UFC 309 predictions: Two unanimous picks in New York ... but who?

The UFC is back in the “Big Apple” this week with the heavyweight title on the line in a long-awaited matchup.

UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

James Llontop vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Records: Llontop (14-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Ruffy (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Past five: Llontop 2-3, Ruffy 5-0 Division: Lightweight Rankings: None Odds (as of UFC 11.15.24): Llontop +600, Ruffy -900 Junkie pick results: Ruffy 11, Llontop 0

Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva

Records: Araujo (12-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Silva (18-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC) Past five: Araujo 2-3, Silva 5-0 Division: Women’s flyweight Rankings: Silva No. 14 Odds (as of UFC 11.15.24): Araujo +240, Silva -300 Junkie pick results: Silva 10, Araujo 1

Paul Craig vs. Bo Nickal

Records: Craig (17-8-1 MMA, 9-8-1 UFC), Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) Past five: Craig 2-3, Nickal 5-0 Division: Middleweight Rankings: None Odds (as of UFC 11.15.24): Craig +850, Nickal -1450 Junkie pick results: Nickal 10, Craig 1

Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira

Records: Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC), Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) Past five: Chandler 2-3, Oliveira 3-2 Division: Lightweight Rankings: Oliveira No. 3, Chandler No. 14 Odds (as of UFC 11.15.24): Chandler +210, Oliveira -260 Junkie pick results: Oliveira 8, Chandler 3

Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

Records: Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC), Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) Past five: Jones 5-0, Miocic 2-3 Division: Heavyweight Rankings: Jones No. 1 heavyweight, No. 5 pound-for-pound Odds (as of UFC 11.15.24): Jones -700, Miocic +500 Junkie pick results: Jones 11, Miocic 0

Preliminary card picks

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura: Hardy 8, Moura 3 Oban Elliott vs. Bassil Hafez: Elliott 8, Hafez 3 Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Mickey Gall: Brahimaj 9, Gall 2 Jhonata Diniz vs. Marcin Tybura: Diniz 9, Tybura 2 David Onama vs. Roberto Romero: Onama 11, Romero 0 Damon Jackson vs. Jim Miller: Miller 9, Jackson 2 Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman: Anders 7, Weidman 4 Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee: Martinez 7, McGhee 4

Check out all the main card picks below.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Jones vs. Miocic Chandler vs. Oliveira Craig vs. Nickal Araujo vs. Silva Llontop vs. Ruffy MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 186-102 Jones (70%) Oliveira (70%) Nickal (83%) Silva (78%) Ruffy (85%) Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 189-99 Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 188-100 2017, 2022 Champion Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 182-106 2014 Champion Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy Nolan King @mma_kings 181-107 2023 Champion Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy Matt Erickson @MattE 177-111 Jones Oliveira Craig Araujo Ruffy Matthew Wells @MrMWells 177-111 Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 175-113 Jones Chandler Nickal Silva Ruffy Brian Garcia @thegoze 173-115 2017 Champion Jones Chandler Nickal Silva Ruffy Simon Samano @SJSamano 172-116 Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 166-122 Jones Oliveira Nickal Silva Ruffy George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 159-129 Jones Chandler Nickal Silva Ruffy

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.