UFC 309 delivered a night of varied performances, headlined by the return of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his belt against former title holder Stipe Miocic.
The co-main event featured elite lightweights Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler in another action-packed clash, while rising stars Bo Nickal and Mauricio Ruffy continued their undefeated runs.
Below we'll run through the biggest winners and losers from the event.
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UFC 309 analysis: Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic both looked old
Biggest winners of UFC 309
Jon Jones has emphatic return at UFC 309 main event
At the top of the card, Jon Jones returned to the octagon in dominant fashion. Considered by many to be the greatest of all time, Jones looked good in his second UFC heavyweight outing. A slick first-round takedown almost led to a ground-and-pound finish, and by the third round, Jones hurt Miocic repeatedly before landing a spinning back kick to the body, which ultimately brought the former champion down.
Despite retirement rumors swirling throughout fight week, Jones confirmed post-fight that he’s not done yet. While interim champ Tom Aspinall stands as the most logical next opponent, Jones has been noncommittal on that front. Instead, he’s hinted at potential "super fights" against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, adding even more intrigue to his future plans.
Jon Jones Octagon Interview | UFC 309
Charles Oliveira triumphs in Michael Chandler rematch
In the co-main event, Charles Oliveira put on a dominant display against Michael Chandler, decisively winning four of five rounds for a unanimous decision victory.
Ranked number two in the lightweight division, Oliveira is now in prime position for a shot at the title, likely against the winner of the rumored Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan bout in early 2025.
Bo Nickal continues undefeated run
Bo Nickal extended his unbeaten streak to 7-0 with a decision win over Paul Craig in the middleweight division. While the wrestling prodigy was unable to land a typical quick finish, he demonstrated a willingness to stand and trade strikes, showcasing a developing skill set beyond his grappling background.
Now 4-0 in the UFC, Nickal is likely to break into the middleweight rankings soon, with potential matchups against the likes of Gregory Rodrigues, Kevin Holland, or the winner of Andre Muniz vs. Ikram Aliskerov on the horizon.
Mauricio Ruffy overcomes adversity
Originally set to face Charlie Campbell, Mauricio Ruffy took on James Llontop after a late notice switch up. Ruffy looked strong early, landing heavy shots, but fatigue set in as the fight wore on. Ultimately, he secured a decision victory, although his cardio issues suggest there’s room for growth before he competes with the division’s elite.
While he called out Benoit St. Denis, matchups against Fares Ziam or Nasrat Haqparast may be better suited at this stage of his career.
An honourable mention for Oban Elliott
Elsewhere on the card, Welsh welterweight Oban Elliott shined with a highlight-reel finish of Bassil Hafez. Elliott’s UFC run, now three wins in under a year, is garnering attention, and with a notable performance here, he may be ready for a tougher test.
Matchups against Chidi Njokuani or Li Jingliang could provide the “Welsh Gangster” a chance to make an even bigger name for himself.
Biggest losers of UFC 309
Stipe Miocic hangs up the gloves after UFC 309 loss
At long last, former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has made the decision to retire from professional mixed martial arts. Although a win was always a tall order given Miocic’s age and long layoff, he was largely outmatched, with Jones clearly the dominant force.
Miocic exits the sport as one of the greatest heavyweights in UFC history, and his Hall of Fame induction seems inevitable.
Michael Chandler crumbles in UFC return
Returning after a lengthy absence, Michael Chandler struggled to find his rhythm against Oliveira. After losing most of the early rounds, Chandler only found some success in the fifth, and his inability to match Oliveira’s striking and grappling left him frustrated.
Chandler would later use
his post-fight interview
to call for fights against Max Holloway and Conor McGregor.
Middleweight misery for Paul Craig
Paul Craig’s middleweight experiment has yet to yield the results he hoped for, as he fell to 1-3 in the division with a tough loss to Nickal.
Craig’s future looks uncertain, as he now faces a critical decision on whether to remain at 185 pounds or return to light heavyweight. Potential matchups with Gerald Meerschaert or Ion Cutelaba could provide Craig an opportunity to regain momentum.
The UFC continues its packed schedule as bantamweight contenders Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo square off next weekend in Macau, China. Stay tuned for more UFC action, live updates, and breaking news!
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