Madison Square Garden has a way of making everything feel bigger, doesn't it? When the UFC 309 fight card finally rolled into New York City on November 16, 2024, the atmosphere was thick with that specific kind of tension you only get when a legend might be walking away for good. We’d been waiting over a year for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic to actually step into the cage together. Injuries, delays, and a whole lot of internet arguing nearly derailed the thing a dozen times.
But they made it.
And honestly? It was wild. It wasn't just about the main event, though. The entire night was a rollercoaster of "I can't believe he survived that" and "Wait, why are they booing?" moments. If you missed the live broadcast or just want to relive the chaos of that night in Manhattan, here is the ground-truth breakdown of what went down.
The UFC 309 Fight Card Main Event: A Spinning Back Kick for the Ages
Jon "Bones" Jones is a bit of a statistical anomaly, and at UFC 309, he reminded everyone why he's still the heavyweight champion. Facing Stipe Miocic—the man widely considered the greatest heavyweight in the history of the promotion—Jones looked sharp, calculated, and frankly, dangerous.
He didn't just win; he dominated.
In the first round, Jones secured a massive takedown and spent several minutes dropping elbows that would have finished most human beings. Stipe, being the tough-as-nails firefighter from Ohio, survived the onslaught, but the momentum never shifted back. By the third round, Jones landed a crushing spinning back kick to the ribs that sent Miocic to the canvas. A few follow-up shots later, and it was over at the 4:29 mark.
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"He hits the body because he knows Stipe doesn't react to headshots," was the common refrain in the post-fight analysis.
Following the loss, Miocic did what many expected but feared: he announced his retirement. He left his gloves in the Octagon, ending a legendary career that saw him defend the belt more than anyone else in the division’s history. Jones, however, isn't going anywhere yet. He teased potential super-fights with Alex Pereira or the interim champ Tom Aspinall, though he seems much more interested in the "Poatan" matchup.
Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler 2: Absolute Bedlam
If the main event was a clinic, the co-main was a car crash in the best possible way. This rematch between Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira and Michael Chandler was for the number one contender spot in the lightweight division.
For four rounds, it was the Oliveira show.
The Brazilian grappling wizard took Chandler down repeatedly, took his back, and looked like he was seconds away from a submission multiple times. Chandler, who has a "never die" button somewhere in his soul, just kept surviving. Then came the fifth round. Chandler landed a massive shot that wobbled Oliveira, and suddenly the Garden was on its feet.
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In a moment of pure desperation and athleticism, Chandler even tried to slam Oliveira while the Brazilian was on his back—twice! Despite the late scare, Oliveira secured the unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45). It was an easy choice for Fight of the Night.
Why People Were Chanting Overrated at Bo Nickal
The middleweight bout between Bo Nickal and Paul Craig was... weird. Nickal entered the cage as a massive favorite, but the fight didn't provide the explosive finish fans were looking for. Instead of using his world-class wrestling to maul Craig, Nickal chose to stand and trade.
The fans weren't happy.
A chorus of "overrated" echoed through the arena as the fight stayed mostly on the feet. Nickal eventually won a comfortable unanimous decision (30-27 across the board), but the performance left some questioning if he’s ready for the elite of the 185-pound division. Nickal shrugged it off after the fight, basically saying that even the greats have nights where they just have to get the win and move on.
The Full Results: Who Won and Who Lost
The UFC 309 fight card was deeper than just the top three fights. There were some brutal finishes earlier in the night that set the tone.
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- Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic (TKO, Round 3)
- Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler (Unanimous Decision)
- Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig (Unanimous Decision)
- Viviane Araújo def. Karine Silva (Unanimous Decision)
- Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop (Unanimous Decision)
- Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez (Unanimous Decision)
- Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson (Submission, Round 1)
- David Onama def. Roberto Romero (Unanimous Decision)
- Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz (TKO, Doctor Stoppage, Round 2)
- Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall (KO, Round 1)
- Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez (KO, Round 3)
- Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy (Unanimous Decision)
One of the night's biggest bummers was the late cancellation of Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders. Anders came down with food poisoning on the morning of the fight, forcing the UFC to scrap the bout entirely just hours before the prelims started. It was a tough break for the New York crowd who wanted to see "The All-American" Weidman compete in his home state one more time.
Notable Performances and Bonus Winners
The UFC handed out $50,000 bonuses like candy after this one. Jon Jones snagged a Performance of the Night bonus for that liver-destroying kick. Ramiz Brahimaj and Oban Elliott also earned Performance bonuses for their highlight-reel knockouts.
Jim Miller, the evergreen veteran, added another win to his record-setting resume by subbing Damon Jackson with a guillotine choke in the first round. Miller has now competed at UFC 100, 200, and 300, and he's still out here taking necks in 2024.
Actionable Insights for MMA Fans
If you're tracking the fallout of this event, keep an eye on the heavyweight rankings. With Miocic gone, the pressure on Jon Jones to face Tom Aspinall is reaching a boiling point. Dana White has publicly stated that Aspinall is next, but Jones has been very vocal about wanting the "legacy" fight with Alex Pereira instead.
For the lightweight division, Charles Oliveira has firmly re-established himself as the next man in line for Islam Makhachev. Michael Chandler, despite the loss, remains one of the biggest draws in the sport and will likely find himself in another high-profile "fun" fight soon, though the Conor McGregor ship seems to have finally sailed.
To stay ahead of the next major card, monitor the official UFC rankings updates that typically drop the Tuesday following a pay-per-view. This will tell you exactly how much the landscape shifted after the dust settled in New York.