It’s always a special night when the UFC returns to Madison Square Garden and there is another big card to enjoy in New York this weekend.
UFC 309 will see the return of Jon Jones as he puts his Heavyweight title on the line for the first time against Stipe Miocic.
There is also British interest on the card with Paul Craig and Oban Elliott in action, while the co-main event sees a rematch between the always exciting Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.
UFC Tips
- Bo Nickal to win by Submission @ 15/8
- Mauricio Ruffy to win by KO, TKO or DQ @ 4/6
- Oban Elliott to win @ 2/5
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Nickal to show he’s a dime
Bo Nickal gets another chance to climb the Middleweight ladder this weekend, taking on Scotland’s Paul Craig.
A decorated NCAA Division I champion wrestler, Nickal made his way through Dana White’s Contender Series and his record now stands at 3-0 in the UFC.
The 28 year old has submission wins over Jamie Pickett and Cody Brundage on his CV, with a TKO of Val Woodburn sandwiched in between those victories.
Craig has been ranked at Light Heavyweight and Middleweight during his career and is always in fun fights, with the judges’ scorecards being required only twice in his 18 UFC bouts.
The 36 year old is 9-8-1 in the UFC, with three wins by KO/TKO and six by submission, while he has suffered five KO/TKO losses and two defeats via submission.
Craig is on a two-fight skid against contenders Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho, taking his record at Middleweight to 1-2.
Having been given another main-card placement on a numbered UFC schedule, the pressure will be on Nickal to get a finish and he can oblige, with submission the likeliest method of victory for the Colorado fighter.
Ruffy to be ruthless
When it comes to free-flowing strikers, Mauricio Ruffy could be one of the most exciting up-and-comers on the UFC roster.
The 28 year old gets a main-card spot here against fellow DWCS alumni James Llontop after a performance-of-the-night TKO against Jamie Mullarkey on his UFC debut in May.
The Brazilian’s explosive karate style, low hands and superb distance management make him a fun watch, with a devastating flying knee the start of his finishing sequence against Mullarkey.
Llontop steps in here with a 0-2 record in the UFC, having been submitted in the first round on his UFC debut by Chris Padilla in April and coming out on the wrong side of a split decision with Viacheslav Borshchev in August.
The 25 year old throws high volume but that will suit Ruffy, who has won all 10 of his pro fights by TKO, and the “Fighting Nerds” team member is the pick to add another finish.
Welsh Gangster to grind out a win
Oban Elliot can stretch his winning streak to eight when he faces Bassil Hafez in New York.
The 26 year old is 2-0 in the UFC thanks to decision wins over Preston Parsons and Val Woodburn.
The Welsh Gangster is a well-rounded mixed martial artist with strong grappling skills, possessing an impressive 50 percent takedown accuracy.
Hafez is 1-1 in the UFC and made his debut with a split-decision defeat with now Welterweight title contender Jack Della Maddalena before earning a unanimous-decision victory over Micky Gall last time out at UFC 302 in June.
Both of these two are well-rounded and tough, but Elliot is the pick to grind out another win.
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