Tag: UFC 309

Paul Craig Does Not Matter to Bo Nickal – “It’s Just Another Challenge” at UFC 309

Paul Craig Does Not Matter to Bo Nickal - "It’s Just Another Challenge" at UFC 309Bo Nickal faces his toughest test yet at UFC 309, but for the former Nittany Lion, it’s just another…

Paul Craig Does Not Matter to Bo Nickal - "It’s Just Another Challenge" at UFC 309

Bo Nickal faces his toughest test yet at UFC 309, but for the former Nittany Lion, it’s just another day at the office.

Storming into the UFC last year and picking up three-straight finishes, Nickal will meet submission specialist Paul Craig as part of Saturday’s highly anticipated pay-per-view event inside Madison Square Garden.

Bo Nickal

Nickal has been steadily increasing the difficulty each time he steps inside the Octagon, but ‘Bearjew’ will undoubtedly be his biggest challenge thus far. Craig is a 26-fight veteran with 18 of those scraps coming under the UFC banner. Along the way, Craig has scored nine finishes, including six submission and three KOs.

Of course, none of that matters to Nickal.

“I think it’s just a step up in competition for me. Who I fight doesn’t matter as much as the way I’m developing and improving in the sport. So, you know, I think he’s a guy that has a ton of experience. He’s a guy that poses a lot of danger and some interesting problems to solve. It makes sense for my career and where I’m at.

“It’s not really anything personal at all. It’s just another challenge.”

Bo Nickal not surprised by being a massive favorite at UFC 300

Nickal is a perfect 6-0 in his mixed martial career so far and boasts a 100% finish rate with only one of his opponents making it out of the opening round. Meanwhile, Craig will be looking to climb back into the win column after dropping back-to-back bouts against Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho.

Bo Nickal

Despite facing a known finisher with plenty of experience to boot, Nickal is sitting as a massive -1100 favorite while ‘Bearjew’ is a 7-to-1 underdog.

Bo Nickal

“No, the odds don’t really surprise me,” Nickal told Ariel Helwani. “I actually figured they would be even crazier. It’s almost like a mania. Every time I come to fight, I think the people know who is going to win, so it’s all good.”

UFC 309 Results & Highlights: Jon Jones TKOs Stipe Miocic  

UFC 309 took place tonight from Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!  In the main event, Jon Jones put his heavyweight title on the line against Stipe Miocic. While in the co-main event, Charles Oliveira faced Michael Chandler in a lightweight matchup.  Make […]

UFC 309 took place tonight from Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

In the main event, Jon Jones put his heavyweight title on the line against Stipe Miocic. While in the co-main event, Charles Oliveira faced Michael Chandler in a lightweight matchup. 

Make sure to catch all the UFC 309 results and highlights as they happen below! 

UFC 309 Results: Main Card

  • Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic via TKO: R3, 4.29
  • Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 49-45)
  • Middleweight: Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
  • Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
  • Catchweight (165lbs): Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

 
Preliminary Card

  • Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
  • Lightweight: Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson via submission: R1, 2:44
  • Featherweight: David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 

 
Early Preliminary Card

  • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00 
  • Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via TKO: R1, 2.55
  • Welterweight: Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez via KO: R3, 0.40

Women’s Flyweight: Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

Preliminary Card Highlights

Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez

In this welterweight matchup, Oban Elliott earned a KO of Bassil Hafez in the third round.

Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall

Ramiz Brahimaj earned a first-round TKO of Mickey Gall in their welterweight scrap.

Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz

In this heavyweight bout, Marcin Tybura earned a TKO of Jhonata Diniz by way of doctor’s stoppage.

Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson

In this lightweight bout, Jim Miller earned a first-round submission of Damon Jackson.

Main Card Highlights

Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop

In this 165-pound catchweight bout, Mauricio Ruffy earned a unanimous decision against James Llontop.

Viviane Araújo def. Karine Silva

Viviane Araújo got it done on the scorecards against Karine Silva in their flyweight bout.

Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig

Bo Nickal kept his unbeaten streak alive with a unanimous decision against Paul Craig.

Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler

In the co-main event, Charles Oliveira got it done on the scorecards against Michael Chandler.

Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic

In the main event, Jon Jones retained his heavyweight title with a TKO of Stipe Miocic in the third round.

Aljamain Sterling on Partying With Jon Jones: Coke, Drinks—Nothing Stops That Man

Aljamain Sterling on Partying With Jon Jones: Coke, Drinks—Nothing Stops That ManJon Jones has been known to indulge in vices like drinking and… other things. Saturday night will see ‘Bones’…

Aljamain Sterling on Partying With Jon Jones: Coke, Drinks—Nothing Stops That Man

Jon Jones has been known to indulge in vices like drinking and… other things.

Saturday night will see ‘Bones’ return to the Octagon for the first time in 20 months when he puts his undisputed heavyweight title on the line against former two-time champion and consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden. It will be Jones’ first time putting his gold up for grabs following a quickfire submission victory over Ciryl Gane in March 2023.

Jon Jones

During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, former bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling recounted a pre-fight night out on the town with Jones early on in their respective careers.

“He offered me a couple shots at the bar, and I was fighting in like – I think I told him four or five weeks, and he was fighting in like two weeks,” Sterling explained. “This is in the UFC, when we were in upstate New York. I was at Team Bomb Squad, he had just left down to New Mexico, down to [Jackson Wink MMA Academy]. And I was like ‘Am I doing something wrong?’

“Something’s not mathing, like the math ain’t mathing right now. But then I watch him on TV, he’s going out there and he obliterates the competion, And I’m like, ‘I think there’s something to be said about that.’”

Sterling credits jon jones’ ‘meticulous preparation’ for his continued success

Despite a host of legal issues and very public problems with both alcohol and cocaine, Jon Jones has been dominant throughout his career, winning world titles in two different divisions and amassing a (mostly) perfect record with wins over some of the biggest names in MMA history.

Jon Jones

Sterling credits much of Jones’ success to his painstaking preparation that seemingly offsets his more questionable choices outside of the Octagon.

“I think he’s very meticulous in his preparation with getting the looks that he needs to see,” Sterling continued. “The same way that he didn’t take the short-notice fight with Chael Sonnen. He’s not that guy. He wants to make sure he’s got the utmost edge on you in terms of knowing you inside and out before he’s accepting a fight and knowing that he knows you better than you know yourself.

“And I think when you have someone who’s that dedicated to what they’re trying to do – that’s a dangerous person…I don’t know if a couple of drinks are gonna stop you. Coke, whatever it is, I don’t think any of that is gonna stop you. I think as long as you’re in shape, you’re ready to go” (h/t MMA Knockout).

UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 309 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins! The upcoming pay-per-view event at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City provides a chance for UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to record his first successful title defense. After capturing the gold […]

UFC 309 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

The upcoming pay-per-view event at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City provides a chance for UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to record his first successful title defense.

After capturing the gold in March 2023 by quickly submitting Ciryl Gane, “Bones” is next tasked with stalling Stipe Miocic’s ambitions of a return to the 265-pound mountaintop in what will mark the Ohio native’s first outing in three and a half years.

The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, which will see former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira look to secure another shot at regaining the crown by once again getting the better of Michael Chandler.

Elsewhere on the UFC 309 card, middleweight prospect Bo Nickal, rising flyweight Karine Silva, the always entertaining Mauricio Ruffy and former champion Chris Weidman have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

Ahead of the event, 25 of the 26 fighters successfully made weight, with James Llontop’s 1.2-pound miss of the 165-pound catchweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale. Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-ins!

Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 5 PM ET.

UFC 309 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 309 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Jones vs. Miocic, Oliveira vs. Chandler 2, & More

UFC 309 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup. The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, November 16, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at […]

UFC 309 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, November 16, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, who is tasked with getting the better of former kingpin Stipe Miocic if he’s to record a first successful title defense.

Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira in action for the second time this year. After failing to get past Arman Tsarukyan, “Do Bronx” must add a second win over Michael Chandler to his record if he’s to keep his name in the title conversation.

Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of elite wrestling specialist Bo Nickal, rising women’s flyweight contender Karine Silva, the entertaining Mauricio Ruffy and former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman.

Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 309 main card here.

UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 309 (as of 11/15), courtesy of DraftKings.

Main Card:

  • Jon Jones (-625) vs. Stipe Miocic (+455)
  • Charles Oliveira (-245) vs. Michael Chandler (+200)
  • Viviane Araújo (+240) vs. Karine Silva (-298)
  • Bo Nickal (-1350) vs. Paul Craig (+800)
  • Mauricio Ruffy (-900) vs. James Llontop (+600)

Preliminary Card:

  • Jonathan Martinez (+120) vs. Marcus McGhee (-142)
  • Eryk Anders (-115) vs. Chris Weidman (-105)
  • Jim Miller (+150)vvs. Damon Jackson (-180)
  • David Onama (-850) vs. Roberto Romero (+575)

Early Preliminary Card: 

  • Marcin Tybura (-148) vs. Jhonata Diniz (+124)
  • Mickey Gall (-142) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (+120)
  • Bassil Hafez (+230) vs. Oban Elliott (-285)
  • Veronica Hardy (-135) vs. Eduarda Moura (+114)

UFC 309 Fighter Recalls ‘Traumatizing’ Weight Cut In Her Last Fight That Won’t Prevent Her From Trying Again

Brazil’s Eduarda Moura returns for her third outing inside the Octagon this weekend at UFC 309 where unlike in her previous UFC bouts, she isn’t expecting to battle with the scales before fight night comes around. Having signed to the promotion last year via the Contender Series, the 30-year old failed to hit the strawweight […]

Brazil’s Eduarda Moura returns for her third outing inside the Octagon this weekend at UFC 309 where unlike in her previous UFC bouts, she isn’t expecting to battle with the scales before fight night comes around. Having signed to the promotion last year via the Contender Series, the 30-year old failed to hit the strawweight limit in both of her previous fights.

Her return at Madison Square Garden on November 16 sees her move up a weight class to flyweight where she will open the card in a bout with Veronica Hardy. Though she has gone 1-1 thus far in the UFC, her attempt to make strawweight last June was a clear indicaton that something needed to change.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, she spoke in detail about the brutal 17-pound weight cut that she went through in order to face Denise Gomes in Louisville, Kentucky. Despite everything that she went through only to lose a split decision, Moura says competing at 115-pounds isn’t out of the question if she can do it right but for the time being, her focus is on staying active and that makes flyweight a better fit.

“My body rejected it and I felt so many cramps I basically didn’t sleep during fight week. I’m traumatized, but I’ll go back to 115—but not right now [laughs]. I think we can change a few things and study more. Truth is, I just want to fight. I think I’ll have more fights at 125 and I need to work.”

Moura believes that along with it negatively impacting her performance against Gomes physically, she thinks her struggles gave her opponent a mental advantage after she handed Moura a bucket to throw up in before they stood face-to-face after the weigh-ins.

“I kept remembering that scene, her getting me a bucket. That was the first time I felt like crying before a fight. I was so frustrated I couldn’t make weight. I was so nervous, and I kept trying to disguise. I was singing as I walked out to play cool, and I never do that. I was completely lost. I felt in my heart something was wrong.”

Like many fighters, Moura believes that she has more advantages at strawweight because of the size difference between her and her opponents. She’s not ready to fully commit to flyweight but that could all change with a big win on Saturday.

“I want to be champion and I believe I have great advantage at strawweight. I’m tall and have good reach, and the power, too, but I’m still traumatized [laughs]. We will think about it. It depends on the opportunity.”