by UFC 309 Quick Predictions
This weekend the worlds most famous arena will host the biggest Heavyweight Title Fight in quite some time as UFC Heavyweight Champion Jonny Bones Jones defends against Stipe Miocic. It is billed as the greatest fighter of all time in Jones, against the greatest heavyweight of all time in Stipe, and I have would have to agree with both of those assessments.
While this is certainly a dream fight, the problem is the level of rust involved with both fighters. Jon Jones has fought once ever at Heavyweight. He also has only 1 fight in the last 4 years. Stipe’s recent work rate isn’t much better, as Miocic hasn’t fought since March 2021, well over 3 years ago.
No one is going to deny how good both these men are, but the question of what we will see out of them, is a great one. No one can strike and move like Jones, and not many can wrestle like Miocic. They are the only two men to ever defeat Daniel Cormier, and they are not strangers to appearing in the main event as the last time one of them didn’t go on last, was 2014.
They are used to the spotlight, and pressure doesn’t bug them. Stipe has a habit of rushing for the knockout at times, this cost him his last fight versus Francis Ngannou. If he tries that with Jones, he will get picked apart. Miocic needs to remain patient, fight his style and he can shock the world as he did with knockouts over DC, Junior Dos Santos, Overeem and Werdum during his title run. Miocic also knocked out Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovski to get that shot.
Jones is deadly, never being knocked out, out pointed or submitted in 28 pro fights. Everyone knows the 1 loss on his 27-1 record, came on a 12-6 Strike that got him DQ’d against Mark Hamill all the way back in 2009.
What do we see in the cage Saturday night is anyone’s guess, but as far as this reporter sees it, Miocic has a much better chance then people believe and is the only fighter on the planet that could defeat Jones. I do think he looks good early, but eventually gasses out in the fourth and Jones takes over to get the stoppage.
Final Pick – Jones by Ref Stoppage in the 4th
Other predictions include
Bo Nickal running his record to 7-0 with a first round knockout of Paul Craig.
In a fight that may steal the show, Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler to go the distance in what may be a 3 round instant classic.
Look for Mickey Gall to get knocked out by Ramiz Brahimaj as well as Oban Elliot to knockout Bassil Hafez to KO early as well.
