The UFC is back at Madison Square Garden as another iconic moment is being prepared at this well-known arena. The Main Event sees the Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones, defend his title against the former champion and #8 contender, Stipe Miocic. The Co-Main Event showcases an eventful Lightweight battle between the #2 contender, Charles Oliveira, and the #7 contender, Michael Chandler. Here is everything you need to know before UFC 309 begins.
early prelims
Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura (UFC Women's Flyweight Bout) - Hardy currently stands on a three-fight winning streak after her last victory ended by unanimous decision against JJ Aldrich at UFC St Louis. The Venezuelan fighter prefers fights to go the distance, despite earning one TKO win and two submission wins. Another successful battle for Hardy could see her just outside the rankings.
Moura last fought at UFC Louisville where she came very close to victory, but would pick up her first loss in MMA to Denise Gomes by split decision. Ronda has finished nine of her 10 conquered opponents, defeating four of those by KO/TKO and five by submission. The Brazilian will be hoping to get back in the win column and redeem herself in MSG.
Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Hafez earned his first win in the organisation after an unanimous decision win against Mickey Gall at UFC 302. The Habibi is dangerous when it comes to being on the ground with his opponents, winning four of his five bouts by submission. Fighting out of Pennsylvania, Hafez will aim to start a winning streak and make a bigger name for himself in the Welterweight division.
Elliott has arguably had his greatest year in MMA, defeating Val Woodburn at UFC 298 and Preston Parsons at UFC 304, both by unanimous decision. The Welsh Gangster has rarely earned any finishes in his recent fights, but is always a threat when he is on the ground, picking up a few TKO and submission wins. Elliott is on a seven-fight winning streak and that may continue if he does succeed at UFC 309.
Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Gall put on an incredible battle in his last bout, but would not be victorious after facing Bassil Hafez in New Jersey. The Green Brook Township-born fighter is a dangerous submission artist, making six of his seven conquered opponents tap out. With Gall on a three-fight losing streak, he will be desperate to revive and rescue his career in the UFC.
Brahimaj last fought at UFC Vegas 92 when he suffered an unanimous decision loss to Themba Gorimbo. The New York fighter has earned a finish in every fight that he has been victorious in, submitting 10 opponents. Brahimaj has only won two of his five fights in the UFC, so he will be wanting to put himself back in the win column.
Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (UFC Heavyweight Bout) - Tybura failed to repeat his glory against Serghei Spivac at UFC Vegas 95 when he lost the rematch by first-round submission. Tybur has stopped 16 of his 25 defeated opponents, nine of those ending by KO/TKO and seven by submission. The #9 Heavyweight contender will be aiming to maintain his ranking and get back to winning ways.
Diniz earned his first decision win in MMA after defeating Karl Williams by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 95. The Brazilian is a deadly knockout artist with seven of his eight wins ending by KO/TKO, six of those fights ending in the first round. Diniz has a great opportunity to become a ranked fighter in the Heavyweight division, while remaining undefeated in his MMA career.
preliminary card
David Onama vs Roberto Romero (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Onama succeeded in his last bout, despite losing his 100% finish rate, winning by unanimous decision against Jonathan Pearce at UFC Vegas 91. Not including his most recent fight, the Ugandan has stopped all of his conquered opponents, defeating seven of them by KO/TKO and four by submission. Onama is currently on a two-fight winning streak and another stoppage win at Madison Square Garden could out him just outside the Lightweight rankings.
Romero makes his UFC debut with an opportunity to make a name for himself after earning redemption in his last fight at Combat Global, defeating Takahiro Ashida by first-round submission. Out of El Charro Negro's eight victories in MMA, five of those have ended with a stoppage in the first round. The Mexican is prepared to have the biggest fight of his life and a big statement win could put the whole division on notice.
Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Miller became the first fighter to compete in three UFC century PPV events, but was not victorious as he lost to King Green by unanimous decision at UFC 300. A-10 remains to have the record with the most fights and wins in UFC history, earning 27 finishes in his 55-fight career. The New Jersey mixed martial artist will be aiming for redemption while extending his records with the organisation.
Jackson did not have much luck in his last fight when he suffered an unanimous decision loss to Chepe Mariscal at UFC Vegas 95. The Leech has had his fair share of stoppage wins, but the majority of his victories have ended by submission with a total of 15 in his MMA career. Jackson has only won once in his last four fights, but he does have the chance to redeem himself against a well-known UFC veteran.
Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Weidman earned his first win in MMA since August 2020 when he defeated Bruno Silva by unanimous decision at UFC Atlantic City. The All-American has stopped 10 of his 16 beaten opponents with six of his wins ending by KO/TKO and four by submission. The former UFC Middleweight Champion may be close to retirement, but he is looking to make every moment count towards the end of his MMA career.
Anders redeemed himself at UFC Vegas 87 when he defeated Jamie Pickett by unanimous decision. Ya Boi prefers to defeat his opponents by knockout, earning nine KO/TKO wins out of his 16 victories in MMA. The Philippines-born fighter has only faced one former champion in the UFC which was against Lyoto Machida, but lost by split decision as he tries to beat the former King of the Middleweights.
Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Martinez's six-fight streak came to an end when he faced Jose Aldo at UFC 301 and lost by unanimous decision. Dragon prefers to keep the fight on the feet with nine of his 19 victories ending by KO/TKO. The #13 Bantamweight contender will be aiming to maintain his position in the division's rankings as he tries to find redemption in New York.
McGhee last fought at UFC Vegas 84 where he would increase his winning streak to five with a second-round TKO win over Gaston Bolanos. The Maniac has stopped very opponent that he has defeated, finishing eight of his opponents by KO/TKO while earning just the one submission win. The Detroit-born fighter has a great opportunity to enter the Bantamweight rankings and will want to continue his 100% finish rate in MMA.
main card
Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop (UFC Catchweight Bout) - Ruffy made his UFC debut in his last bout when he defeated Jamie Mullarkey by first-round TKO at UFC 301. All 10 of the Brazilian wins have ended by KO/TKO with eight of those happening in the first round. Despite being a Catchweight bout, if Ruffy can continue his 100% knockout finish rate, he will put most of the Lightweight division on notice.
Llontop is yet to be victorious in the UFC, suffering a submission loss to Chris Padilla at UFC Vegas 91 and a split decision loss to Viacheslav Borschev at UFC Vegas 96. Just like his opponent, Goku prefers to finish a fight on then feet with half of his 14 wins ending by KO/TKO. The Peruvian is still awaiting his first win in the organisation and it could come at a great time in his first PPV event.
Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva (UFC Women's Flyweight Bout) - Araujo could not begin her winning streak earlier on this year after losing to Natalia Silva by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 85. Vivi has only had one stoppage win in the organisation which happened on her debut, earning six finishes outside the UFC. The #9 Flyweight contender tries to go back to winning ways and remain in the top 10 of the division's rankings.
Silva continues to shine after increasing her winning streak to eight after defeating Ariane da Silva by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 91. The Killer's most recent fight has been the only time she has failed to earn a stoppage win, earning eight KO/TKO and nine submission wins out of her 18 victories in MMA. The #11 Flyweight contender is looking like one of the biggest prospects in the UFC and could continue to strive further if she succeeds at MSG.
Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Nickal failed his consistency of first-round finishes in his last fight, but still pulled off a second-round submission win over Cody Brundage at UFC 300. The Colorado-born mixed martial artist is undefeated, stopping all of his opponents with four by submission and two by KO/TKO. One of the biggest prospects in the UFC, Nickal has the chance to defeat a very experienced fighter in the organisation and potentially be one place away from the Middleweight rankings.
Craig failed to capture redemption in Brazil when he lost to Caio Borralho by second-round knockout at UFC 301. BearJew has stopped every opponent that he has conquered and has been regarded as one of the most dangerous submission threats in the UFC with a total of 14 submission victories out of 17 wins. The former Middleweight and Light Heavyweight contender is in desperate need of returning to the win column, and could earn a huge win against a big up-and-coming fighter.
Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Oliveira came so close to winning his last fight, but just lost by split decision against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. Do Bronxs remains to have the record for the most finishes and submissions in UFC history as he does not like to take a battle to a decision. The former UFC Lightweight Champion aims to maintain his #2 ranking in the division as it could still line him up for a rematch with either Tsarukyan or Islam Makhachev.
Chandler has not fought since UFC 281 when he suffered a third-round submission loss to Dustin Poirier as Iron Mike has been tired of waiting for Conor McGregor to fight. The Missouri mixed martial artist does not often take a fight to the judges scorecards, earning 11 KO/TKO wins and seven submissions. The #7 Lightweight contender could potentially earn a title shot if he can get revenge in his rematch against Oliveira.
Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic (UFC Heavyweight Title Bout) - Jones became the UFC Heavyweight Champion in his last fight when he defeated Ciryl Gane by first-round submission at UFC 285. Bones has earned a lot of decision wins later on in his career, but still holds plenty of finishes on his record with 10 KO/TKO wins and seven submissions. The King of the Heavyweights tries to continue his incredible legacy with a win against another legend of the organisation.
Miocic last fought over three years ago when he lost the UFC Heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260, suffering a second-round knockout loss. The Ohio-born fighter has won 14 of his 20 wins by KO/TKO as he likes to test his opponents on the feet. The #8 Heavyweight contender is 42 years of age and is looking to prove that age does not matter when you face one of the best in the business.
Who will win between Jones and Miocic? Which fight are you looking forward to the most?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie _Oxtoby1
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