UFC 309 preview: 15 tidbits, facts and storylines

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back on pay-per-view (PPV) TONIGHT (Sat., Nov. 16, 2024) for its yearly mega Madison Square Garden-based card, and UFC 309’s lineup is a doozy (see it here). In the main event, heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, finally returns from a torn pec to fight former three-time champion, Stipe Miocic. In the co-main event, Michael Chandler makes his big return after a long layoff (thanks, Conor!) against former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira.

UFC 309 is crafted with fun fights from top to bottom, so before it all goes down from the most iconic arena in the world, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics ahead of showtime …

Quack, Quack

Let’s just get this out of the way first: Yes, Jones versus interim champion, Tom Aspinall, would have been a much better fight and probably should have happened.

But, it’s not happening … maybe ever.

Is Jones ducking Aspinall? All signs point to yes, but we’ll have a better answer after UFC 309 concludes (and negotiations begin).

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

While Jones vs. Miocic would have been much more incredible if they had fought five years ago, nevertheless, it still is an awesome fight because of their statuses. Jones is widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time, and Miocic is a great heavyweight in UFC history and, some may argue (like Dana White), the best all-time heavyweight.

Although they both may be coming off layoffs, Miocic’s being four years, there is no denying this is a super important fight.

Legacies are on the line, too.

Home Game

Jones was born in Rochester, N.Y., and throughout his legendary career, he has never competed in “The Big Apple.” When MMA was legalized in New York City in 2016, Jones got suspended for one year and never got the chance to compete in the most iconic arena in sports.

Thankfully, “Bones” finally gets the opportunity to check MSG off of his bucket list. Will he retire in his home state?

Certified Headliner

Jones will compete in his 19th UFC main event and record-holding 17th title fight — simply incredible.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Welcome Back, Mike

After two years, Chandler returns after unsuccessfully waiting for Conor McGregor. It feels like an eternity since “Iron” last stepped inside the Octagon, but that’s just because he was incredibly active once he made it to UFC.

He plans to win tonight, fight the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan next year, and then fight “The Notorious” at some point.

Takin’ ovah!

Running It Back

Chandler and Oliveira will be running it back tonight after their epic two-round clash back at UFC 262 in 2021. Chandler almost finished Oliveira in their first meeting but ended up getting finished in the second round via technical knockout (watch highlights).

With how the division is right now, the rematch makes complete sense and should be utter chaos for as long as it lasts. Oh, and the winner might punch a ticket for a lightweight title fight.

Defeated (0-3)

Chandler has competed three times inside Madison Square Garden but is currently winless.

Chandler lost to Brent Primus when he was with Bellator, the only time Bellator visited “The Garden.” Then, Chandler lost to Justin Gaethje in his second UFC fight, which ended up being “Fight of the Year,” one year later, he lost to Dustin Poirier.

Will he finally win?

Bo’s Biggest Battle

Three-time NCAA Division I national champion from Penn State University, Bo Nickal, makes the walk for his fourth fight inside the Octagon tonight, and it will be against his biggest test to date, Paul Craig.

While Craig has not had much success at Middleweight, he has wins over Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill, two of the current top Light Heavyweights.

Nickal is a massive favorite again (full UFC 309 odds here) and will most likely win, but it could get tricky if the fight hits the floor.

Flyweights Fighting For A Ranking

Top-ranked women’s Flyweight prospect, Karine Silva, can jump into the Top 10 rankings with a win over the always-durable Viviane Araujo, who is ranked No. 8.

Silva has been outstanding thus far in UFC, winning three first-round submissions and going to a decision for the first time in her entire career last time out.

Fighting Nerds Continue To Roll

Brazilian gym Fighting Nerds has been on an absolute roll in 2024 and is the front-runner for the gym of the year, whether it be leader Caio Barralho making his way into the Middleweight Top 6 rankings, Jean Silva coming out of nowhere to stop Drew Dober two weeks after knocking out Charles Jourdain at UFC 303 or Carlos Prates, who just slept Neil Magny.

However, there could be an argument that the flashiest fighter in that gym competes tonight.

Indeed, Mauricio Ruffy competes in his second UFC fight at UFC 309 against James Llontop and has been must-watch TV his entire career. Oh, and he is kicking off the PPV main card for a reason (he will style on Llontop).

‘Prelims’ Quick Hits

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

• Marcus McGhee — who is undefeated (3-0) in UFC with three knockouts — fights outside of UFC’s Apex venue for the first time. He will fight Jonathan Martinez, ranked No. 13 in the Bantamweight division.
• Former Middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, returns to his home state of New York, where he is 1-3 and winless (0-2) inside Madison Square Garden.
• Damon Jackson makes his Lightweight debut after 23 fights in the Featherweight division, takes on Jim Miller, who makes the walk for his 45th UFC fight.
• Roberto Romero makes his UFC debut on less than one week’s notice against knockout artist David Onama. Romero holds an 8-3-1 record and fought most recently for Combate Global.
• Jhonata Diniz — who was supposed to fight Derrick Lewis two weeks ago at UFC Edmonton — fights ranked Heavyweight, Marcin Tybura, instead.
• Welterweights Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott could steal the “Prelims” portion of the show.
• Eduarda Moura — who missed weight twice in her first two UFC fights — will move up to Flyweight against Victoria Hardy.

UFC 309 Fight Leader

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

UFC 309 Fight Rookie

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

UFC 309 Knockout King

The fighter with the most amount of career knockouts competing at UFC 309 is Miocic (14).

UFC 309 Submission Savant

The fighter with the most amount of career submissions competing at UFC 309 is Oliveira (22).

Beta Dog

According to Fan Duel, UFC 309’s “biggest” underdog is Craig at +730.

LIVE! Watch UFC 309 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

LEGACY ON THE LINE! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to “The Big 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, looking to ride off into the sunset as the bonafide G.O.A.T. at the expense of former kingpin, Stipe Miocic. In UFC 309’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-headliner from inside Madison Square Garden, former Lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, will run it back with Michael Chandler, who has been sitting on the sidelines unsuccessfully waiting for Conor McGregor’s ill-fated comeback. UFC 309 will also feature the exciting returns of super prospects Mauricio Ruffy and Bo Nickal (in separate fights) and so much more! UFC 309’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims card) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

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

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