White), one of the best all-time heavyweight.

Though they each could also be coming off layoffs, Miocic’s being 4 years, there isn’t any denying this can be a tremendous essential struggle.

Legacies are on the road, too.

Residence Sport

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

Fortunately, “Bones” lastly will get the chance to examine MSG off of his bucket listing. Will he retire in his house state?

Licensed Headliner

Jones will compete in his nineteenth UFC most important occasion and record-holding seventeenth title struggle — merely unbelievable.

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Welcome Again, Mike

After two years, Chandler returns after unsuccessfully ready for Conor McGregor. It seems 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, struggle the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan subsequent yr, after which struggle “The Infamous” in some unspecified time in the future.

Takin’ ovah!

Working It Again

Chandler and Oliveira can be operating 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 through technical knockout (watch highlights).

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

Defeated (0-3)

Chandler has competed thrice inside Madison Sq. Backyard however is presently 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 struggle, which ended up being “Struggle of the Yr,” one yr later, he misplaced to Dustin Poirier.

Will he lastly win?

Bo’s Greatest Battle

Three-time NCAA Division I nationwide champion from Penn State College, Bo Nickal, makes the stroll for his fourth struggle contained in the Octagon tonight, and it is going to be towards his greatest check so far, 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 Mild Heavyweights.

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

Flyweights Preventing For A Rating

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

Silva has been excellent so far in UFC, successful three first-round submissions and going to a choice for the primary time in her complete profession final day out.

Preventing Nerds Proceed To Roll

Brazilian health club Preventing Nerds has been on an absolute roll in 2024 and is the front-runner for the health club of the yr, whether or not it’s chief Caio Barralho making his manner 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.

Nevertheless, there could possibly be an argument that the flashiest fighter in that health club competes tonight.

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

‘Prelims’ Fast Hits

With the PPV out of the best way, listed here 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 exterior of UFC’s Apex venue for the primary time. He’ll struggle Jonathan Martinez, ranked No. 13 within the Bantamweight division.
• Former Middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, returns to his house 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 struggle.
• Roberto Romero makes his UFC debut on lower than one week’s discover towards knockout artist David Onama. Romero holds an 8-3-1 report and fought most just lately for Combate International.
• Jhonata Diniz — who was presupposed to struggle Derrick Lewis two weeks in the past at UFC Edmonton — fights ranked Heavyweight, Marcin Tybura, as a substitute.
• Welterweights Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott might 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 Struggle Chief

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

UFC 309 Struggle 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 response to Fan Duel, UFC 309’s “greatest” underdog is Craig at +730.

---

To take a look at the most recent and biggest UFC 309: “Jones vs. Miocic” information and notes you should definitely hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.