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
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 189-99	Jones	Oliveira	Nickal	Silva	Ruffy
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 182-106 2014 Champion	Jones	Oliveira	Nickal	Silva	Ruffy
Matt Erickson @MattE 177-111	Jones	Oliveira	Craig	Araujo	Ruffy
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 175-113	Jones	Chandler	Nickal	Silva	Ruffy
Simon Samano @SJSamano 172-116	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.