NEW YORK — Despite featuring fighters with the most victories (Jim Miller), most title fight victories (Jon Jones), most heavyweight title victories (Stipe Miocic), most stoppage victories (Charles Oliveira), most submission victories (Oliveira), most performance of the night bonuses (Oliveira), most appearances (Miller), and longest unbeaten streak (Jones) in UFC history, it’s fair to call UFC 309 a top-heavy card.
The top is just really heavy. One of the greatest fighters of all time versus the greatest heavyweight of all time in the main event. Two of the sport’s most belligerent action fighters in the co-main. UFC’s most anticipated prospect in years setting the stage.
But there are also several intriguing down-card fighters trying to take the next steps in their careers competing on Saturday. Here are a few under-the-radar names to keep an eye on at UFC 309.
Watch UFC 309 on Sportsnet+
Heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to face Stipe Miocic plus Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler in a rematch from Madison Square Garden. Watch UFC 309 on Saturday with prelim coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
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Mauricio Ruffy
Hardly a weekend has gone by in 2024 without an exciting prospect out of Fighting Nerds — an upstart, Sao Paulo-based gym that emphasizes sophisticated fight IQ and crisp technique — putting on an eye-opening performance.
Last Saturday, it was welterweight Carlos Prates, who proficiently dropped Neil Magny within a round to earn his fourth knockout and performance of the night bonus this year. In August, Caio Borralho won a unanimous decision over recent middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier — the 31-year-old’s seventh victory in as many UFC fights — to surge into his division’s Top-10. This summer, Jean Silva beat veterans Charles Jourdain and Drew Dober within the span of 15 days, moving to 3-0 since his UFC debut in January.