UFC 309 by the numbers – GOAT vs. GOAT, retirements, history at MSG

The UFC will host its penultimate pay-per-view event of the year next week as the promotion rolls out its UFC 309 show at New York's Madison Square Garden.

In the main event, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones puts his title on the line against former champion Stipe Miocic. This fight was originally scheduled to take place a year ago at UFC 295, but Jones had to withdraw due to a torn pectoral tendon.

This will be Miocic's first appearance in the Octagon since 2021. Luckily for MMA fans, it will be against new opponents. Miocic's five fights since 2018 have come against the same two opponents: Francis Ngannou and Daniel Cormier.

There are plenty of other exciting fights on the card too, as Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler face off in the co-main event and rising prospect Bo Nickal returns to action.

Here's a look at the numbers behind UFC 309, starting with the highly anticipated heavyweight title fight.

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The first time in UFC men's history that two GOATs from different weight classes will compete against each other

Although the UFC is still a relatively young promotion – November marks the 31st anniversary of the company's founding in 1993 – there don't seem to be many “firsts” left to leave off the list.

Perhaps the most notable final appearance is a duel between the two's best fighters different Departments.

Sure, there were a lot of champion versus champion fights. And lots of great duels between fighters who can claim to be the best within the same division. But the main event of UFC 309 is different.

When Jones, the best light heavyweight in MMA history, takes on Miocic, the UFC's most decorated heavyweight, it will be the first time two UFC division GOATs have faced off.

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The last time Jon Jones entered the Octagon was without a title on the line

Jones' dominance was remarkable. Of his 23 fights since his UFC debut in 2008, more than two-thirds have had title implications. Each of his last 16 fights have been for the UFC championship.

The fact that Jones is undefeated in UFC title fights is icing on the cake. However, he scored a knockout win over former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier in 2017 and later ruled a no contest because Jones tested positive for a banned substance.

4

Paul Craig's undefeated MMA runs ended in the UFC

When the UFC needs to test the quality of an up-and-coming prospect, there's one man it can call: Paul Craig. Craig has had his fair share of ups and downs in the Octagon, but when the UFC puts him up against undefeated opponents, it brings out the best in the Scottish fighter.

Of his seven fights against undefeated fighters, Craig has won four, including an impressive knockout win over a future light heavyweight champion in Jamahal Hill in 2021 and a submission win in 2019 over Magomed Ankalaev, who is believed to be the next one around fighting for the title is the 205-pound belt. Craig also handed Henrique da Silva and Kennedy Nzechukwu their first defeats in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

Craig takes on the sport's undefeated No. 1 contender Bo Nickal on the main card of UFC 309. Will Nickal be the next fighter to lose his “0” to Craig?

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Possible retirements at UFC 309

Next Saturday's fight card at Madison Square Garden could give fans the end of an era in MMA. Four fighters appear to be in position to retire at UFC 309. In fact, the main event could be followed by a rare double retirement, as Jones and Miocic have both hinted that their fight for the heavyweight title could be the last of their careers. Even one of Jones' trainers said he considered this fight camp to be her last.

“Whenever Jon is ready [to retire]“I’m all with him,” Jones’ longtime trainer Brandon Gibson said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I’m approaching this game like it’s our last shot, it’s our last rodeo.”

We also got to see veterans Jim Miller, 42, and Chris Weidman, 40, leave their gloves behind in the Octagon next weekend. Miller, who holds the UFC records for total fights (44), wins (26) and submission attempts (48), has been in the UFC since 2008. And Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion, has been competing in the UFC since 2011. Both fighters are from the Northeast – Miller from New Jersey, Weidman from New York – and a retirement in the famous arena could provide a fitting end to their careers.

In an interview with MMA Fighting after his win over Bruno Silva in March, Weidman said, “I probably would have retired if I hadn't been out there performing.” And while Miller hasn't expressed any interest in retiring anytime soon, it's safe to say It's safe to assume that the end of his UFC career is near.

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Michael Chandler explains why he took on Charles Oliveira

Michael Chandler explains why he agreed to fight Charles Oliveira for the second time in the co-main event of UFC 309 this November.

Days since Michael Chandler's last fight

It was a long It's been a long time since we've seen the former Bellator lightweight champion compete in the Octagon. Chandler was sidelined for two years, but not for injury or even personal reasons. Instead, Chandler was waiting for a big-money fight with the sport's biggest star, Conor McGregor. After such a long break, Chandler has decided to go in a different direction and bypass the fight with McGregor in favor of a rematch of his 2021 lightweight title fight with Oliveira.

McGregor has held up the Chandler fight on several occasions, most recently due to an injury that forced him to withdraw from his booked bout at UFC 303 in June. While Chandler wasn't the reason the fight fell through, he – and his UFC title hopes – were the most affected by it not happening.

What will Chandler look like after two years of inactivity? Has his window for the UFC title closed? We'll get the answer to these questions when he takes on Oliveira on November 16th.

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Judging round of Oliveira-Chandler 1

Speaking of the UFC 309 co-main event. Although Oliveira scored early in the second round of Oliveira-Chandler 1, according to the judges' scorecards, Chandler was in full control in Round 1. All three judges scored in Chandler's favor in the first round – two judges even scored in Chandler's favor in the round 10-8.

This victory was the biggest win of Oliveira's career, as it earned him the lightweight belt and was the first of three consecutive title fight victories to the finish. Considering “Do Bronx” is coming off a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan, this could be the fight he needs to get back into title contention.

Since Oliveira and Chandler each had a one-round lead over the other in the first fight, this rematch could allow Chandler to correct his mistakes. Or Oliveira could hand Chandler another loss, leaving him once again in no man's land within the lightweight division.

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Bo Nickal and Marcus McGhee's target ratio in the Octagon

Nickal and McGhee are the only fighters with three or more UFC appearances to have a perfect finish rate in the Octagon. Both fighters are 3-0 in the UFC – Nickal has two submissions and a knockout and McGhee has two knockouts and a submission.

Both fighters will face their toughest tests yet in MSG as Nickal takes on submission specialist and certified undefeated streak-ender Paul Craig and McGhee takes on experienced men's bantamweight Jonathan Martinez.

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UFC events at Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is arguably the most remarkable venue in all of sports. MSG has been the site of many great moments in sports history. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 1 and 2. Both New York Knicks win the NBA Championship. The New York Liberty's WNBA championship victory. Oh, and we can't forget WrestleMania 1.

There are also a few famous UFC fights that also belong on this list: Conor McGregor becomes the UFC's first double winner against Eddie Alvarez, Georges St-Pierre comes out of retirement to become middleweight champion against Michael Bisping and Alex Pereira wins the middleweight title Israel Adesanya and 3-0 against his rival.

Soon, Jones vs. Miocic for the heavyweight title – and perhaps an iconic moment – ​​can also be added to that list.