5 fighters who will be feeling the pressure heading into UFC 309
This weekend sees the UFC head back to Madison Square Garden for a huge pay-per-view. This event promises to be a big one.
UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic features some of the promotion's biggest stars, but who might be feeling the heat coming into this weekend?
A number of big names set to fight in 'MSG' will undoubtedly be feeling a lot of pressure, and whether they can live up to it remains to be seen
Here are five fighters who will be feeling the pressure heading into UFC 309.
#5. Mauricio Ruffy - UFC lightweight contender
Given that Mauricio Ruffy is still largely an unknown with casual UFC fans, it seems odd to think that the Brazilian might be under pressure this weekend. However, dig a little deeper, and there's definitely a chance that he'll be feeling the heat in New York City.
Firstly, Ruffy is being showcased on the pay-per-view main card, in the opening bout, ahead of much bigger names like Chris Weidman and Jim Miller.
There's a good reason for this, of course. The Brazilian is 10-0 in MMA with 10 knockouts to his name, including one in his octagon debut. He's clearly an exciting prospect.
However, any fighter with as little octagon experience as Ruffy is just as likely to produce a poor performance as a good one.
More to the point, Ruffy is facing James Llontop, a late replacement who has lost both of his previous octagon appearances. According to DraftKings, the Brazilian is the second-biggest betting favorite on the entire card behind Bo Nickal.
Essentially, not only is everyone expecting Ruffy to win, they're expecting him to win in impressive fashion - an equation that leads to a lot of pressure.
#4. Chris Weidman - former UFC middleweight champion
Regardless of their standing, there's an argument that once any fighter hits 40 years old, their next fight could be their last. That idea is probably even more accurate when it comes to former UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman.
'The All-American', who turned 40 in June, has won just once in his past six fights, a semi-controversial technical decision over Bruno Silva in March. Given that he suffered what could well have been a career-ending leg injury in his 2021 bout with Uriah Hall, it's almost a miracle that he's still fighting.
Therefore, Weidman is likely to be feeling the pressure in his bout with Eryk Anders this weekend. Not only is the fight taking place in his home state of New York, but if he doesn't win, it'll be hard for him to stem the calls from fans and observers to hang up his gloves.
In fact, those cries might be just as loud if he wins impressively, with plenty of people probably wishing a happy ending to his storied career.
Regardless of whether he intends to keep fighting, the pressure will likely be on 'The All-American' to produce one last great showing in front of his adoring fans. Whether he can do that, we'll only find out this weekend.
#3. Bo Nickal - UFC middleweight contender
Any time a fighter is heavily favored to defeat their opponent, the pressure on them amps up considerably. For Bo Nickal, that feeling is probably magnified coming into UFC 309.
Nickal is the event's biggest betting favorite according to DraftKings, with most observers clearly believing he will beat Paul Craig in their middleweight bout.
However, the last time the three-time NCAA Division I champion wrestler fought, he struggled to put away the overmatched Cody Brundage. He himself gave the thumbs-down to his performance.
Craig is a very different proposition to Brundage. Not only does 'Bearjew' have far more experience, but he's also a deadly grappler who's beaten the likes of Jamahal Hill and Magomed Ankalaev.
Basically, Nickal will need to have improved his game hugely if he wants to beat the Scotsman, which almost makes his position as a huge betting favorite bizarre.
Nickal has talked a big game ever since he arrived in the UFC, and this weekend, he's under serious pressure to live up to the hype.
#2. Michael Chandler - UFC lightweight contender
While it's arguable that he's made the right decision in finally abandoning his planned fight with Conor McGregor to take an alternative bout, there's still going to be a lot of pressure on Michael Chandler at UFC 309.
'Iron Mike' is now set to fight former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira in a rematch of their 2021 thriller. Chandler will, of course, be hoping to avenge the loss he suffered at the hands of 'Do Bronx' three years ago. However, revenge won't be the only thing on his mind this weekend.
If Chandler can win, the potential fight with McGregor will not only be back on the table, but if that doesn't come to fruition, a lightweight title shot might.
There's no shame in a loss to a fighter as good as Oliveira, of course, as he's arguably still the second or third-best 155 pounder in the world right now.
However, it's very likely that McGregor would use any kind of defeat this weekend as a reason to move on from the fight with 'Iron Mike' entirely, leaving the former Bellator champ in a limbo of sorts.
It's arguable, in fact, that no fighter at UFC 309 can afford to suffer a defeat less than Chandler. Therefore, the pressure will undoubtedly weigh heavy on his shoulders come fight time.
#1. Jon Jones - UFC heavyweight champion
UFC 309's headline fight is a curious one in the sense that not all fans really want to see it.
While Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title has been labelled a 'legacy fight' by the likes of Dana White, it's quite clear that a lot of people would prefer to see Jones fight interim champ Tom Aspinall.
Interestingly, though, while it's arguable that Miocic has not earned his shot at the gold, the fight actually marks a free hit of sorts for the 42-year old.
Miocic has not fought since his 2021 loss to Francis Ngannou and has not won in the octagon since 2020. Despite his status as the UFC's most accomplished heavyweight, nobody is really expecting him to win.
Jones, on the other hand, almost has to win this fight, making the pressure on him immense. Not only is 'Bones' claim of being the GOAT at stake in this fight, but he almost certainly needs an impressive finish to really cement himself as the true heavyweight champion.
With fan allegations of him ducking Aspinall still rampant right now, anything but a great showing would make it easy for his doubters to suggest that the Brit, and not Jones, is the world's true top heavyweight.
Jones has risen to the occasion on so many times before, of course, but whether he can do it again this weekend is definitely a big question mark.