UFC 309 is close to complete with 12 fights confirmed for the next big MMA pay-per-view.
Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight belt against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in the main event at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 16.
In the co-headliner, former UFC lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira will look to work his way back into contention against Michael Chandler, who he knocked out inside two rounds to become a champion in May 2021.
Ten more exciting fights are also booked for what could be the biggest MMA event of 2024.
Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic gets stacked undercard
Besides the main and co-main event, two epic middleweight bouts are sure to attract fight fans.
Unbeaten prospect Bo Nickal is set to square off against veteran submission specialist Paul Craig in his toughest test to date. That fight will take place just after former UFC 185lb king Chris Weidman takes on Eryk Anders.
Fan favorites Jim Miller and Mickey Gall are also competing in separate fights at UFC 309.
The only bout still to be finalized will feature Mauricio Ruffy. The lightweight prospect was supposed to face Charlie Campbell on the show, but the New Yorker withdrew from his hometown card last week.
It’s hoped that Ruffy will get a new opponent and complete the 13-fight UFC 309 card.
| UFC 309 CARD |
|---|
| Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic |
| Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler |
| Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva |
| Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders |
| Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig |
| Nikita Krylov vs Azamat Murzakanov |
| Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee |
| Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson |
| David Onama vs Lucas Almeida |
| Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj |
| Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott |
| Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura |
Dana White claims Francis Ngannou ‘ran’ from Jon Jones fight
Francis Ngannou spent 1000 days away from MMA before knocking out Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut last weekend.
Post-fight, he teased a potential cross-promotion fight between him and the new king of UFC heavyweights.
However, Dana White seems to have no interest in working with ‘The Predator’ ever again.
On Saturday night, after UFC 308, White aimed an epic rant at Ngannou, who he accused of running away from a fight with Jones before he crossed over to boxing and made millions against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“When have you ever heard a story in all the years we’ve been in business, even when it was upside down, where we owed somebody money?” the UFC boss replied when faced with Ngannou’s quotes. “Never happened so he’s full of s*** there.
“I lost? I didn’t lose anything, I was done with Francis – he actually owes me money because we had to watch that fight between him and the Black Beast. He should actually pay me back for that fight, and all of you.
“Me praying for [his downfall]? Trust me, I don’t think about Francis that much. You guys asked me the question about the PFL and I responded. Other than that, the only one who’s praying for his demise is probably the PFL because they signed a s****y contract with a guy who doesn’t deliver any numbers.
“That’s ticket sales or pay-per-views, and they’ve got to keep paying this guy for however long and good for him. Not good for them.”
“We will never be in business together again. You can tell we don’t like each other.
“[Ngannou] didn’t want that fight [with Jones]. He could have stayed and took that fight. He didn’t want that fight. Tom Aspinall deserves that fight.”