UFC returns to Madison Sq. Backyard’s hallowed halls on Saturday. New York Metropolis’s famed venue has hosted UFC’s November pay-per-views for almost a decade. The custom continues with UFC 309.
Jon Jones defending his heavyweight title in opposition to Stipe Miocic is doing a lot of the heavy lifting right here. It is a historic struggle regardless of being handed its greatest earlier than date. Jones and Miocic are record-holding UFC champions, assembly in a possible double-retirement struggle for a UFC title in a legendary area.
There are different issues to love about UFC 309. Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler do not know the which means of a boring struggle, Bo Nickal continues to develop as a must-see middleweight prospect and Maurcio Ruffy seems to be so as to add one other tally to the Combating Nerds unimaginable 2024 run.
Take a more in-depth take a look at three cannot miss fights on Saturday.
Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
Light-weight has been UFC’s marquee division for years with good cause. The elite fighters do not know the which means of boring fights. Oliveira, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu grasp with dynamic placing, has essentially the most finishes in UFC historical past (20). Chandler, a standout wrestler with explosive energy, has gained struggle bonuses in 4 of his 5 UFC appearances.
Oliveira and Chandler beforehand met in Could 2021 for the vacant light-weight title. Chandler dominated Oliveira in Spherical 1, scoring 10-8 rounds on two judges’ scorecards. However Oliveira roared to life in Spherical 2, stopping Chandler with strikes 19-seconds into the spherical.Â
“I do not assume it issues if somebody gave me a 10-8 as a result of they did not take it to the judges. I completed him so it does not matter,” Oliveira advised CBS Sports activities via an interpreter. “I wish to be the Charles of outdated. I wish to impose my sport. I wish to be the Charles from the previous that is all the time pushing ahead. The one which’s not afraid to roll a little bit and snatch a heel or one thing.”
Chandler was thrown within the UFC deep finish additional than most. The previous three-time Bellator champion was signed because the backup fighter for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje. His companies weren’t wanted that night so he knocked out Dan Hooker in his UFC debut. By his second look, Chandler was preventing for UFC gold.
“I had two-and-half minutes of UFC struggle time beneath my belt,” Chandler advised CBS Sports activities. “I used to be inexperienced and inexperienced.”
Chandler is satisfied Oliveira is his path to a UFC light-weight title struggle in opposition to Islam Makhachev or Arman Tsarukyan. A efficiency bonus frontrunner with title implications? What’s to not like.
Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
Nickal has some inquiries to reply. He regarded like a world beater in his first 5 UFC fights. He was residing as much as his fame as some of the completed collegiate wrestlers ever. Then UFC 300 occurred. Nickal’s early difficulties with Cody Brundage raised issues, however he tapped out Brundage in Spherical 2, defending his excellent ending report. Nickal will likely be effervescent beneath the UFC’s official middleweight high 15 if he can beat his most battle-tested foe thus far. Craig has greater than 4 instances Nickal’s skilled expertise. He boasts wins over former gentle heavyweight champions Jamahal Hill and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, plus high title contender Magomed Ankalaev. Craig’s submission savvy might current Nickal with distinctive challenges however contemplating he is on a 1-4 run, Craig is extra vulnerable now than he is been in a very long time.
Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop
Ruffy is one to observe. He represents the exceptional Combating Nerds workforce that’s working via the UFC this 12 months. If Ruffy defeats short-notice substitute Llontop, he’ll deliver the quartet of Ruffy, Caio Borralho, Carlos Prates and Jean Silva to a mixed 11-0 in 2024. Ruffy (10-1) has completed each struggle by KO, together with an exhilarating flying knee in opposition to Jamie Mullarkey in his UFC debut. Llontop (14-4) steps in for Charlie Campbell. Llongtop is 0-2 within the UFC and it is exhausting to shake the sensation that he is a sacrificial lamb this weekend.
This man is an absolute BEAST! Top-of-the-line @ufc debuts of all time time by Mauricio Ruffy! #NowYouKnow pic.twitter.com/Nuk9XdYj3t
— danawhite (@danawhite) Could 5, 2024
Honorable mentions: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee, Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson
