UFC 309 is shaping up to be an exciting event, with Jon Jones set to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the co-main event, Michael Chandler will face off against former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Jones’ return from a torn labrum injury has raised questions about his sharpness, while Miocic’s layoff has sparked concerns about his ability to compete at a high level at the age of 42. Meanwhile, Chandler’s pivot from a marquee matchup against Conor McGregor to a rematch against Oliveira has left many wondering about the logic behind the booking.
Andreas Hale, Brett Okamoto, and Jeff Wagenheim weigh in on these questions and more, including what interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall should do after the main event.
Okamoto believes that Miocic’s layoff is the bigger concern, given his age and inactivity. Wagenheim agrees, citing the challenge of returning from a long layoff at an advanced age. Hale, on the other hand, thinks that Jones’ injury recovery is the bigger issue, given the uncertainty surrounding his ability to perform at a high level after a lengthy layoff.
The trio also discusses the Chandler-Oliveira rematch, with Hale expressing skepticism about the booking and Okamoto suggesting that a rematch against Justin Gaethje would have made more sense. Wagenheim thinks that Chandler needs to take what he can get at this stage in his career.
In other news, Bo Nickal’s impressive submission win over Donovan Beard has raised expectations for his future in the UFC. Wagenheim believes that Nickal’s grappling skills will continue to serve him well, but notes that he will eventually face opponents with quick hands who can keep the fight standing. Hale thinks that Nickal will crack the top 15 in the middleweight division within the next year, while Okamoto predicts that he will reach the top 10.
Finally, the trio offers advice to Aspinall on how to handle himself after the Jones-Miocic fight. Okamoto suggests that Aspinall should be bold and demand a title shot, while Wagenheim thinks that he should continue to be confident and respectful. Hale recommends that Aspinall take to social media to shame Jones into a fight.
In predictions for the Jones-Miocic fight, Wagenheim goes bold and predicts a Miocic knockout, while Hale thinks that the fight won’t make it to the Octagon due to injury. Okamoto predicts that Jones will be forced to respond to boos from the fans at some point during the event.
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