Two of the best fighters in UFC historical past make their Octagon returns after lengthy layoffs when Jon Jones defends the heavyweight championship towards two-time former champion Stipe Miocic within the main event of UFC 309.
Jones defeated Ciryl Gane in March 2023 to win the championship, his heavyweight debut and first combat since early 2020. A combat with Miocic was then deliberate for that November, however Jones suffered a pectoral harm that pressured the combat to be postponed. That postponement additionally prolonged a prolonged layoff for Miocic, who has not fought since a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.
Regardless of the layoffs and the rise of different, probably extra worthy title contenders, Jones vs. Miocic represents a conflict of probably the most achieved heavyweight champion (Miocic) and lightweight heavyweight champion (Jones) and can draw loads of consideration due to that truth alone. The betting odds lean closely towards Jones retaining the title at Madison Sq. Backyard.
After going 1-4 with our greatest bets for UFC 308, we’re sitting with a report of 26-33 on the 12 months. It has been a tough 12 months for our picks, however we’re hoping to shut out the 12 months robust beginning with UFC 309.
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Let’s check out our picks for the very best wager for every most important card combat at UFC 309.
Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop
Mauricio Ruffy through KO/TKO/DQ (-150)
Ruffy is a particularly correct striker out of the Combating Nerds camp. He blasted out Jamie Mullarkey within the first spherical at UFC 301 with a flying knee and a few follow-up punches for an enormous assertion win in his UFC debut. Llontop, in the meantime, is on a brutal two-fight shedding skid. He was a substantial favourite towards Chris Padilla in April however missed weight and was submitted within the first spherical. Llontop then adopted that up with break up determination loss to Viacheslav Borshchev in August. Llontop was clipped by a number of large pictures in that combat and that taking place once more would spell catastrophe towards Ruffy. Llontop is hard sufficient that taking part in below 1.5 rounds (+140) is not as interesting as simply taking Ruffy to get the knockout someplace earlier than the ultimate bell.
Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva
Struggle to go the space: Sure (-225)
Silva is an effective finisher with finishes in 17 of her 18 skilled wins however Araujo will not be simple to place away. Araujo has been stopped as soon as in her profession and that got here nicely earlier than her UFC profession. Silva must be anticipated to get the win and hand Araujo her second straight loss and fourth in her 5 most up-to-date fights however Araujo is hard and has sufficient methods in her bag to make Silva work for it throughout all three rounds. Silva by determination is +100, which is an interesting line however we’re giving a little bit of a buffer towards an upset by merely taking the combat to go the space.
Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
Underneath 1.5 rounds (-175)
Nickal is an enormous favourite heading into this one and for good cause. He’s the UFC’s hyper-prospect, touted as the way forward for the game and going through a person in Craig who has suffered some brutal losses prior to now few years. Craig does possess the flexibility to lock anybody in a submission and drive a faucet, which is why he holds a win over former gentle heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, so perhaps there’s an opportunity this proves to be a lure combat for Nickal. Nickal ought to run via Craig on this combat however we will play it a bit secure by taking the below 1.5 spherical in case Nickal’s aggression will get him locked up in a shock Craig submission.
Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
Over 1.5 rounds (-105)
Each fighters are principally of the “end or be completed” college, which is why the combat going the space is +550. The truth that they’ve already fought as soon as, with Chandler badly rocking Oliveira within the first spherical after which Oliveira rocking and ending Chandler within the second, means they each know the way harmful the opposite man is. I imagine that familiarity will end in a slower first spherical than many anticipate earlier than the motion picks up within the second. Add in that each fighters know the way vital a victory is, with a loss being the top of Oliveira’s possibilities to get again to the title or Chandler’s more and more fading dream of combating Conor McGregor, and I am banking on a gradual begin earlier than a livid end.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic
Over 2.5 rounds (+114)
When interested by this combat, it is arduous to shake this weekend’s different large combat in Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul. Like that unusual boxing match, quite a lot of this comes all the way down to how and succesful each fighters are. Is Jones within the temper to go all out like he did in thrashing Ciryl Gane to win the heavyweight title or can we see the extra risk-averse model of “Bones” who seemed to soundly outwork opponents and take the combat the space? Equally, what does Miocic appear to be after being out of motion since March 2021? There are quite a lot of unknowns heading into Jones vs. Miocic past that Jones is a heavy favourite to get the win. I am leaning towards Jones being extra cautious of Miocic’s energy and all-around skillset than he was of Gane, and Miocic additionally being extra competent on the bottom than Gane if he’s taken down. That ought to result in the combat going previous the midway mark of Spherical 3.
Who wins UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic, and the way precisely does the combat finish? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable professional who’s up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.
