Fight week for the UFC 309 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.
Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic and the co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler.
Saturday’s UFC 309 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with heavyweight kingpin Jones (27-1, 1 NC) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.
If “Bones” is to continue his rule atop the 265-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Miocic (20-4). The former two-time titleholder is returning from a lengthy layoff for his opportunity to regain the gold, having most recently been unseated in brutal fashion by Francis Ngannou back in 2021.
Before those two collide in the main event at New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden, the stakes will also be high for a crucial five-round lightweight clash.
After a toe injury resulted in Conor McGregor's withdrawal from UFC 303 this past June, Chandler (23-8) finally heeded the calls of those advising him to move on from the Irishman.
That decision has left him running it back with a former champion and current top-five contender in Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC), who will look to repeat his title-winning performance over "Iron" from 2022 and stake his claim for a shot at regaining the belt in the process.
Ahead of those two contests in "The Big Apple," fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 309 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.